Find information on the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Fellowship in the Department of Ophthalmology at IU School of Medicine.

Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Fellowship

The Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Fellowship at Indiana University School of Medicine is a one-year program that provides post-residency training for a comprehensive practice in pediatric ophthalmology. Fellows attend didactic sessions, participate in research work and gain experience in a general clinical setting to expand expertise in retinopathy of prematurity and surgery. Under the direction of David Plager, MD, IU School of Medicine accepts two pediatric and adult strabismus fellows each year.

Clinical Experience

Fellows spend approximately half their time in outpatient clinic at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health with one dedicated fellow clinic per week. This clinic treats both common and rare diseases in patients from across the state of Indiana and its surrounding areas. Conditions treated include adult and pediatric strabismus, amblyopia, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, pediatric cataracts and glaucoma, optic nerve disorders, retinal dystrophies, retinoblastoma and numerous ocular manifestations from systemic diseases.

In addition, fellows spend one half day per week staffing a resident clinic at Eskenazi Health, which includes opportunities to generate surgical cases. These cases are performed with residents rotating at Eskenazi Health; fellows serve as primary attending staff.

Retinopathy of Prematurity

The Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) service is led by Kathryn Haider, MD, and covers Riley Hospital for Children, IU Health Methodist Hospital and Eskenazi Health. Fellows attend weekly rounds and gain more independence throughout the year as their comfort levels allow. Fellows also actively participate in ROP treatment, with experience in both intravitreal Avastin injections and retinal laser treatments. The pediatric service is responsible for all screening and treatment of newborns.

Surgery

Fellows operate at two outpatient surgery centers, including Riley Hospital for Children and Beltway Surgical Center at Midwest Eye Institute. Two days each week are spent operating, and fellows have the opportunity to serve as primary surgeon on numerous strabismus surgeries, nasolacrimal duct probe and tubes, ptosis repairs, and a variety of other plastics procedures. In addition, fellows serve as primary surgeon on several intraocular cases, including cataract surgeries and glaucoma surgeries, such as goniotomies, trabeculotomies, 360-degree trabeculotomies, tube shunts and endocyclophotocoagulation.

Each year, the pediatric ophthalmology service performs nearly 1,500 surgeries. The case breakdown is as follows:

Academics/Didactics

Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus fellows are responsible for leading six journal club sessions throughout the year. Weekly case conferences are held Monday afternoon, and new and interesting clinic and surgical cases are reviewed during these sessions. In addition, resident didactics are given approximately once per month by pediatric ophthalmology staff, which fellows are strongly encouraged to attend.

Research

Research activities are strongly encouraged, but not required, throughout the fellowship training.