The return of many soldiers from Napoleonic campaigns suffering an epidemic of trachoma, however, spurred the foundation of Moorfields Eye Hospital in 1805 by surgeon John Cunningham Saunders, with encouragement from Astley Cooper.

As the specialisation of the field increased, the Ophthalmological Society of the United Kingdom was founded in 1890 by Sir William Bowman, which held annual scientific meetings to further ophthalmic practice.

[citation needed] Fulfilling the requirements set by the College entitles doctors to the following post-nominal letters in increasing seniority: Membership, once a prerequisite for fellowship, is becoming a separate qualification demonstrating core ophthalmological knowledge, as training in the UK has largely eliminated the SHO/registrar distinction in the field.

As a surgical speciality, and having originated as part of the Royal College of Surgeons, fellows generally take the title Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms, rather than Dr, although there are exceptions.

[4] In January 2020 Mike Burdon, the college President at the time, said the specialty was in a “predictable mess” after it was reported that large numbers of patients had suffered permanent or long-term harm to their eyes after waiting too long for a follow-up appointment.