Goals & Objectives

The goal of the ophthalmology program is to provide residents with a comprehensive education in the medical and surgical aspects of ophthalmology. Graduates will be able to practice competently and independently and will be well qualified to pursue subspecialty fellowship training.

The clinical rotations are designed to provide graduated responsibility to the residents in their three years of training with specific competency-based goals and objectives in each year. Throughout their training, residents have direct faculty supervision in all their patient care activities.

In the first year (PGY2) of training, each resident spends 12 months in comprehensive ophthalmology. This year provides them an opportunity to develop competency in basic ophthalmic examination skills, including diagnostic instrumentation. They also develop competency in managing all uncomplicated, non-surgical ophthalmic emergencies and basic surgical techniques.

The second year (PGY3) is geared towards providing training in different subspecialty areas of ophthalmology. Each resident rotates in different subspecialty clinics, performs surgeries and laser procedures, and handles all routine consults during clinic hours and emergency consults during after hours, while on call.

The third year of training (PGY4) is aimed towards mastering all aspects of medical ophthalmic care and management of the patient utilizing sound judgment and ethically based decision making. It will also include supervision of junior residents in all areas, covering on-call responsibilities and proficiency in ophthalmic surgery. Third-year residents are exposed to a combination of comprehensive and subspecialty education and gain mastery on how to deal with all routine and emergency ophthalmology scenarios.

The three years of training incorporate both comprehensive and subspecialty education needs of residents.

All clinical activities related to patient care are closely supervised by the faculty at all times. The didactic curriculum is also geared toward providing both comprehensive and subspecialty knowledge to the residents. The department houses all subspecialties, including glaucoma, cornea and anterior segment, vitreoretinal and medical retina, uveitis, oculoplastics, neuro-ophthalmology, optics, contact lens and electrophysiology.

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