Vitreoretinal Fellowship
The Vitreoretinal Fellowship Program is one of the most challenging and competitive fellowships in the nation. During this 24-month training program, fellows obtain instruction and extensive experience in diagnosis and management of a wide-range of vitreoretinal diseases. Fellows will gain a broad experience in both medical and surgical retina.
Medical Retina
The fellows participate in weekly clinics seeing patients with macular and retinal vascular diseases, uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, inherited vitreoretinal disorders and retinal detachments. Fellows examine patients and arrive at a diagnosis prior to presenting these patients to the faculty. Fellows learn to interpret fluorescein angiograms and will be instructed in echography and electrophysiology as related to retinal disease. There is a great deal of practical experience interpreting fluorescein angiograms and performing ocular ultrasonography. There is an imaging conference every other month. With faculty members present, the fellows direct the conference, and prepare and present all the cases discussed at these conferences. The retina fellows observe and perform laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears and detachment, and other retinal diseases. The fellows gain extensive experience with intravitreal injections for a wide range of diseases. Fellows consult on patients with infectious diseases of the eye at medical center facilities, usually at the request of the residents, and present these patients to the faculty. Fellows observe, supervise the residents and perform laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and other retinal disease including photodynamic therapy. Our modern ocular imaging laboratory, with wide-field and standard fluorescein and ICG angiography, fundus autofluoresce imaging, OCT and ultrasound, brings opportunities for improved diagnosis and research for macular diseases. The Retina Laboratory has full-field ERG, multifocal ERG and other electrophysiological testing as well as microperimetry available. Fellows participate in a monthly uveitis clinic where Dr. Lin works with an in-clinic rheumatologist to evaluate and treat patients with anterior and posterior uveitis. In addition to diagnosis of complex uveitis cases, fellows learn about treatment, including treatment with various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
Surgical Vitreoretinal Training
Vitreoretinal fellows learn to examine patients and properly record findings on the retina examination. The fellows learn preoperative assessment of the vitreoretinal patient and perform surgery under the supervision of the vitreoretinal attending faculty. It is our philosophy that fellows should have supervised, progressive hands-on experience in order to become outstanding vitreoretinal surgeons. Fellows learn the judgment needed and will become experienced in all of the technical aspects in retinal detachment surgery including laser, cryotherapy, scleral buckle and vitrectomy. Fellows will manage a large number of complex diabetic traction retinal detachments, eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy, macular holes, epiretinal membranes and other retinal diseases. There are 2 retina operating suites with ceiling-mounted microscopes and BIOMs for wide-field viewing. Fellows learn basic micro-incisional vitrectomy techniques including membrane and ILM peeling procedures, management of ocular trauma, endolaser techniques, retinectomy techniques and the use of intraocular gases, perfluorocarbon liquids, silicone oil and vital dyes. The vitreoretinal fellows participate in all aspects of postoperative care.
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Apply
Applications to the vitreoretinal fellowship program are accepted through the SF Match Central Application Service. Any additional material can be directed to: Gary Abrams, M.D. Vitreoretinal Fellowship Program Director Kresge Eye Institute.
To learn more about the vitreoretinal faculty at Kresge Eye Institute, please click here.
For more information, please contact Amy Regan at 313-577-1325 or send email to: aregan@med.wayne.edu. Kresge Eye Institute is one of the first vitreoretinal programs nationwide to follow the guidelines of the Fellowship Compliance Committee. Please visit www.aupofcc.org to learn more.
