Abstract
Background The status of neuro-ophthalmology education in ophthalmology residency training in
the United States is unknown. There are numerous articles in the literature detailing
resident outcomes for surgical procedures; however, there are no articles detailing
teaching of a nonprocedural specialty. There are no specific Accreditation Council
for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements for neuro-ophthalmology training
within ophthalmology residency. Each program determines the amount of neuro-ophthalmology
training and level of training within ophthalmology residency. There are no publications
that detail the extent of neuro-ophthalmology training during ophthalmology residency.
Objective To determine the status of neuro-ophthalmology education in ophthalmology residency
training programs in the United States.
Methods A survey was sent in 2014 to residency directors and neuro-ophthalmologists of all
ophthalmology residency programs who participated in the Ophthalmology Residency Matching
Program in the United States to determine the amount of neuro-ophthalmology training
that residents receive.
Results From a total of 113 ophthalmology residency programs in the United States utilizing
the Ophthalmology Residency Matching Program, 104 surveys were returned (92% response
rate). Duration of neuro-ophthalmology training ranged from 1 to 112 days, with an
average of 34.5 days. Most rotations occurred within postgraduate year 2 or 3.
Conclusion This is the first evaluation of the amount of neuro-ophthalmology training within
ophthalmology residencies participating in the matching program in the United States,
which demonstrates large variability among the different programs. Future studies
could ascertain if there is a correlation between resident satisfaction in neuro-ophthalmology
training and the amount of training.
Keywords
neuro-ophthalmology - residency - education
