Second and third year residents perform various laser procedures, as well as surgeries in the areas of strabismus, cataract, and retinal detachment. During their final year, residents acquire skills in phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, and more sophisticated methods of dealing with pediatric ophthalmic surgical problems, such as management of congenital cataracts. Corneal transplant surgery is performed by the third year residents at each institution. The general organization of patient care services is provided in rotations through various services at the two institutions. At CEI, residents see clinic patients on each of the services to which they are assigned.
Specific duties vary, depending on the institution or service being covered.
While covering the Glaucoma Service, residents see both clinic patients with glaucoma-related problems and private patients who are referred to a staff member for assessment. During rotations in the Pediatric Service, residents see clinic and private patients under the supervision of a staff member. However, while serving at the VA Eye Clinic residents have no private patient responsibilities. Residents at CEI do not have primary responsibility for care of private patients. They do, however, participate in the evaluation of private patients who are admitted for surgery and in the surgical management of patients, usually by assisting a staff member in surgery.