Opthalmology practitioners use and manage a wide range of medicines and medical devices. This page has been specifically adapted to the needs of opthalmology practitioners. It includes guidance, safety alerts and links to educational material to assist opthalmology practitioners in the safe use and management of medicines and medical devices.
Latest news and hot topics
12 Jan 2012 | Drug Safety Update: February 2012 (Volume 5, Issue 7)
Drug Safety Update is essential reading for all healthcare professionals, bringing you the very latest information and advice to support the safer use of medicines.
06 Dec 2011 | Agency’s first elective prize for medical students awarded
A medical student with a special interest in hip replacement surgery, Ashley Matthies, is the recipient of the Agency’s first Trainee Doctors Advisory Board (TRAB) elective prize. The prize, worth £500, was introduced for the first time this year.
24 Nov 2011 | Reducing medicines risk - Learning package on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
We have just launched a learning module on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressants for clinical practitioners.
18 Aug 2011 | Medical Device Alert: Eleganza Standard and Deluxe beds manufactured by Linet prior to December 2005 (MDA/2011/092)
This Medical Device Alert has been issued because the manufacturer issued a Field Safety Notice (FSN) but has not had sufficient confirmation from users that they have received and acted on this information.
04 Aug 2011 | Medical Device Alert: Sterile 2ml Luer lock hypodermic syringe manufactured by Codan Limited (MDA/2011/089)
This Medical Device Alert has been issued because the manufacturer issued a Field Safety Notice (FSN) but has not had sufficient confirmation from users that they have received and acted on this information. The issue is that some syringes have been found to have cracks in the barrel.
Drug Alerts
Go to the Drug Alerts relevant to opthalmology practitioners
Drug Safety Update (DSU)
Interactive education modules
Annually many patients and staff are injured needlessly by medical devices that are either used incorrectly or badly maintained. These injuries are often due to user error or poor systems of work, not the device function or design. In these education packages we have tried to give a generic overview of some of the devices that have been reported to us as problematic.
We have produced a series of educational packages that are simple to use, informative and should take no more than thirty minutes to work through. They have all been developed by MHRA staff, some in conjunction with and endorsement by royal colleges and some attract CPD points. They provide valuable dos and don’ts when using and operating medical devices.
Links to further information
| Herbal medicines |
| Ophthalmic products |
| Optometrists: exemptions from Medicines Act restrictions |
| Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing (external link) |
| National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (external link) |
| NHS National Library for Health (external link) |
| Royal College of Ophthalmologists (external link) |
| Success in MRC Ophthalmology (external link) |
Updates to your inbox
Reporting of adverse incidents or adverse drug reactions
Any actual, suspected, potential or avoided adverse event should be reported. Further examples of cases which should be reported are available in the sections below. If in doubt, please report. You can help us by reporting adverse incidents. These reports enable us to identify medical devices and medicines that are of concern and allow us to take appropriate action.
What should I report if I suspect a medicine is associated with an adverse reaction?
Please complete a Yellow Card to report suspected adverse reactions to prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, or herbal remedies. For further information, please see www.yellowcard.gov.uk (external link).
Please clarify what a medical device is and what I should report?
Please see our section on reporting safety problems.
Medical Device Alerts (MDAs)
Go to Medical Device Alerts relevant to ophthalmology practitioners
Report counterfeit medicines and devices
If you have been offered what you suspect to be counterfeit products, or have seen them for sale or have bought them we would like you to tell us.
If you have any concerns or information that may assist us in tracking down those responsible for counterfeit medicines and devices you can:
- email the Enforcement Group at counterfeit@mhra.gsi.gov.uk
- ring our 24 hour dedicated hotline on 020 3080 6701
- write to us at Counterfeits, The Intelligence Unit, MHRA, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SZ.
Find out more about counterfeit medicines and medical devices
Guidance and publications
Go to the guidance and publications relevant for ophthalmology practitioners
One Liners
One Liners is a short, news sheet for healthcare professionals which highlight problems with medical devices. It is a review of user issues that have been brought to our attention and are generally reports of continuing misuse of simple medical equipment.
All medical devices can fail but an increasing number of incidents reported arise out of user problems or poor practices. The aim of the One Liner is to briefly detail some of these problems in an attempt to make users more aware of what can go wrong - it is all too easy to take equipment for granted.
