UC San Diego Shiley Eye Institute UC San Diego Shiley Eye Institute The Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology UC San Diego Shiley Eye Institute
by name
Afshari, Natalie A. Baxter, Sally L. Borooah, Shyamanga Brown, Stuart I. Camp, Andrew Do, Jiun Ferreyra, Henry A. Freeman, William R. Goldbaum, Michael H. Granet, David B. Haw, Weldon W. Heichel, Chris W. Hennein, Lauren Huang, Alex A. Huang, Lingling Kikkawa, Don O. Kline, Lanning Korn, Bobby S. Lee, Jeffrey E. Liu, Catherine Y. Moghimi, Sasan Movaghar, Mansoor Nguyen, Thao P. Nudleman, Eric Puig-Llano, Manuel Robbins, Shira L. Rudell, Jolene Savino, Peter J. Scott, Nathan L. Spencer, Doran B. Toomey, Christopher B. Vasile, Cristiana Weinreb, Robert N. Welsbie, Derek S.
by specialty
Comprehensive Ophthalmology Cornea & Cataracts Dry Eye Clinic Glaucoma Neuro-Ophthalmology Ocular Oncology Ophthalmic Genetics Ophthalmic Pathology Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Ophthalmology Informatics and Data Science Optometry & Low Vision Pediatric Ophthalmology & Eye Alignment Disorders Refractive Surgery / LASIK Retina & Vitreous Thyroid Eye Clinic Uveitis
by condition
AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) Cataracts Corneal Conditions Cosmetic Surgery Diabetic Retinopathy Eye Cancer Eye Movement Disorders Glaucoma Hereditary (Genetic) Disorders Low Vision Neuro-Ophthalmic Conditions Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Pediatric Conditions Refractive Errors Retinal Diseases Strabismus (Strabimus) Thyroid Eye Disease Uveitis
Residency Banner

Surgical Experience Highlights

Cataract surgery

Performing cataract surgery offers an introduction to intraocular surgery and is a foundational skill for comprehensive ophthalmologists and many subspecialists. The elegance of the surgery and the happy post-operative patients remind us why we chose to practice ophthalmology. Our residents get involved in cataract surgery early in their training and continue to build their skills over the following four years. A comprehensive wet lab is held every fall and covers everything from loading lenses to phacoemulsification - for many of our PGY1 residents this will be their first opportunity to practice complex bimanual and bipedal surgery. During PGY2 residents will begin performing independent cataract surgeries on their VA rotation. PGY3 brings continued surgical growth with more complex cases performed at UCSD while on the Cornea rotation. Finally, three rotations during PGY4 focus heavily on cataract surgery and allow residents to greatly increase their surgical numbers. These cases include highly complex surgeries, including post-operative, dense, or unstable cataracts, use of iris dilating devices, premium toric and multifocal lenses, and combination cases with minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries.

Oculoplastic surgery

Residents have a robust oculoplastic experience in all 3 years of residency. At the VA, residents help manage functional, orbit, and lacrimal conditions in the clinic and in the operating room, working directly with our oculoplastic attending, first-hand. This allows for many learning opportunities including nuances on decision-making, and time for honing surgical skills. During PGY3 and PGY4 year rotations at Shiley Eye Institute, residents are key members of the busy oculoplastic service. Clinical case and photo/imaging reviews are held at the end of clinic days to enhance education. Residents participate in this highly surgical service where faculty are dedicated in building surgical skills and decision-making. In addition to functional and aesthetic cases, residents will gain significant exposure to complex conditions requiring an interdisciplinary team, including regular combo cases with ENT, neurosurgery, facial plastics, craniofacial, and dermatology. Clinicopathological conferences, journal clubs, and surgical wetlabs also supplement clinical and surgical teaching.

Navy refractive rotation

UCSD pairs with the Naval Medical Center to offer residents a unique opportunity to participate in a busy refractive clinic. Residents typically complete >50 cases of PRK, LASIK, and SMILE and can be certified on the Alcon EX500, Zeiss Visumax, and Alcon Allegretto. These certifications across multiple platforms offer a leg up to residents that pursue future comprehensive or cornea subspecialty positions. The refractive surgery experience during UCSD residency exceeds many refractive surgery fellowship programs.

By the numbers (2022-2023)

We present a range of surgeries performed because some residents may focus on certain types of surgeries over others.

Resident as primary surgeon:

  • Phacoemulsification: 160-260 cases
  • Pan retinal photocoagulation: 13-34 cases
  • Refractive surgery: 15-92 cases
  • Strabismus surgery: 17-51 cases
  • Glaucoma drainage device: 5-28 cases
  • Intravitreal injection: 100-217 cases
  • Ptosis repair: 22-64 cases
  • Blepharoplasty: 36-73 cases
  • Ruptured globe repair: 3-13 cases

UCSD Virtual Tour

Alumni Testimonials

UCSD Glaucoma Fellows

Interview with Residency Director, Jeff Lee, MD

Meet Robyn And Learn More About The Program

UCSD Applicants



More Questions?

Contact us for any remaining questions about residency at Shiley Eye Institute.

Research

The Shiley Eye Institute is a full-service facility offering everything from basic eye exams to the most advanced diagnostic tests and sophisticated surgery from world-renowned physicians and staff.
LEARN MORE

Directions

9415 Campus Point Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0946

Whats Your Symptom Disclaimer

The information contained in this online site is intended to provide accurate and helpful health information for the general public. It is made available with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal professional services on this site. The information should not be considered complete and does not cover all diseases, ailments, physical conditions or their treatment. It should not be used in place of a call or visit to a medical, health or other competent professional, who should be consulted before adopting any of the suggestions in this site or drawing inferences from it.

The information about drugs contained on this site is general in nature. It does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of the medicines mentioned, nor is the information intended as medical advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of taking a particular drug.

The operator(s) of this site, and the publisher, specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the material on this site.

Click Here To Accept

Email Us

First Name*
Last Name*
Email*
Phone
Topic

Required *

Submit