Event overview

Eye problems are among the most common and potentially challenging presentations in primary care. With more than 2 million people currently living with sight loss in the UK – a figure projected to rise to over 4 million by 2050 – the need for timely recognition, management and referral of eye conditions has never been greater.

GPs are often the first healthcare professional consulted when patients experience visual symptoms, red eye, sudden vision changes or ocular discomfort. In fact, eye-related problems account for an estimated 4.5 million GP consultations each year, placing primary care at the heart of preventing avoidable sight loss and ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time.

This interactive one-day course has been designed specifically for GPs and primary care clinicians who want to strengthen their confidence in assessing and managing ophthalmic presentations. Led by expert clinicians, the programme will focus on the conditions and scenarios most relevant to everyday practice, from recognising sight-threatening emergencies and identifying key red flags, to managing common eye complaints and understanding referral pathways.

Through case-based discussions and expert insights, you will develop a structured approach to eye assessment, learn how to distinguish urgent from non-urgent presentations, and gain practical knowledge that can be applied immediately in consultations. Whether you are looking to refresh your skills or build greater confidence in an area that many clinicians receive limited formal training in, this course offers an accessible and engaging update on modern ophthalmic care.

Join us for an inspiring day of learning and leave better equipped to safeguard patients’ vision, improve clinical decision-making, and deliver high-quality eye care in primary care settings.

All live One Day Essentials conferences (ODEs) are free and available exclusively to RCGP members. Check your diary, register to attend, or if you can’t make it access the content on REWIND. You can catch up on all the recordings and presentation slides for up to nine months afterwards, and you can register at any point during this time.

Note: we endeavour to upload content as quickly as possible after the conference; this typically takes up to two weeks.

Learning objectives:

  • Recognise and appropriately manage common ophthalmic presentations in primary care, including red eye, visual disturbance, painful eye conditions and chronic eye disease
  • Identify ophthalmic emergencies and key red flags that require urgent treatment or same-day referral to prevent avoidable sight loss
  • Apply a structured approach to eye assessment and referral decision-making, improving confidence, clinical efficiency and patient outcomes in everyday practice

Topics:

  • Diabetes and eyes
  • Managing red eyes
  • Cataracts
  • Glaucoma
  • Eye problems in paediatric
  • Eyelids problems

Conference chair:

Dr Waqaar Shah FRCGP, RCGP Clinical Expert in Eye Health

Access:

ODE live: exclusive to RCGP members

ODE REWIND: free to all

Live event

This online conference will take place on Zoom. Once registered, a link to join will be sent nearer to the date.

REWIND access

The recordings and presentations for this conference will be available to delegates to access for nine months from the date of the conference. Typically, it takes 2-3 weeks post-event for access to become available. If you are registered you will be notified once the REWIND pages become available.