The Department of Ophthalmology is a referral center for patients from all over the world. The majority of patients are treated on an out-patient basis. This provides residents with the opportunity to practice ambulatory anesthesia and learn skills that allow for a rapid and safe recovery from general anesthesia and a timely discharge. A large number of cases are performed under peribulbar or retrobulbar blocks, allowing residents the opportunity to learn these techniques and the use of Monitored Anesthesia Care for the performance of blocks and surgery. Patients with traumatic eye injuries are referred to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a tertiary care and level 1 trauma center.
Residents participate in the anesthetic challenges inherent to such patients.