ICO conference highlights

Ms Sarah Moran, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork, delivered this year’s European Society of Ophthalmology lecture on the management of cataracts in patients with corneal pathologies. Her talk explored common corneal issues in cataract patients, which can significantly impact on patient outcomes.

“Tailor the pre-op and post-op management of your cataract patients to try to avoid any issues after surgery,” Ms Moran stressed.

She emphasised the importance of identifying, pre-operatively, any issues that might impact the success of the procedure and complications afterwards, noting the importance of considering cornea remodelling time.

Dry eye is one of the most common issues in these patients, Ms Moran pointed out, advising treating dry eye pro-actively before surgical intervention.

“Patients can be asymptomatic to start with, but if you don’t treat it and then they have cataract surgery, it can tip them into symptomatic dry eye. So, if they have any signs of dryness they should be treated,” she told the Medical Independent (MI).

Ms Moran also outlined the negative impact that shingles (herpes zoster) can have on cataract surgery patients, and how crucial it is to manage the associated risks and potential complications. These patients are more at risk of complications such as shingles recurrence, corneal scarring, and inflammation. “About one-third of us will develop shingles and, I think, vaccination against it should be encouraged for everybody, though cost remains a barrier for a lot of people.”

Dr Mary McCaffrey, Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Senior Medical Advisor with the Medical Protection Society, presented a dedicated workshop on optimising clear communication and informed consent in patient consultations. She noted that international research shows all doctors can potentially reduce the amount of complaints and claims by improving their communication skills and better managing patient expectations.

“Poor communication is a strong reason for a lot of medico-legal claims and complaints to the Medical Council,” she told MI. “Self-care is also important because if people have burnout, their quality of care and communication suffers.”

Dr McCaffrey also heavily stressed the need for better induction and support for international healthcare staff on communication norms and professional standards in Ireland.

“Our international graduates who come to work here often get very little induction into how the Irish system works. We throw them into the deep end,” she said. “They are not accustomed to the type of patient consultations we might have in Ireland compared to their own countries, and they will often run into trouble…. They might have PTSD, they might have burnout, and it can be very stressful for them to be an international medical graduate in Ireland sometimes, and hospitals need to look into that.”

More exclusive coverage from the ICO 2025 Annual Conference will appear in the next issue of the Medical Independent and online at www.medicalindependent.ie/societies/ico/