The Eye Institute -Residency Programs
The Eye Institute Residencies are designed to provide the graduate optometrist excellent clinical training through extensive participation in patient care provided to a large and diagnostically diverse patient population. The program is enhanced by a substantial didactic experience including: seminars, workshops and special lectures. The clinical educational experiences are augmented by clinical rotations to a wide variety of specialty services, such as Vitreo-Retina, Neuro-eye, Emergency, Glaucoma, Oculoplastics, and Cornea and External Disease Services.
Four programs are offered at The Eye Institute.
The Primary Eye Care residency emphasizes enhancement of the resident’s skills in the diagnosis and management of refractive, binocular vision, and contact lens cases, as well as ocular and oculo-systemic disease. Assignments include rotations to Primary Care, Emergency, Vitreo-Retina, Neuro-Eye, Glaucoma, Oculoplastics, and Cornea and External Disease Services.
The Pediatric Optometry/Vision Therapy residency emphasizes routine vision care of infants and children, and the diagnosis and treatment of amblyopia, strabismus, non-strabismic binocular vision, and accommodative disorders in patients of all ages. The residency provides a strong experience in the diagnosis and treatment of learning-related vision problems in children. Residents spend a considerable percentage of their time learning to treat a variety of vision disorders using vision therapy as a treatment modality.
The Low Vision Rehabilitation residency emphasizes the enhancement of the resident’s skills in the evaluation and low vision rehabilitation of individuals with congenital and acquired visual impairments. The resident provides rehabilitative patient care as part of an interdisciplinary team consisting of optometry, social work, vision rehabilitation therapy, and occupational therapy. The residency also provides experience in the evaluation and management of visual disorders in individuals with developmental and neurological disabilities.
The Cornea and Contact Lens residency emphasizes specialty contact lens fitting, pre– and post-operative assessment of keratorefractive and anterior segment surgery, and management of patients with corneal and external disease. The resident’s training occurs in the Cornea and Specialty Contact Lens Service and other clinical services in The Eye Institute, as well as in the private offices of the cornea and anterior segment disease specialist.
Salary and Benefits
Compensation is $32,000, plus basic and major medical insurance, malpractice liability insurance, 5 days paid vacation, 5 days paid academic leave, and 12 paid holidays. While not guaranteed, modest travel funding to a scientific meeting has traditionally been provided.
Accreditation
All TEI Residency programs are accredited by the American Optometric Association, Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.
Application
Application is in conjunction with the Optometric Residency Matching Service (ORMS). Apply for the ORMS on-line at: www.optometryresident.org
Send letter of intent, current CV, optometry program transcript, NBEO scores, and three letters of recommendation to Bernard Blaustein, OD, at the address below.
CONTACT:
Bernard H. Blaustein, O.D., F.A.A.O.,
Director of Residency Programs
The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry
1200 W. Godfrey Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141
215-276-6180
FAX 215-276-1329
Bernie@pco.edu
Candidates are encouraged to contact Marilyn Daltry, Administrative Assistant, (Marilyn@pco.edu) Department for the Practice of Optometric Medicine, to obtain further information regarding the application process.