Ophthalmology Residency Overview
Description of the First Year (PGY2)
Emphasis during the first year is placed on acquiring those skills essential for an in-depth ophthalmologic exam to include mastering slit lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, as well as retinoscopy and refraction. Residents develop skills to diagnose and manage the full spectrum of routine and emergency ophthalmic care. The residents also rotate through all the subspecialty clinics during their first year. They are introduced gradually to surgical and laser procedures both in the minor OR as well as in the main OR. They solidify their knowledge in the basic sciences of ophthalmology by attending a 4-week basic science course in ophthalmology. The residents also perform rotations in electrophysiology, contact lenses, and ophthalmic pathology during the first year.
Description of the second year (PGY3)
The residents are exposed to patients and surgical procedures of increasing complexity during the second year. Emphasis is placed on vitreoretinal surgery, strabismus surgery and cataract surgery during the second year. The residents attend a week long cataract course focussing on advanced surgical techniques including femtosecond cataract surgery. The second year residents assume greater responsibility managing the inpatient consult service, the trauma service, the NICU Retinopathy of Prematurity service, and the burn ICU. At the end of the second year the residents attend the Tri-Service Ocular Trauma Course at USUHS in preparation for their final year of residency.
Description of the third year (PGY4)
At the start of the senior year, the residents participate in a week long interdisciplinary orbital facial dissection course with Otolaryngology and Oral MaxilloFacial Surgery. During this week, multiple Visiting Professors are brought in to guide the residents through fresh cadaver dissections of the face, orbit, and sinuses to prepare them for complex reconstructive trauma and tumor resection cases. The senior residents also assume greater surgical responsibility taking on complex intraocular surgical cases. The senior residents attend a keratorefractive surgical course becoming certified in both PRK and LASIK surgical procedures. When funding permits, all senior residents participate in a 2-week humanitarian deployment to a third world country and gain experience in performing a large volume of ophthalmic surgery in an austere environment.
Academic Program
Daily lecture series by faculty - Mon through Thur 0700-0800. Weekly grand rounds at UTHSC-SA - Fri 08000-1000. Morbidity & Mortality conference - Fri 1100-1200. Annual Alamo City Clinical Conference is held in conjunction with UTHSC-SA with an awards banquet in honor of the residents outstanding academic research.
Medical Student Rotation Goals
To be able to perform an eight-part eye exam and to use a rational approach for appropriate referral of patients to an ophthalmologist. To obtain hands-on experience with diagnostic tools in ophthalmology to include slit lamp biomicroscopy, tonometry, and ophthalmoscopy. To expose the medical student to the management of ophthalmic emergencies in the ambulatory setting. To familiarize the medical student with ocular manifestations of systemic disease. To provide an opportunity for the medical student to observe and assist in ophthalmic surgery. Core Lecture Topics to be given by the residency director or his designee: Review of Ocular and Orbital Anatomy Ocular Emergencies, The Red Eye, Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Disease. During the Ophthalmology rotation, the medical student will also attend all ongoing teaching conferences and grand rounds presentations of the Ophthalmology Service. At the conclusion of the rotation, the medical student will present a 10 - 15 minute talk to the Ophthalmology Service on an ophthalmic topic of his or her choice. Any student wishing to pursue a short- term research project can also be accommodated. Any qualified medical student desiring a rotation should contact the Graduate Medical Education Office at 1-800-531-1114 or 210-916-3231.