Ophthalmology is a large subject for a very small area: it is the
medical and surgical care of the eye, the adjacent adnexal and
periocular area and the visual system. It encompasses the upper
and mid face, eyebrows and eyelids, lacrimal system and orbit,
as well as the globe and eye muscles, optic nerve and nervous
connections all the way back to the visual cortex. Many medical
conditions have ocular features as their first presentation, e.g.
in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatology, neurology,
endocrinology and oncology. There is overlap with maxillofacial,
plastic, otolaryngology and neurosurgery and strong links with
dermatology with Mohs’ micrographic surgery for excision of
periocular skin tumours.There are links with neuroradiology and
pathology. It combines medical and surgical skills and uses minimally
invasive microsurgery and lasers as well as delicate plastic
surgical techniques.