Ophthalmology Education and Training Key Terms

Learn terms for training to become an ophthalmologist

By Adah Chung

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.

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