Ophthalmology Curriculum

PGY-2

The first year of the residency (PGY-2) starts with a three-week orientation and introduction to ophthalmology lecture series, beginning in July. Following that, the clinical rotations start at different sites, including Bensalem and Philadelphia Pa., and Hamilton N.J. The first-year residents will learn the basic techniques of diagnosis and medical management of various diseases. First-year residents also spend time on the on-call consults under the supervision of attendings and senior residents, where they encounter a great variety of ocular pathologies and emergencies. First-year residents perform and assist with surgeries and are involved with on-call duties.

Surgical exposure begins early and gradually increases throughout residency training. First-year residents perform many procedures including chalazion excision, laser peripheral iridotomy, YAG capsulotomy, pterygium excision as well as extracapsular cataract surgery. They are also introduced to the steps of phacoemulsification and will perform individual steps throughout the year.

PGY-3

In the second year of training (PGY-3), residents are more involved in subspecialties and gain more responsibilities in the care of more complicated cases while working closely with the attendings. By the end of the year, second-year residents are expected to have gained confidence and experience in the management of complex subspecialty cases as well as completed several subspecialty surgeries as primary surgeons, including cataract surgeries. Second-year residents are also involved in on-call duties.

Second-year residents are heavily involved in subspecialty surgeries, including oculoplastic procedures, strabismus surgeries, glaucoma drainage implants, posterior segment lasers, and intravitreal injections. Second-year residents will also complete a handful of phacoemulsification cataract extractions as primary surgeon

PGY-4

In the final year of training (PGY-4), senior residents act more independently and run a comprehensive ophthalmology practice under the supervision of faculty, while helping to supervise the junior residents. The main goal of the third year is to prepare residents to be competent and efficient comprehensive ophthalmologists as well as to provide in-depth experience with intraocular surgery. All intraocular surgeries are performed under the direct supervision of an attending physician. Third-year residents also participate in backup call for both the first and second-year residents, which includes assisting in the management of emergencies overnight, supervising bedside procedures, and performing open globe surgeries.

The bulk of the surgical experience occurs in the third year, where residents perform cases weekly with attending supervision and learn to manage challenging situations.

Along with clinical and surgical training, we provide hundreds of hours in didactics and conferences, preparing the residents for the boards.