One who receives ophthalmology education and training is able to treat diseases of and injuries to the eye, as well as perform eye-related surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, corneal and vitreoretinal surgeries. As with other fields of medicine, one may focus their ophthalmic training in a specialized area. Specialized areas of ophthalmology include anterior segment surgery, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular oncology, pediatric ophthalmology/strabismus and retinal surgeries.

Ophthalmic technicians assist ophthalmologists. Their duties involve gathering patient medical history, performing diagnostic tests, testing vision and ensuring that all instruments are properly maintained and sanitized, not only so the ophthalmologist has all necessary tools on hand and available to them as needed, but also for patient safety.

Hard work is essential in one’s ophthalmology education and training. For beginners, coursework includes anatomy, physiology, ocular biochemistry, pharmacology, clinical activities and current surgical techniques. To determine if a career in ophthalmology is right for you, perform the following:

1. Review ophthalmology education requirements

2. Visit ophthalmology schools

3. Participate in a mentoring program

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Review ophthalmology education and training requirements

Requirements are intensive in regards to ophthalmology education and training. For beginners, you must complete medical school and secure a license to practice medicine, complete a one-year post graduate clinical internship in fields such as family practice, internal medicine or surgery, spending six months caring for patients directly and completing a three to four year ophthalmology training residency program. Upon completion of ophthalmology education and training requirements, individuals may apply to the American Board of Ophthalmology for certification.

I recommend: The American Board of Ophthalmology and Eye Surgery Education Council provide information on ophthalmic training and education.

Visit ophthalmology schools to gain insight on education and training requirements

Visit ophthalmic schools to learn about required ophthalmology courses, training and ophthalmology continuing education requirements. Another benefit of visiting ophthalmic schools is that you can get a sense of which school best meets your needs and, in turn, ensure your success in the field.

I recommend: EdRef and a2zcolleges provide a list of schools of ophthalmology located within the United States.

Participate in a mentoring program as part of your ophthalmic education.

Mentoring programs can provide ophthalmology students invaluable guidance, research opportunities and moral support throughout their training.

I recommend: The New York University Medical Center School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology has a mentoring program for their first year residents to assist them personally by helping them transition into the program, provide moral support and guidance and assist them with any academic, research or fellowship questions. Medical students who have completed their first year at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine at New Orleans may participate in a mentoring program in the form of a summer research project, where they work alongside a faculty member on an active ophthalmologic research program.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Interview a practicing ophthalmologist to get a firsthand account of their ophthalmic education and training experiences, latest research developments in the field and any advice they may have for you in regards to your own ophthalmology education and training.

Pursuing ophthalmology education and training can be a costly endeavor in terms of monetary amount and time necessary to commit to the field. As a profession, that education investment should pay out in the end for those who can not only practice the ophthalmology trade but can act as a businessperson as well.

You might ask what else you would need to know besides eyes when it comes to ophthalmology education. The answer is that if you plan to open your own practice you need to know or have a support system that can help you with securing a location, running a business, files management, privacy matters, billing, paying of staff, human resource capabilities, providing insurance to your works, paying the rent... the list goes on and on.

To find the right ophthalmology education for you:

1. Ask yourself if the name of the institution is what is important to you or the affordability of the ophthalmic schools.

2. Factor distance from home into your decision of schools of ophthalmology.

3. Assess the time availability you can commit to your training in ophthalmology. This will be a long term endeavor to prepare yourself for.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Be informed about the industry before pursuing ophthalmic training

Before you jump in to investing in ophthalmic training, look at background information on the industry to make sure that it is the right decision for you.

I recommend: Since ophthalmology involves surgery of the eye, check out the Physicians and Surgeons section of the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Look at the "Practical Guide to Ophthalmology as a Career Choice" from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Find out what the Association of American Medical Colleges has to say about the career choice.

Find ophthalmology schools in your area

You can find a number of ophthalmology schools in each region of the country. Ophthalmic education is a long term commitment that should not be taken lightly, and finding the right school will be imperative to your success at the institution.

I recommend: Check out the Department of Ophthalmology at Stanford University. Find out about the Ophthalmology program from the School of Medicine at Tufts University. Look at the ophthalmology training program at the Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. You can find even more information on ophthalmology education from the Ophthalmology Department at Mt. Sinai.

Find a variety of ophthalmology courses through a multitude of institutions

Graduate studies in ophthalmology education are available through a multitude of learning institutions.

I recommend: Find out more about the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science - Yale School of Medicine. Another choice is the Indiana University School of Medicine: Department of Ophthalmology. You can also look to the University of Texas Medical School at Houston Ophthalmology and Visual Science Department, or the Mayo Clinic's graduate program in ophthalmology.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep in mind that in state tuition is going to cost you less than out-of-state or private school tuition. Factor accordingly when working on your ophthalmology education budget.
• •  Make sure that your ophthalmology courses also include those of business development as well.

Beginning an ophthalmic education program can be a difficult endeavor, and knowing the best fit for you can be even harder. Staying current with any news and trends that might affect the industry is vital, especially since you would be directly working with patients.

With technology so user-friendly, you can utilize the Internet to do most of your research. From there, you can contact organizations, schools or publications directly. This can be cost-effective and save you time and energy when diving through the vast amount of ophthalmology information. Consider the following when investigating ophthalmology education and training news and trends:

1. Search through schools of ophthalmology for updates to their programs.

2. Subscribe to publications that discuss ophthalmology courses.

3. Attend conferences where speakers talk about ophthalmic training.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check out ophthalmic schools for updated information

If you're seeking a school to further your education, then the best place to begin your search is straight from the school's website. Don't be afraid to look at several schools before making your decision. Many times schools gear their classes toward changes to the industry; checking out ophthalmology continuing education classes is a great way to learn about recent trends in the industry.

I recommend: Tufts University offers a four-year ophthalmology program through its medical curriculum. Research electives are encouraged through the university, and three-year residency training programs are offered. Stanford School of Medicine has a three-year residency program where you can find up-to-date information about the ophthalmology industry.

Subscribe to periodicals that might discuss ophthalmic schools

Ophthalmology publications can be a helpful place to search for updates about education. Ophthalmology schools might advertise about upcoming courses or there might be events featured. You can also learn about new training that's available. Become informed about the industry by subscribing to these periodicals; some of the magazines might offer e-mail newsletters that can be sent directly to your inbox.

I recommend: Ophthalmology Times, from Advanstar Communications, is an industry-leading publication; on its website you can actively search through articles. EyeWorld is a monthly publication for those in the ophthalmic field. If you're practicing in the ophthalmology field, then you might qualify for a free subscription.

Attend conferences or seminars where speakers might discuss ophthalmology schools

Conferences hosted by prestigious ophthalmic associations are an informative way to gain experience by networking with others in the industry. Those attending tend to know where to locate the best schools and residence programs, as well as some of the newest training.

I recommend: The American Academy of Ophthalmology hosts meetings where members can talk about the industry and network with others. Check out its information on Young Ophthalmologists, which discusses the first five years of a resident's training. The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology hosts meetings; check its calendar to see if there is one nearby.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider using internships to get hands-on experience in ophthalmology training. Specific businesses can help you adjust to the industry and learn about tips that you might not know by reading books.

Ophthalmologists are physicians who specialize in the area of eye care. They diagnose and treat eye diseases and perform eye surgeries to correct vision or repair glaucoma, cataracts or retinal damage. Ophthalmologists are specialists in the field of medicine, so education and training are quite extensive and lengthy. After completion of four years of medical school, medical students apply for their graduate training. A one-year clinical internship is required prior to graduate training in a specialty, such as ophthalmology. The following are some terms to know for the training and education of ophthalmologists.

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PGY-1

PGY-1, which stands for post-graduate year 1, is the clinical internship year that follows medical school. It is generally a broad clinical overview of patient care. For students interested in an ophthalmology residency, a PGY-1 training year in internal medicine, family medicine or emergency medicine would be good fields for entrance into an ophthalmology residency program.

I recommend: See the American Academy of Ophthalmology website for information about an ophthalmology residency program as well as the PGY-1; scroll down the page.

Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)

The Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education oversees the quality of graduate medical education. They accredit residency programs and set competency standards for residents in their chosen areas of specialty.

I recommend: Seek more information about accreditation at ACGME.

American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO)

After completion of all the training requirements for a medical specialty in ophthalmology, the American Board of Ophthalmology provides a certification in order to ensure a quality standard of care by ophthalmologists. Ophthalmologists become board-certified after successful completion of a written and oral exam.

I recommend: Visit the American Board of Ophthalmology site for information about becoming board-certified.

Eye Surgery Education Council (ESEC)

The Eye Surgery Education Council is a resource for patients and ophthalmologists regarding eye care. It is an educational information site for patients as well as a society for ophthalmologists to discuss clinical news and trends in order to maintain quality eye care.

I recommend: Visit the Eye Surgery Education Council for more information.

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the association for the support and promotion of ophthalmologists. It provides educational resources to support continued learning by ophthalmologists.

I recommend: The AAO provides more detailed information about the functions and role of this academy.

Fellowship training

Fellowship training is further training in a subspecialty area after residency training. In ophthalmology, fellowship training can be offered in neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmology or vitreoretinal diseases. Fellows have responsibilities in patient care, training of residents as well as research in their area of fellowship.

I recommend: The Jules Stein Eye Institute provides a description of fellowship training as well as some examples of areas of fellowship training in ophthalmology.