Ophthalmology Rotations

Lecture Schedule

Each Wednesday morning is reserved for Grand Rounds presentations by the residents, medical students, faculty and visiting professors. All residents are required to attend. The meetings are held both virtually and in the third floor auditorium of the SLU South Campus Building.

Journal Club

At least three journal clubs are scheduled each year in the homes of our faculty members. Mixing business with pleasure, these social events are used to discuss current issues and journals in ophthalmology.

Didactic Lectures

Wednesday evenings are used for the education lecture series. Faculty members and community ophthalmologists follow the information in the basic science lecture series books in preparation for the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) examination.

OKAP Preparation

The OKAP test is held every April and is required for all SLU ophthalmology residents. A teamwork approach is used among residents to perform well on this assessment. Weekly quizzes with question and answer discussions are held and the didactic lectures in the weeks leading up to the test are structured towards review for the exam.

Retina Conference

Retina Conference occurs every Friday morning, either in person, or virtually. Each month generally consists of two lectures given by current retina faculty or community retina specialists, as well as case reports presented by a resident rotating on the retina service.

Consult Rounds

Residents meet with the program director to discuss appropriate management plans and subsequent follow up of consult patients.

Rotation Schedule

First Year

First year ophthalmology residents at SLU learn the anatomy, physiology and function of the normal eye. Outpatient clinic time involves mastering detailed ophthalmologic examination and refraction. Time each week is allotted in the operative room to assist and learn basic surgical skills. Residents rotate through the glaucoma, cornea, neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmology, contact lens and low vision services.

Second Year

Subspecialty studies are prominent in the second year and residents develop surgical skills in the areas of anterior segment and strabismus. Rotations include: neuro–ophthalmology, oculoplastics/pathology, cornea, pediatric ophthalmology and retina.

Third Year

Third year ophthalmology residents at SLU continue to sharpen their clinical and surgical acumen with time devoted to the cornea, oculoplastics, pediatric ophthalmology, retina and glaucoma services, as well as the outpatient clinic. Independent decision making is fostered during this year, in addition to the opportunity to rotate again through a number of subspecialties.

Subspecialty Rotation Schedule

Comprehensive Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology residents at SLU have the opportunity to evaluate and manage a large variety of disease processes through examination techniques and understanding ophthalmic instruments and patient care.

Cornea

The cornea service offers extensive training in the medical, surgical and refractive aspects of corneal disease through the large volume of corneal transplants and refractive procedures performed annually.

Glaucoma

Adult and pediatric patients, referred from general ophthalmologists in the community, are treated by means of medical, laser and surgical care.

Neuro-ophthalmology

The disciplines of ophthalmology and neurology are integrated for better understanding of the relationships of the eye to the central nervous system in our neuro-ophthalmology subspecialty Rotation. Residents gain multiple perspectives in the assessment and treatment of disorders.

Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery

Residents participate in a full range of eyelid, orbital and lacrimal procedures, and in comprehensive consultative services through rotation and weekly oculoplastic rounds. Residents also spend time at outside surgical facilities with another part-time surgeon in private practice.

Optometric and Contact Lens Services

Residents learn to fit and manage patients using a wide variety of lens designs from soft disposable to the more complex toric and bifocal designs. The service offers custom designs and therapeutic lenses for prosthetic purposes and low vision assistance.

Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus

Pediatric patients are examined at both SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and the Saint Louis University Eye Institute. Adult patients are examined and treated at the Center for Specialized Medicine.

Retina/Vitreous

The retina/vitreous service provides residents with clinical and didactic training in the medical and surgical approaches to posterior segment disease and trauma in all patient age groups.