The Glaucoma Fellowship is a 12-month program that begins in July. UCI glaucoma fellows gain broad and in-depth experience in the evaluation and management of the multiple medical and surgical problems related to glaucoma.

Fellows work with UCI glaucoma experts Sameh Mosaed, MD and Ken Lin, MD, PhD. They have one-on-one interaction with these faculty members at our glaucoma clinic at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute on campus and at the UCI Medical Center in Orange, and at the VA in Long Beach. Teaching opportunities include working with the residents in the glaucoma specialty clinics and participating in glaucoma surgical cases.

Glaucoma fellows, working in a referral practice, gain experience in all aspects of the disease, including pediatric cases. Surgical experience includes goniotomies, trabeculotomies and many combined procedures, including lens extraction and posterior segment intervention with our retinal service physicians. Interaction with other subspecialty areas such as neuro-ophthalmology, cornea and retina, is integrated into the experience.

Clinical research is encouraged for our glaucoma fellows. We have ongoing clinical studies in glaucoma drug treatment and surgical techniques. Our basic science projects involve diagnostic techniques to image aqueous outflow pathways. We have a strong track record of innovation in surgical approaches: the iStent, Trabectome, and Baerveldt implants were all invented by our faculty. Clinical trials developed to study alternative and herbal treatments for IOP control are also underway.

Our program is tailored to each fellow’s strengths and clinical and research interests.

Application Procedures

All applicants must register with and apply through San Francisco Match. Applications should be received by the department by the end of August.

Send supplemental materials — scores on the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP), a CV and a photograph — via e-mail to:

Natally Alvarado
Fellowship Coordinator
Department of Ophthalmology
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697-4375
Phone: 949-824-7105
natallya@hs.uci.edu

Interview Process

Applicants are notified by e-mail if they are selected for personal interviews with faculty members.

Benefits

  • Choices for health, vision and dental insurance are available through the Veterans Administration at additional cost.
  • Life insurance is provided at no additional cost to the fellow.
  • Long-term disability insurance is offered at an additional cost through the University of California Regents.
  • Fellows are provided with professional liability coverage for all activities that are approved components of the fellowship program.
  • Other benefits include:
    -Two weeks of vacation and an academic leave each academic year
    -Financial support to attend major scientific meetings when the fellow is a first author on a paper or abstract