FRCOphth Part 1 Anatomy

Work through the bony orbit and its foramina, the extraocular muscles and their innervation, the eyelids and lacrimal system, the layers of the globe (cornea, uvea and retina), the visual pathway from retina to cortex, the cranial nerves and orbital vasculature, and the essentials of ocular embryology. Relationships matter as much as the individual structures: what lies next to what, and what passes through each fissure.

Anatomy underpins physiology, pathology and much of the clinical reasoning you will need later in training, so time spent here pays off twice. It is also highly learnable: unlike calculation-heavy topics, most anatomy marks come from disciplined recall and clear mental maps of orbital relationships.

Test yourself actively rather than re-reading: work exam-style SBAs by region, use the referenced explanations to fill gaps, and let spaced repetition resurface a structure just before you would forget it. Pair each question with a quick sketch of the relevant orbital relationship to make the recall stick.