The principal goal for the first year resident is to develop fundamental skills in the diagnosis and management of common ocular disease.
Residents take a course in optics during their first week.
Technical skills in examination are emphasized. First year residents learn the techniques of fluorescein angiography. Surgical experience begins during the first year, with residents performing minor procedures, assisting in surgeries and performing cataract surgeries by the end of the year. The first-year resident spends four months at Loyola rotating through general and subspecialty clinics and eight months are spent at Hines VA Hospital. The second year resident spends eight months at Loyola and four months at Hines VA, rotating through the subspecialty clinics, such as Pediatric Ophthalmology, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Retina, Oculoplastics, and Cornea.