Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate expectations of ophthalmology residency program leadership regarding resident competency in performing specific retinal procedures independently by graduation, and to investigate the training ophthalmology residents receive in these procedures.
Methods: :
A survey concerning 1) expected resident competency in performing specific retinal procedures by graduation from residency and 2) the training ophthalmology residents receive in these procedures was sent to the residency program director at each of the 117 accredited ophthalmology training programs in the United States. The anonymous survey was completed by the program director, department chair, or retina staff at each participating program and returned to the authors without identifying information. Main outcome measures include the proportion of respondents who expected residents, by graduation, to be competent to perform specific retinal laser, injection, and incisional procedures; and the number of specific retinal procedures performed by residents as primary surgeon during residency.
Results: :
A completed survey was received from 37/117 (32%) programs. All respondents identified panretinal photocoagulation and laser of a peripheral retinal tear as procedures that residency graduates should be able to perform independently; 89% and 3% of respondents reported their residents perform >20 such procedures, respectively, as primary surgeon during residency. Most respondents identified focal laser for diabetic macular edema (94%), grid laser for macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion (92%), and intravitreal injection (83%) as procedures residency graduates should be able to perform independently; 64%, 17%, and 14% of respondents reported their residents perform >20 such cases, respectively, as primary surgeon. Resident competency in scleral buckling or pars plana vitrectomy was expected by 17% and 19% of respondents, respectively, and 0% and 3% of respondents reported their residents perform >20 such cases, respectively, as primary surgeon.
Conclusions: :
Most respondents expected ophthalmology residency graduates to be competent to perform retinal laser procedures and intravitreal injections independently. Competency in incisional retinal procedures was generally not expected. For some procedures, there was a disconnect between residency program leadership expectations of resident competency in these procedures by graduation and the number of such procedures performed by residents as the primary surgeon during residency.