So you want to be an Eye Surgeon?
And if not why you should.....
Lai-Yeung NgaiST1 Severn Deanery
Why Ophthalmology?
‰ Why?◦ Wide variety of patients
Why Ophthalmology?
‰ Why?◦ Wide variety of patientsŠ Neonates to geriatricsŠ Chronic + AcuteŠ Outpatient + InpatientsŠ Relatively well
Why Ophthalmology?
‰ Why?◦ Wide variety of patientsŠ Neonates to geriatricsŠ Chronic + AcuteŠ Outpatient + Inpatients
◦ Surgery and Medicine combinedŠ Ophthalmology subspecialties:◦ Corneal/refractive◦ Oculoplastics◦ Paediatrics and ocular motility◦ Glaucoma◦ Vitreoretinal◦ Medical retinal◦ Oncology
Why Ophthalmology?
‰ Close working with other specialties◦ ENT◦ Rheumatology◦ Maxillofacial◦ Neurology◦ Neurosurgery◦ A&E◦ Endocrinology◦ Paediatrics◦ Dermatology◦ Orthotics and optometry
Why Ophthalmology?
‰ Why?◦ Wide variety of patients◦ Surgery and Medicine combined◦ Very visual specialty
Why Ophthalmology
‰ Why?◦ Wide variety of patients◦ Surgery and Medicine combined◦ Very visual speciality◦ Lots of toys and continuing innovation
Why Ophthalmology
‰ Why?◦ Wide variety of patients◦ Surgery and Medicine combined◦ Very visual speciality◦ Lots of toys and continuing innovation◦ Varied week
Varied Week
‰ 2-3 operating lists‰ 2-3 general/ subspecialty clinics‰ Laser list‰ Eye casualty‰ 2 Study sessions‰ Teaching
‰ Lots of conferences regionally, nationally and internationally!
Why Ophthalmology?
‰ Why?◦ Wide variety of patients◦ Surgery and Medicine combined◦ Very visual speciality◦ Lots of toys and continuing innovation◦ Varied week◦ Good work/Life balance
Good Work/Life balance
‰ Choose a specialty where the consultants are happy!
‰ On calls from home‰ Rare overnight emergencies that can’t
wait
Why Ophthalmology
‰ Why?◦ Wide variety of patients◦ Surgery and Medicine combined◦ Very visual speciality◦ Lots of Toys◦ Varied week◦ Good work/balance◦ Patient satisfaction◦ Charity work◦ Private work
What it takes to be an Ophthalmologist......
‰ Stereopsis
What it takes to be an Ophthalmologist......
‰ Stereopsis‰ Attention to detail
What it takes to be an Ophthalmologist......
‰ Stereopsis‰ Attention to detail‰ Ability to grasp physics
What it takes to be an Ophthalmologist......
‰ Stereopsis‰ Attention to detail‰ Ability to grasp physics‰ Dexterity
What it takes to be an Ophthalmologist......
‰ Stereopsis‰ Attention to detail‰ Ability to grasp physics‰ Dexterity‰ Commitment
Exam + Career structure
‰ First get a ST training post
‰ Annual ARCP – based on
portfolio/DOPs/OSATS/CBDs
‰ Subspecialty clinical fellowships (x2)
‰ Consultant post!
‰ FRCOphth Part 1 by the end of ST2◦ 3 hour MCQ◦ 2 hour OSE
‰ Refraction certificate by end of ST3◦ 8 OSCE stations
assessing refraction and glasses prescribing
‰ FRCOphth Part 2 by the end of ST7◦ EMQs◦ MCQs◦ Structured viva◦ OSCE
When you start
‰ Steep learning curve‰ Clinic-based‰ Diagnose and manage patients from the
start
The downsides....
‰ Highly competitive◦ Ratio 1:89 in 2010◦ (Core surgery 1:14)◦ (Anaesthetics 1:24)◦ 6/10 candidates had
an MD or PhD
‰ Demanding surgery◦ Millimetres away from
complications
‰ Work hard during the day.....◦ 25000 pts seen in
eye casualty a year◦ 100000 patients in
outpatients◦ 120000 procedures a
year
‰ But you get your evenings and weekends to play with
Any Questions?
Further info
‰ Email me Lai