Which Is The Best Ophthalmology Residency For You?

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Choosing your ophthalmology residency

As a med student, deciding which ophthalmology residency to apply to can be overwhelming—which of the 110 or more ophthalmology residency programs in the United States should you even send your application to?

Ultimately, choosing an ophthalmology residency comes down to a variety of factors, which can include:

• Location
• Faculty-resident ratio
• Funding
• Type of program (join versus integrated)
• Number of procedures performed by residents
• Whether or not all major specialties are represented among the faculty
• VA affiliation

Not to mention more esoteric factors like national reputation, or personal factors that are unique to you and your situation, such as family needs.

Using the tool

Our ophthalmology residency tool is meant to be a starting point. Answer the questions, then use your results to start your research! See our list of the ophthalmology residency programs in the United States and Puerto Rico below, and best of luck with your application!

Program size

The average ophthalmology residency program size is 3-4 residents per year.

Board certification

The American Board of Ophthalmology awards board certification to ophthalmologists who complete a rigorous set of medical training requirements. While not required for the practice of medicine, board certification is often pursued by MDs who wish to formalize their commitment to lifelong learning, compassionate care, and practice improvement.

National reputation

While reputation is a nebulous factor to measure, many residency programs possess immediate name recognition. All ophthalmology residency programs are required to meet the standards set by ACGME for accreditation, which ensures that residents receive a thorough clinical education.

Research

While accreditation standards mean that every program will offer critical opportunities for residents to develop their skills across the board, some programs will also offer expanded opportunities to pursue research and get involved in clinical trials.

Location

For many students, location might be a significant factor in your decision. The recent update to the ophthalmology residency match process means that residents are less likely to have to expect to move after PGY-1.

Joint or integrated program

As of 2020, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has begun to move towards an integrated four-year structure. This means that ophthalmology residencies will include a PGY-1 year linked with the ophthalmology residency, or an integrated program with PGY-1-4 all run through a department of ophthalmology. This process will be fully implemented by the 2023 match cycle.

What that means is that wherever you match for your ophthalmology residency, that is where you'll be for the next four years. That same hospital is where you'll be doing your intern year, and incorporated into that intern year is three months of ophthalmology. You will spend nine months doing either internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, or general surgery, depending on the program arrangement.

Until 2023, joint programs might still exist, meaning that PGY-1 residents could be doing their internship year at a separate hospital.

Specialties

Many, but not all, residency programs will have full-time faculty representing each sub-specialty in ophthalmology. Residencies that do not will often have part-time faculty or connections with ophthalmologists in other sub-specialties. If you know you are interested in pursuing a specific sub-specialty, or that you will be interested in pursuing fellowship, make sure that the programs to which you apply include faculty representing those specialties.

VA opportunities

Many, but not all, residency programs will offer opportunities with the VA.

Number of faculty

While the average program size might be 3-4 students per year, it's the faculty/resident ratio that determines the amount of focused attention and coaching residents will receive.

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Ophthalmology residency programs

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Albany Medical College

Location: Slingerlands, New York
Year founded: 1964
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 18
Board-certified percentage: 84%
Alumni publication percentile: 58%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 58%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital

Location: Madison Heights, Michigan
Year founded: 2016
Total spots: 5
VA: No
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: Unknown
Joint or integrated: Joint

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute/University of Miami/Jackson Health System:

Location: Miami, Florida
Year founded: 1959
Total spots: 21
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 55
Board-certified percentage: 93%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 94%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Baylor College of Medicine/Cullen Eye Institute

Location: Houston, Texas
Year founded: 1959
Total spots: 18
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 32
Board-certified percentage: 98%
Alumni publication percentile: 87%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Beaumont Health (Royal Oak)

Location: Royal Oak, Michigan
Year founded: 1979
Total spots: 9
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 14
Board-certified percentage: 96%
Alumni publication percentile: 50%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• 300-350 cataract surgeries with approximately 150 as primary surgeon
• 60-80 corneal surgeries
• 250-300 ophthalmic plastic surgical procedures
• 40-60 pediatric strabismus procedures
• 40-50 retinal procedures
• 25-40 glaucoma procedures
• 50-60 anterior segment laser procedures
• 60-70 retinal laser procedures
• 200-250 intravitreal injections
• 15-25 traumatic open globe surgical repairs

Beaumont Health (Taylor)

Location: Taylor, Michigan
Year founded: 2017
Total spots: 6
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 14
Joint or integrated: Joint

Boston University Medical Center

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Year founded: 1968
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 36
Board-certified percentage: 90%
Alumni publication percentile: 59%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 59%
Joint or integrated: Joint

BronxCare Health System

Location: Bronx, New York
Total spots: 6
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 12
Board-certified percentage: 84%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Brown University

Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Total spots: 8
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 50
Board-certified percentage: 95%
Alumni publication percentile: 65%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 90%
Joint or integrated: Joint

California Pacific Medical Center

Location: San Francisco, California
Year founded: 1975
Total spots: 11
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 17
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 96%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Year founded: 1958
Total spots: 18
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 17
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 96%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• Residents are divided into three teams: Red, Blue, and White
  • Red team performs surgeries 3x per week, with 100-200 surgical procedures in a two-month period
  • Blue team performs surgeries 2x per week, with 80-100 surgical procedures in a two-month period
  • White team performs surgeries 1-3x per week, with 50-60 surgical procedures in a two-month period

Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Year founded: 1949
Total spots: 12
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: Unknown
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: 94%
Alumni clinical trial percentage: 92%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• PGY-3: 30-50 primary cataract procedures
• PGY-4: 200-250 primary cataract surgeries
• 250-300 primary phacoemulsification
• Total surgical volume: 80th percentile nationally

Cook County Health and Hospitals System

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Year founded: 1949
Total spots: 12
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty:
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: 94%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 92%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

Resident surgery total:

• Cataract - 307
• YAG capsulotomy - 17
• Laser trabeculoplasty - 10
• Laser iridotomy - 57
• Panretinal laser photocoagulation - 543
• Keratoplasty - 11
• Pterygium/conj/corneal - 13
• Keratorefractive surgery - 6
• Strabismus - 15
• Glaucoma filter/shunt - 39
• Retinal Vitreous - 106
• Intravitreal injection - 375
• Oculoplastic and orbit - 60
• Eyelid laceration - 8
• Chalazia excision - 14
• Ptosis/blepharoplasty - 10
• Globe trauma - 14

Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University

Location: Detroit, Michigan
Year founded: 1951
Total spots: 21
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 25
Board-certified percentage: 92%
Alumni publication percentile: 56%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 69%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Duke University Hospital

Location: Durham, North Carolina
Year founded: 1953
Total spots: 18
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 91
Board-certified percentage: 94%
Alumni publication percentile: 89%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 87%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• 250 cataract extractions
• Assist in over 600 surgical cases
  • Cataract
  • Glaucoma
  • Cornea
  • Strabismus
  • Vitreoretinal
  • Oculoplastics procedures.

Eastern Virginia Medical School

Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Year founded: 1976
Total spots: 6
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 2
Board-certified percentage: 83%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Emory University School of Medicine

Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Year founded: 1962
Total spots: 18
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 45
Board-certified percentage: 98%
Alumni publication percentile: 64%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• Averages from graduating class of 2017
  • Cataract: 216 (highest 257)
  • Strabismus: 22 (highest 41)
  • Glaucoma: 10 (highest 16)
  • Plastics: 68 (highest 149)
  • Major traumas: 10 (highest 16)
  • Lasers: 80 (YAG, LI, SLT, PRP, Focal)

Geisinger Health System

Location: Danville, Pennsylvania
Year founded: 1945
Total spots: 6
VA: No
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 17
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

George Washington University

Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Total spots: 12
VA: No
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 17
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Henry Ford Hospital/Wayne State University

Location: Detroit, Michigan
Total spots: 15
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 30
Board-certified percentage: 98%
Alumni publication percentile: 75%
Alumni clinical trial percentage: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Howard University

Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Total spots: 9
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 30
Board-certified percentage: 98%
Alumni publication percentile: 75%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and New York Eye and Ear

Location: New York
Year founded: 1951
Total spots: 30
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 250
Board-certified percentage: 95%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 66%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Indiana University School of Medicine

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Year founded: 1956
Total spots: 18
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 23
Board-certified percentage: 96%
Alumni publication percentile: 75%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 75%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center/New York Medical College

Location: Jamaica, New York
Year founded: 1971
Total spots: 6
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 15
Board-certified percentage: 83%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Johns Hopkins University

Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Year founded: 1958
Total spots: 15
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 15
Board-certified percentage: 97%
Alumni publication percentile: 97%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 97%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Kettering Health Network

Location: Dayton, Ohio
Year founded: 2018
Total spots: 5
VA: No
All major specialties? Unknown
Number of full-time faculty: Unknown
Joint or integrated: Joint

Larkin Community Hospital

Location: South Miami, Florida
Year founded: 2018
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 30
Joint or integrated: Joint

Loma Linda University Health Education Consortium

Location: Loma Linda, California
Total spots: 11
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 87
Board-certified percentage: 81%
Alumni publication percentile: 70%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Louisiana State University (New Orleans)

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Year founded: 1997
Total spots: 22
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 60
Board-certified percentage: 87%
Alumni publication percentile: 81%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Louisiana State University (Shreveport)

Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 10
Joint or integrated: Joint

Loyola University Medical Center

Location: Maywood, Illinois
Year founded: 1972
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: Unknown
Board-certified percentage: 95%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 69%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Madigan Army Medical Center

Location: Tacoma, Washington
Year founded: 1991
Total spots: 6
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: Unknown
Board-certified percentage: 84%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Year founded: 1871
Total spots: 24
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 110
Board-certified percentage: 95%
Alumni publication percentile: 98%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 92%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester)

Location: Rochester, Minnesota
Year founded: 1957
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 30
Board-certified percentage: 97%
Alumni publication percentile: 87%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 57%
Joint or integrated: Joint

McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Year founded: 1963
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 30
Board-certified percentage: 92%
Alumni publication percentile: 66%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 61%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Medical College of Georgia

Location: Augusta, Georgia
Year founded: 1958
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 12
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50
Joint or integrated: Joint

Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Year founded: 1965
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 40
Board-certified percentage: 97%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Medical University of South Carolina

Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Year founded: 1957
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Unknown
Number of full-time faculty: Unknown
Board-certified percentage: 92%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentage: 59%
Joint or integrated: Joint

MedStar Health/Georgetown-Washington Hospital Center

Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Year founded: 1958
Total spots: 18
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 15
Board-certified percentage: 92%
Alumni publication percentile: 59%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 61
Joint or integrated: Joint

Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Location: Bronx, New York
Total spots: 15
VA: No
All major specialties?
Number of full-time faculty: 19
Board-certified percentage: 96%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Nassau University Medical Center

Location: East Meadow, New York
Year founded: 1967
Total spots: 12
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 19
Board-certified percentage: 96%
Joint or integrated: Joint

National Capital Consortium

Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Total spots: 10
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Unknown
Number of full-time faculty: Unknown
Joint or integrated: Joint

Naval Medical Center (San Diego)

Location: San Diego, California
Year founded: 1959
Total spots: 9
VA: No
All major specialties? Unknown
Number of full-time faculty: Unknown
Board-certified percentage: 100
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 89%
Joint or integrated: Joint

New York Medical College at Westchester Medical Center

Location: Valhalla, New York
Total spots: 9
VA: No
All major specialties? Unknown
Number of full-time faculty: Unknown
Board-certified percentage: 83%
Alumni publication percentile: 51%
Joint or integrated: Joint

New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus)

Location: New York, New York
Year founded: 1990
Total spots: 12
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 44
Board-certified percentage: 91
Alumni publication percentile: 95%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 92%
Joint or integrated: Joint

New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell Campus)

Location: New York, New York
Year founded: 1983
Total spots: 10
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 30
Board-certified percentage: 90%
Alumni publication percentile: 73%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 79%
Joint or integrated: Joint

New York University School of Medicine

Location: New York, New York
Total spots: 20
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 40
Board-certified percentage: 95%
Alumni publication percentile: 97%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Ohio State University Hospital

Location: Columbus, Ohio
Total spots: 17
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 35
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Oregon Health & Science University

Location: Portland, Oregon
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 85
Board-certified percentage: 98%
Alumni publication percentile: 83%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 66%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• 200 cataract surgeries

Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 24
Board-certified percentage: 79%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 60%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Total spots: 3
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: Unknown
Joint or integrated: Joint

Prisma Health-Midlands/University of South Carolina

Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Year founded: 1979
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 7
Board-certified percentage: 92%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Rush University Medical Center

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Total spots: 6
VA: No
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 26
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50
Joint or integrated: Joint

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Location: Newark, New Jersey
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 15
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: 64%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• >200 major procedures as primary surgeon by the end of their third year

San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium

Location: Lackland AFB, Texas
Total spots: 16
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: unknown
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentage: 55%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/Wills Eye Hospital

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Year founded: 1949
Total spots: 24
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 250
Board-certified percentage: 99%
Alumni publication percentile: 95%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 85%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Year founded: 2005
Total spots: 6
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 14
Board-certified percentage: 92%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• >120 cataract surgeries

St John's Episcopal Hospital-South Shore

Location: Far Rockaway, New York
Total spots: 9
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: unknown
Joint or integrated: Joint

St Louis University School of Medicine

Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Year founded: 1955
Total spots: 12
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 15
Board-certified percentage: 97%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Stanford Health Care-Sponsored Stanford University

Location: Palo Alto, California
Year founded: 1962
Total spots: 11
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 57
Board-certified percentage: 85%
Alumni publication percentile: 80%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Stony Brook Medicine/University Hospital

Location: Stony Brook, New York
Year founded: 2007
Total spots: 6
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 16
Board-certified percentage: 82%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Summa Health System/NEOMED

Location: Akron, Ohio
Total spots: 6
VA: No
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 39
Board-certified percentage: 90%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn

Location: Brooklyn, New York
Year founded: 1953
Total spots: 21
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 14
Board-certified percentage: 83%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

SUNY Upstate Medical University

Location: Syracuse, New York
Year founded: 1953
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 43
Board-certified percentage: 95%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Temple University Hospital

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Year founded: 1950
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 8
Board-certified percentage: 93%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• Cataracts - 180.3
• Cornea - 8.7
• Glaucoma - 13.3
• Globe rupture - 5.3
• Strabismus - 13.7
• Oculoplastics and orbit - 34.3
• Retina and vitreous - 32.3
• Lasers - 60.4
• Intravitreal injections - 96

Texas A&M College of Medicine-Scott and White Medical Center (Temple)

Location: Temple, Texas
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 13
Board-certified percentage: 94%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Lubbock

Location: Lubbock, Texas
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 14
Board-certified percentage: 93%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile; 79%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Tufts Medical Center

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Total spots: 13
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 30
Board-certified percentage: 89%
Alumni publication percentile: 76%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 75%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Tulane University

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Year founded: 1969
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 23
Board-certified percentage: 79%
Alumni publication percentile: 56%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 75%
Joint or integrated: Joint

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center

Location: Los Angeles, California
Total spots: 24
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 66
Board-certified percentage: 96%
Alumni publication percentile: 92%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 78%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University at Buffalo

Location: Buffalo, New York
Year founded: 1985
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 14
Board-certified percentage: 83%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentage: 87%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Alabama Medical Center

Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 51
Board-certified percentage: 93%
Alumni publication percentile: 61%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 60%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson

Location: Tuscon, Arizona
Year founded: 2008
Total spots: 6
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 12
Board-certified percentage: 84%
Alumni publication percentile: 59%
Alumni clinical trial percentage: 63%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson South Campus

Location: Tuscon, Arizona
Year founded: 2008
Total spots: 6
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 12
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 16
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: 76%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 69%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of California (Irvine)

Location: Irvine, California
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 31
Board-certified percentage: 92%
Alumni publication percentile: 73%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 90%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of California (San Diego) Medical Center

Location: La Jolla, California
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 42
Board-certified percentage: 87%
Alumni publication percentile: 66%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 80%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of California (San Francisco)

Location: San Francisco, California
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 35
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: 88%
Alumni clinical trial percentage: 97%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of California Davis Health

Location: Sacramento, California
Year founded: 1969
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 17
Board-certified percentage: 91%
Alumni publication percentile: 67%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 65%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Chicago

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Total spots: 9
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 11
Board-certified percentage: 88%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 77%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Cincinnati Medical Center/College of Medicine

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Year founded: 1959
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 12
Board-certified percentage: 92%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 82%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Colorado

Location: Aurora, Colorado
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 68
Board-certified percentage: 97%
Alumni publication percentile: 79%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Florida

Location: Gainesville, Florida
Year founded: 1986
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 12
Board-certified percentage: 92%
Alumni publication percentile: 61%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• 1st year: 1-10 primary cataracts
• 2nd year: 75-90 primary cataracts
• 3rd year: 250-300+ primary cataracts (including refractive cataract surgery with LensX® laser and ORA®)
• 3rd year: 20-30+ LASIK and 50+ PRK with the Star S4 IR® (As well as refractive cataract surgery with LensX® laser and ORA®)

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Year founded: 1958
Total spots: 18
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 55
Board-certified percentage: 98%
Alumni publication percentile: 85%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 83%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Year founded: 1953
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 28
Board-certified percentage: 98%
Alumni publication percentile: 92%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 77%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Kansas School of Medicine

Location: Prairie Village, Kansas
Total spots: 8
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 17
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Year founded: 1968
Total spots: 10
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 28
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• Cataract: 226.5
• Laser: 90.7
• Corneal surgery: 6.8
• Strabismus: 36.6
• Glaucoma: 17.7
• Retina vitreous: 4.3
• Other retinal: 140.0
• Oculoplastics and orbit: 83.8
• Globe trauma: 15.1

University of Louisville School of Medicine

Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Year founded: 1958
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 28
Board-certified percentage: 90%
Alumni publication percentile: 62%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 52%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Maryland

Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty:
Board-certified percentage: 85%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Michigan Health System

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Total spots: 20
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 90
Board-certified percentage: 98%
Alumni publication percentile: 87%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Minnesota

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Year founded: 1959
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 34
Board-certified percentage: 97%
Alumni publication percentile: 57%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Year founded: 1958
Total spots: 11
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 16
Board-certified percentage: 86%
Alumni publication percentile: 50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 53%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Missouri-Columbia

Location: Columbia, Missouri
Total spots: 10
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 29
Board-certified percentage: 93%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 72%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• >240 primary cataract surgeries on average

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Total spots: 9
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 29
Board-certified percentage: 93%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 72%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:
Average class 1 (at Mason Eye over 3 years)

• Cataracts: 180
• Strabismus: 53
• Glaucoma filtering: 20
• Glaucoma laser - trabeculoplasty: 7
• Glaucoma laser - iridotomy: 13
• YAG laser - capsulotomy
• Retina/vitreous: 25
• Retina laser: PRP
• Retina - intravitreal injections: 125
• Oculoplastics/orbit: 103
• Oculoplastic/orbit: eyelid laceration
• Oculoplastic/orbit: chalazion: 14
• Oculoplastic/orbit - ptosis/blepharoplasty: 27
• Globe trauma: 6

University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine

Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Year founded: 1959
Total spots: 7
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 16
Board-certified percentage: 85%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 99%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• Most residents graduate with over 200 primary cataract surgeries
• >280 surgical cases where the senior resident is the primary surgeon

University of North Carolina Hospitals

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Year founded: 1957
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 20
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Total spots: 13
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 38
Board-certified percentage: 95%
Alumni publication percentile: 74%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Pennsylvania Health System/Scheie Eye Institute

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 44
Board-certified percentage: 94%
Alumni publication percentile: 95%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 97%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Puerto Rico

Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Year founded: 1963
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 26
Board-certified percentage: 76
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Rochester

Location: Rochester, New York
Year founded: 1955
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 43%
Board-certified percentage: 90%
Alumni publication percentile: 74%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of South Florida Morsani

Location: Tampa, Florida
Year founded: 1973
Total spots: 12
VA: No
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 16
Board-certified percentage: 97%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 52%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Southern California/LAC+USC Medical Center

Location: Los Angeles, California
Year founded: 1955
Total spots: 20
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 33
Board-certified percentage: 91%
Alumni publication percentile: 84%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Tennessee

Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty:
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Location: Houston, Texas
Year founded: 1957
Total spots: 12
VA: No
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 20
Board-certified percentage: 94%
Alumni publication percentile: 83%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Joe and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine

Location: San Antonio, Texas
Year founded: 1967
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 30
Board-certified percentage: 89%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals/Methodist Hospital (Houston)

Location: Houston, Texas
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 14
Board-certified percentage: 87%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Location: Dallas, Texas
Year founded: 1952
Total spots: 27
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 57%
Board-certified percentage: 95%
Alumni publication percentile: 95%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 61%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Utah Health

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Year founded: 1971
Total spots: 11
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 65
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: 53%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 76%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Virginia Medical Center

Location: Charlottesville, Utah
Year founded: 1957
Total spots: 10
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: unknown
Board-certified percentage: 97%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Washington

Location: Seattle, Washington
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 48
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: 69%
Joint or integrated: Joint

University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics

Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Year founded: 1956
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 49
Board-certified percentage: 97%
Alumni publication percentile: 70%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 84%
Joint or integrated: Joint

UPMC Medical Education

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Year founded: 1955
Total spots: 18
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 63
Board-certified percentage: 98%
Alumni publication percentile: 54%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 67%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Year founded: 1959
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 60
Board-certified percentage: 96%
Alumni publication percentile: 66%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 74%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Virginia Commonwealth University Health System

Location: Richmond, Virginia
Year founded: 1954
Total spots: 9
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 15
Board-certified percentage: 82%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Total spots: 12
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 13
Board-certified percentage: 90%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Washington University/B-JH/SLCH Consortium

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
Year founded:
Total spots: 13
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 28
Board-certified percentage: 98%
Alumni publication percentile: 91%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 95%
Joint or integrated: Joint

West Virginia University

Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
Year founded: 1969
Total spots: 11
VA: Yes
All major specialties? No
Number of full-time faculty: 26
Board-certified percentage: 100%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Joint or integrated: Joint

Yale-New Haven Medical Center

Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Year founded: 1956
Total spots: 15
VA: Yes
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty: 22
Board-certified percentage: 90%
Alumni publication percentile: 54%
Alumni clinical trial percentage: 75%
Joint or integrated: Joint
Average surgical statistics:

• First year:
  • 5 strabismus surgeries
  • 10 anterior segment/glaucoma laser procedures
  • 20 ophthalmic plastic surgeries (blepharoplasty, ptosis repair, etc.)
  • 50 intravitreal injections
• Second year:
  • 2-5 phacoemulsification cataract surgeries
  • 3-5 ophthalmic plastic surgeries per week
  • >20 retinal laser procedures
  • ~40 anterior segment/glaucoma laser procedures
• Third year: 5 rotations
  • 20 cases (cataract, pterygium, trabeculectomy)
  • Wide range of tertiary care uveitis cases
  • 120-150 phacoemulsifications
  • 1-2 penetrating and lamellar keratoplasties
  • 1 rotation: pediatric ophthalmology/strabismus
  • 1 month international rotation

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Location: Great Neck, New York
Year founded: 1952
Total spots: 12
VA: No
All major specialties? Yes
Number of full-time faculty:
Board-certified percentage: 95%
Alumni publication percentile: <50%
Alumni clinical trial percentile: 52%
Joint or integrated: Joint