An Optometrist and an Ophthalmologist discuss - sometimes over a pint of Guinness - how these two previously fractious disciplines have been brought closer together. From different sides of the Irish border, John Ferris and Dermot Keogh know a thing or two about overcoming division.
Their guests bring extensive experience and expertise from across the two sectors: they share their passion for all things optical, discuss how the fields of Optometry and Ophthalmology can learn from each other, and the medical developments that are just over the horizon.
eyesontomorrow.substack.com (https://eyesontomorrow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
World Sight Day Special - Kathleen Sherwin: A New Vision for Global Eye Health
In our third World Sight Day special, Eyes on Tomorrow is joined by Kathleen Sherwin, the dynamic new President and CEO of Orbis International, who brings 25 years of experience in global health and development to this role.
Having visited Orbis programmes across 30 countries in just nine months, Kathleen has seen first-hand both the scale of the challenge and the opportunities to transform global eye care.
She shares her vision for tackling the rising tide of preventable sight loss: “We already know many of the solutions—now we need to scale them.”
We explore why eye health must move beyond the ophthalmology clinic and be recognised by governments as a driver of education, equality and economic prosperity; why sustainable change requires strong leadership at local, national and global levels; and how Orbis plans to work in partnership with governments to expand its impact around the world.
But expansion isn’t simply about reaching more countries. Kathleen explains why Orbis wants to go deeper in the countries where it already works, building comprehensive eye-care services across communities and strengthening local healthcare systems for the long term.
We hear about plans to increase Flying Eye Hospital missions, training more ophthalmologists, nurses and anaesthetists alongside long-term hospital-based programmes; and to expand Cybersight and its AI capabilities, democratising access to world-class ophthalmic education and clinical expertise wherever clinicians happen to be.
Kathleen also explains how the next generation of Women-Led Green Vision Centres could go far beyond eye care—integrating ophthalmic services with maternity and children’s healthcare, making it easier for women and their families to access multiple essential services closer to home.
And in countries affected by conflict, displacement and natural disasters, we discuss a different challenge: how Orbis can link humanitarian aid to its established programmes and local partnerships, providing an immediate response while strengthening rather than bypassing existing healthcare systems.
The solutions exist. The expertise exists. The challenge now is scale, integration and access.
This World Sight Day, Kathleen Sherwin joins Eyes on Tomorrow to share an ambitious vision for how Orbis can help deliver high-quality eye care to everyone, wherever they live.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eyesontomorrow.substack.com/subscribe (https://eyesontomorrow.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
6 Oct 2026
A New Vision for Medical Ophthalmology in Ireland
From a three-year cataract wait to just six weeks — Ireland is rethinking how and where eye care is delivered.
In this episode of Eyes on Tomorrow, we’re joined by Aoife Doyle, Geraldine Comer, Eimear Henry and Bobby Tang to explore the rapidly evolving specialty of Medical Ophthalmology and the development of Integrated Eye Care teams across Ireland.
Led by Consultant Medical Ophthalmologists, these multidisciplinary teams bring together optometrists, orthoptists and other allied health professionals to deliver cataract, glaucoma, medical retina and paediatric eye care in the community closer to patients’ homes.
We hear how Medical Ophthalmology is developing into an exciting career pathway, with subspecialty fellowship-level training and consultant posts combining community eye care with specialist hospital clinics.
And the results are already impressive. In Galway, cataract waiting times have fallen from three years to just six weeks, while improved referral pathways mean 90% of patients referred now proceed to surgery.
We also explore the next frontier: glaucoma referral refinement, linking community optometrists directly with Integrated Eye Care teams.
Is this the blueprint for the future of community based ophthalmic care in Ireland?
Join us on Eyes on Tomorrow as we discover how a new model of eye care is moving expertise out of the hospital, into the community — and transforming the patient journey.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eyesontomorrow.substack.com/subscribe (https://eyesontomorrow.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
17 Sept 2026
Sheraz Daya – a true refractive surgery trailblazer
The word pioneer is often overused, but this month’s guest on Eyes on Tomorrow genuinely deserves the title.
Sheraz Daya, Chairman and Medical Director of Centre for Sight, has spent his career pushing the boundaries of cataract, corneal and refractive surgery.
His remarkable journey has taken him from Dar es Salaam to Dublin, Belfast to Brooklyn, Minnesota to East Grinstead — and along the way he has helped shape modern refractive surgery.
Sheraz performed the UK’s first LASIK procedure in 1994, introduced femtosecond laser technology to the UK in 2004, pioneered advances in corneal transplantation and stem cell therapy, and founded the American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery.
In this episode, Sheraz tells us about the trials and tribulations of being an early LASIK adopter, gives us his views on FLACS, explains the transformational potential of stem cell transplantation, and explores the technologies that continue to push the boundaries of refractive surgery.
And in our Bonus Episode for subscribers…Sheraz looks to the future.
Could robot-assisted cataract surgery become a reality? Do we need a more patient-friendly way of describing IOLs? What are the latest developments in implantable contact lens surgery? And what is he hoping to achieve with Infinite Medical Ventures?
Plus, after a career at the forefront of refractive surgery, Sheraz generously shares his top tips for anyone thinking of setting up a refractive surgical practice.
A career spent challenging convention and embracing innovation.
Get access to bonus episodes, along with a host of CPD resources, when you subscribe for only £25 per year at https://eyesontomorrow.substack.com/subscribe (https://eyesontomorrow.substack.com/subscribe)
Thanks to Topcon Healthcare (https://topconhealthcare.eu/en_UK) and Thea UK (https://www.thea-pharmaceuticals.co.uk/) for supporting Eyes on Tomorrow.
Produced by Matt Hill at Rethink Audio (https://www.rethinkaudio.com/).
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eyesontomorrow.substack.com/subscribe (https://eyesontomorrow.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
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