More than a quarter of pediatric residency programs lack formal ophthalmic education

This mail survey of 137 U.S. pediatric residency programs found that lack of time during pediatric residency and lack of ophthalmologists willing to participate in teaching were the main reasons that ophthalmology was not included in curricula and also for dissatisfaction with current ophthalmic programs. Ophthalmology is included in the curriculum of 72 percent of the survey respondents and 76 percent of program directors are satisfied with their current ophthalmology curricula. However, 28 percent of the programs do not include ophthalmology in their curriculum despite the desire of residency directors for such training at 76 percent of these programs. Of the programs that do include ophthalmology training, 24 percent of directors were not satisfied with their current ophthalmic education.

The authors write that the basic training required to effectively manage most common eye disorders, and to recognize those that require referral, can be taught with  relatively short, focused training programs that  combine lectures with hands-on experience in the examination of patients and using ophthalmic equipment, particularly the direct ophthalmoscope. Computer-based systems may also be effective.