First year (PGY II)

The emphasis in the first year is to develop a solid foundation in the ophthalmic exam and clinical diagnosis. There is ample opportunity, at both the VA in general resident clinic and at UH on subspecialty rotations, to learn the comprehensive ophthalmic exam, as well as begin to assist in surgeries, over the course of the year. First years take 2/3 of the primary call for both University Hospitals and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center as part of a single call pool.

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

This clinical site serves as the location for four subspecialty rotations. All rotations will emphasize development of history taking and observational skills, problem solving, and case management. There is ample opportunity to hone ophthalmological examination skills, including the more advanced techniques of gonioscopy, keratometry, fundus examination, and scleral depression. During the Anterior Segment I, Retina-Glaucoma I, Pediatrics I, and Plastics I rotations, the resident will spend time with various attendings in each specialty both in clinics and while operating.

• Anterior Segment I: Includes cornea and general ophthalmology clinics, where residents are instructed in slit lamp and anterior segment observation skills, instrumentation pathology, diagnosis and treatment. Residents will assist in cataract, glaucoma and corneal surgeries. During this rotation, residents will also work with a high volume refractive surgeon to observe LASIK procedures, attend low vision clinics, learn about the eye banking and corneal transplants, and learn about optician practices and eyeglass creation. This rotation also includes a weekly one on one wetlab experience with faculty to learn surgical techniques.
• Retina-Glaucoma I: Allows the resident to see and evaluate retina and glaucoma patients with specialists in their clinics and assist in the operating room. Additional training in examination skills, both anterior and posterior segment, relevant imaging and instrumentation, pathology, diagnosis and treatment. Time during this rotation is divided equally between the two sub-specialties.
• Pediatrics I: This rotation serves as an introduction to pediatric ophthalmology working with our pediatric ophthalmologists with emphasis on strabismus evaluation, retinoscopy, and introduction to surgery. The resident on the Pediatrics I rotation is responsible for inpatient consults, with exposure to a wide variety of ocular manifestations of the many complex systemic diseases that are treated at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.
• Plastics I: Encompasses the extraocular anatomic, pathologic, clinical, and surgical aspects of ophthalmology. Residents will work with our ASOPRS trained attending in clinic and the operating room. During this rotation, residents will also spend time with our Neuro-Ophthalmologist and in the Pathology lab analyzing ophthalmic pathology slides. This rotation also includes a weekly one on one wetlab experience with faculty to learn surgical techniques.

Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center

There are two sequential rotations during the first year of ophthalmology at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, during which PGYII residents work closely with PGYIV residents. The majority of outpatient clinic visits and operative experiences are devoted to cataract evaluation and management. Specialty clinics, including glaucoma, oculoplastics, neuro-ophthalmology, cornea and retina, are also held weekly and are covered by residents from all teams. The first year residents spend significant time in the preoperative evaluation and preparation of surgical patients as well as assisting the chief resident in the operating room, with the opportunity to perform parts of the surgical procedure by the completion of your first rotation.