Skip to main content

Curriculum

Throughout the duration of the training program, residents can expect to play a primary role in approximately 500 cases.

Residents rotate through a variety of clinic settings, including the clinic at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, which serves as the department’s primary academic facility for adult services as well as the location for most didactic educational activities. Other clinical settings include IU Health Methodist and University hospitals, the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital, the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Riley Hospital for Children and the IU Health Springmill Eye Clinic.

At the VA Medical Center, residents are active and primary physicians in ophthalmology comprehensive clinics, with subspecialty supervision in medical and surgical retina. The majority of primary cataract surgeries take place on the VA rotations during the PGY-4 year.

The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital also provides a comprehensive ophthalmology experience, with weekly sub-specialty clinics in glaucoma, cornea, retina, pediatrics, oculoplastics and neuro-ophthalmology. Primary surgical cases are performed here by residents in all sub-specialties.

Residents may also have opportunities to gain experience in international ophthalmology by serving as an associate ophthalmologist with Orbis International during a one-week rotation at various sites throughout the world, when available. Residents work with Daniel Neely, MD, who serves as Orbis Cybersight’s senior medical consultant and longtime volunteer physician.

Learn more about Global Health Programs

The ophthalmology residency program is a fully integrated program. Applicants matching to IU School of Medicine for ophthalmology are required to complete PGY-1 with the department. Integrated interns will spend three months on ophthalmology service and the remaining nine months in fields and specialties complementary to ophthalmology.

Rotations: Ambulatory internal medicine, subspecialty internal medicine, anesthesia, MICU, SICU, emergency department, cardiology, general medicine wards

PGY-2 residents learn how to take histories, perform refractions and use specialized instruments and equipment to diagnose and treat common ocular problems. Residents complete initial ophthalmologic evaluations under the supervision of IU School of Medicine faculty and begin subspecialty and surgical experiences.

Rotations: Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital, oculoplastics, cornea, glaucoma, comprehensive, night float and pediatrics

PGY-3 residents concentrate on further subspecialty training with increased surgical and consultative responsibilities. Residents begin to gain experience with primary surgeries, including cataract extraction and oculoplastic surgeries.

Rotations: Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center clinic and surgery, Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital clinic and surgery, consults, night float, pediatric ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology.

During the PGY-4 year, residents gain significant experience as primary surgeons in all areas of ophthalmic surgery, including cataract, cornea, glaucoma, retina, oculoplastics, pediatrics and refractive surgery. In-depth rotations through the subspecialties augment knowledge and skills obtained during the first two years of residency.

Residents in PGY-4 assume more responsibility for patient care in clinics and ORs, including pre- and post-operative management, and serve as primary surgeons during ocular trauma cases. Two or three PGY-4 residents are selected as chief residents to serve as leaders in academic, surgical and administrative roles. These individuals serve as the liaison between the residents and the department chair and program directors.

Rotations: Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital, glaucoma and retina

Glick Eye Institute Resident Surgical Skills Transfer Course

Glick Eye Institute Resident Surgical Skills Transfer Course

The annual surgical skills transfer course provides an outstanding opportunity for residents to enhance their surgical skills and explore new surgical procedures in a setting that is highly mentored by expert faculty and industry partners. This half-day course takes place every year and involves residents from all levels of training. In addition to our wet lab facilities, the Glick Eye Institute houses the Eyesi Surgical Simulator and Help Me See!