How to Become an Ophthalmologist

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in treating disorders of the eye. They must have a strong science background and employ intense attention to detail. It is a specialty that practices both medicine and surgery. This page will show you how to prepare to become an ophthalmologist.
Tips on Becoming an Ophthalmologist
1. Study hard; admission to medical school is competitive
2. Emphasize science courses in high school and college
3. Consider job shadowing to learn about the field
4. Subscribe to professional journals

What is An Ophthalmologist?

This video explains what an ophthalmologist is, and how they differ in training and skills from an optometrist and an optician. An optician prepares glasses. They cannot prescribe glasses or examine eyes. An optometrist is not a doctor, they are a state licensed practitioner who can examine eyes, prescribe corrective lenses and manage some eye diseases. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has received specialized training in the diseases and disorders of the eyes.

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Introduction

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has specialized in the care of the eyes. While ophthalmologists are able to perform routine eye exams, and prescribe corrective lenses, they also are licensed to treat diseases of the eye, and to perform eye surgery when required. Their training consists of eight years of post-high school education, and at least four years as an opthalmology resident.MedicineNet.com: Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist, Do You Know The Difference? American Board of Ophthalmology: requirements
Step 1: Prepare in High School
- These years are the first steps towards a successful career in opthalmology. Even though medical schools don't usually look at your high school transcript when making admissions decisions, your high school experiences will directly affect where you attend college. If used wisely, these tears will also give you a strong academic base for the specialized education to follow.College Confidential: Pre-Med Extracurriculars in High School?
1. Take advanced placement or college level math and science courses if offered by your school.Peterson's: Prepping for Med School in High School
2. Volunteer in a medical office, or take advantage of a job shadowing program.Peterson's: Prepping for Med School in High School
3. If you don't have an opportunity to work with an ophthalmologist, consider looking for a job with an optometrist or optician, to gain exposure to that aspect of the field.
4. Begin to research undergraduate programs early in high school. When you apply to colleges, you should look for:
  1. An accredited schoolAAMC: Considering Medical School
  2. High academic standardsAAMC: Considering Medical School
  3. A strong science departmentAAMC: Considering Medical School
  4. Good laboratory facilitiesAAMC: Considering Medical School
  5. A broad range of courses, including all the courses required as medical school prerequisitesAAMC: Considering Medical School
  6. A pre-med or pre-health advising program.AAMC: Considering Medical School
  7. A good track record of getting students into medical schoolAAMC: Considering Medical School
Step 2: Obtain an Undergraduate Education
- Admission to one of the 146 accredited medical schools in the United States is highly competitive. There are steps you take while in college to boost your chances of acceptance.
1. Medical schools generally require a four-year college degree, although some highly qualified students are admitted after three years.
2. Students who plan to attend medical school generally major in a subject such as psychology, biology, physics, mathematics, chemistry or organic chemistry.
3. medical schools also require courses in the humanities.AAMC: Considering Medical School
4. Achieve good grades; a 3.0 is usually the minimum acceptable GPA.Med School Ready: GPA MCAT
5. Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) during your junior year..Med School Ready: GPA MCAT
Step 3: Receive a Medical Degree
- Medical school is generally a four year program. Depending on the school you attend, you'll graduate with either a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree.
1. The first two years of medical school will be spent primarily in the classroom and the laboratory taking courses that range from microbiology to medical ethics.Medical Help Network: Medical School
2. The third and fourth years of medical school allow you to gain experience working with patients during clinical rotations through various medical specialties.
  1. You will complete 1-2 months on several medical specialties. These typically include pediatrics, surgery, internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics-gynecology and psychiatry.Family Medicine Interest Group: Surviving the Third Year of Medical School
  2. Elective rotations are available for students interested in other specialties,such as ophthalmology.
  3. Rotations are graded based on reviews by attending physicians.
3. You'll take the first two parts of the three part United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) in your second and fourth years of medical school.United States Medical Licensing Examination: Step 1 United States Medical Licensing Examination: Step 2
Step 4: Complete an Ophthalmology Residency
- Intensive training in ophthalmology begins after you graduate from medical school. The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education, which is responsible for accrediting all medical residency programs, has a database that you can search to find accredited ophthalmology residency programs.Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education: Search by Specialty You'll learn to be a ophthalmologist during your residency, which usually takes four years to complete.
1. The first year, the PGY-1 (or internship), consists of training in fields other than ophthalmology.American Board of Ophthalmology: requirements
  1. The resident will experience specialties such as internal medicine, neurology, pediatrics, surgery, family practice, or emergency medicine.American Board of Ophthalmology: requirements
  2. At least six months of the PGY-1 must give the resident responsibility for direct patient care.American Board of Ophthalmology: requirements
  3. The remaining three to fours of the residency must provide at least 36 months of formal training in ophthalmology.American Board of Ophthalmology: requirements
Step 5: Consider a Subspecialty
- After completing their residency and board certification exam, an opthalmologist may begin practicing, or continue on for additional training in a subspecialty such as:
1. Cornea and external diseaseAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology: A Practical Guide to Ophthalmology as a Career Choice
2. Cataract and refractive surgeryAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology: [http://www.aao.org/careers/envision/subspecialties.cfm A Practical Guide to Ophthalmology as a Career Choice
3. GlaucomaAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology: [http://www.aao.org/careers/envision/subspecialties.cfm A Practical Guide to Ophthalmology as a Career Choice
4. Uveitis and ocular immunologyAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology: [http://www.aao.org/careers/envision/subspecialties.cfm A Practical Guide to Ophthalmology as a Career Choice
5. Vitreoretinal diseasesAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology: [http://www.aao.org/careers/envision/subspecialties.cfm A Practical Guide to Ophthalmology as a Career Choice
6. Ophthalmic plastic surgeryAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology: [http://www.aao.org/careers/envision/subspecialties.cfm A Practical Guide to Ophthalmology as a Career Choice
7. Pediatric ophthalmologyAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology: [http://www.aao.org/careers/envision/subspecialties.cfm A Practical Guide to Ophthalmology as a Career Choice
8. Neuro-ophthalmologyAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology: [http://www.aao.org/careers/envision/subspecialties.cfm A Practical Guide to Ophthalmology as a Career Choice
9. Ophthalmic pathologyAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology: [http://www.aao.org/careers/envision/subspecialties.cfm A Practical Guide to Ophthalmology as a Career Choice
Conclusion

The path to becoming an ophthalmologist begins with the choices you make while in high school. You'll build a sound academic base in college, begin formal training in medical school, and finish by completing a residency that will last at least four years, longer if you choose to specialize. At the end of the road, you'll be prepared to help people maintain and enhance their sense of sight.