Awareness And Enthusiasm Of Medical Students Towards Cataract And Refractive Surgery At Barts And The London School Of Medicine And Dentistry

To evaluate awareness, understanding, and enthusiasm for cataract and refractive surgery among medical students at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, and to identify perceived barriers and motivators to engagement with ophthalmology as a career.

Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, a large UK medical school with students enrolled across pre-clinical and clinical years.

A cross-sectional, anonymous online survey was distributed to medical students across all years (Years 1–5 and intercalating).Each author approached 20 students each (over 3 weeks) asking them to fill out the form and this was done via online messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. The questionnaire captured self-reported familiarity with cataract and refractive surgery, exposure to ophthalmology teaching and clinical placements, interest in pursuing ophthalmology (5‑point Likert scale), and perceived barriers and motivators to engaging with the specialty. Descriptive analysis was performed to summarise responses.

Twenty three completed the survey but 19 completed the survey in full. Overall familiarity with cataract and refractive surgery was low, particularly among pre-clinical students, many of whom had only “heard of” these procedures. Ophthalmology exposure was limited to brief placements or isolated pre-clinical lectures, with minimal opportunities for surgical observation. Enthusiasm for pursuing ophthalmology was modest (Scores:1-3). Factors that increased enthusiasm: greater surgical exposure, practical skills workshops, insight into evolving technologies & demonstration of patient outcomes. Key barriers: limited exposure, perceived difficulty, poor awareness of career pathways, apprehension, and misconceptions regarding the accessibility.

Medical students at this UK medical school demonstrate limited awareness and moderate‑to‑low enthusiasm for cataract and refractive surgery, which appears closely linked to insufficient curricular exposure and knowledge gaps. Early, structured ophthalmology teaching, more opportunities for surgical observation, and interactive skills‑based workshops may enhance engagement with the specialty. Strengthening undergraduate ophthalmology education could support more informed career decision‑making in a field facing increasing demand and rapid technological innovation.