Matching Into Ophthalmology | A Resident's Perspective 

I had been watching your videos for more than an year. I was looking for Ophthalmologist in Sioux Falls, SD. I came across Vance Thompson Vision. One of the doctors resembled you. I quickly checked your you tube channel. Can't believe you are working 1hr away from where I live. Small world! Keep rocking doc!

thanks for the support! glad to have some friends from across the pond following along. Cheers!

yeah that is an excellent point it is very tough to know when you can't rotate through it. Definitely check out some of the vlog style vids on my channel because it may give you a little more idea of day in the life type picture of what we do. But also I'd recommend reaching out to ophthalmologists who are in practice and not residency because those things are honestly very different- ask them what their day to day is, their schedules, are they happy, would they do it again that kind of thing. I don't think you can go wrong with ophtho though- it's a great specialty and their are so many subspecialty options even within ophtho itself. Good luck to you!

Doctor Eyeball MD I’m so thankful. Your videos definitely help me a lot. Pls keep making these wonderful vids and i will always be the fan 😁

Congrats on starting med school. Don't get too overwhelmed with specialty choice too early. Focus on the transition to med school and doing well. But I'd say try to shadow some ophthalmologists in clinic and in the OR and make sure it's something you want. Try to get involved with ophtho research if you think you want to pursue it. Join the ophtho interest group. If there isn't one you can do what I did and start one. Then try to do well in your clinical rotations and especially your ophtho rotations. But don't get overwhelmed with all this- just keep an open mind about all the specialty options and enjoy the ride. Best of luck and thanks for following along!

Thanks for watching! You would have to have all the medical pre-rec classes completed and then apply and get accepted into medical school and then apply for and get accepted into ophthalmology residency. That’s really the only path into the specialty :) hope that helps!

@@doctoreyeballmd7493 I understand that. Unfortunately, it's a completely different path but I know it will be worth it in the long run. I look forward to the journey though

I will try to make that video. Good idea!

HI, I don't have a ton of knowledge on the path for matching for IMGs in ophtho specifically but talking with some during my TY year the best shot to distinguish yourself is likely to get a chance to do an elective rotation at an ophtho program so they know who you are.

Volunteer at Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology. Apply for a rotation in ophthalmology in USA during internship. Attend ophthalmology conferences; ARVO, APAO, AAO - present a paper/poster...

If you can't do ophtho specific research just do some type of research. ophtho is better but it's better to do any type rather than none.

Of course!

I think that’s difficult to say exactly which programs are more likely to take IMGs. It’s likely more case by case basis, but I would start by looking at the residency rosters and seeing which programs already have IMGs. I would also consider reaching out to a program you may be interested in and asking about doing a rotation there to possibly help your chances. Hope that helps.

@@doctoreyeballmd7493 Thank you for giving your time to reply. That was a helpful tip!!!

That is very dependent on the rest of your stats I think. You could still match after deciding late but it's tough to say how competitive you'd be without knowing more. It is tough as well if you don't have a home program to get letters of rec and if you haven't done an away rotation in ophtho it may be hard to justify how you're sure you want to do it.

I would consider trying an away rotation or two, meeting some people who can write you letters, and consider getting involved in some type of ophtho research.

@@doctoreyeballmd7493 Thank You! My step 1 is a few points above the average matched ophtho applicant for last year and I do have a couple pubs but not in ophtho. I will try to reach out to some local ophthalmologists to try to get involved in research.

it's definitely doable- one of the cornea fellows in my program last year was DO. I don't know the exact percentage chances and while I know it is tougher- I wouldn't let that deter you from trying if you really want to do ophtho

AOA - I may have mispoke.

Excellent idea! Thanks. Cheers

I will likely try to match into Retina Fellowship as I find it the most interesting subspecialty in ophtho :)

Álvaro Y that's a great point and an interesting way of deciding. I think there is more to choosing the right candidates for a program than only a single test though. That way does sound less stressful and perhaps more fair but I'm not sure that I would prefer it.