- Joined
- Nov 6, 2001
- Messages
- 1,004
- Reaction score
- 1
Hi, I'm wondering what an oculoplastics specialist does, typical procedures (in layman's terms please!), lifestyle, competitiveness to enter fellowship, and typical pay. Thanks for help!
oculoplastics
- Thread starter chef
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2002
- Messages
- 5,633
- Reaction score
- 20
Chef,
Most fellowships are two years. Some are one year, but these are mostly offered by non-academic programs. The lifestyle is good unless you're on call and there are traumas. The average oculoplastic surgeon can make over $250,000-300,000 per year. Fellowship is extremely competitive because the number of spots are few. Iowa, for example, accepts one fellow every other year.
The following description is copied from the EyeMD website:
http://www.eyemdlink.com/EyeProcedure.asp?EyeProcedureID=4
Oculoplastic procedures refer to a large variety of surgical procedures that deal with the orbit (eye socket), eyelids, tear ducts, and the face. These procedures include repair of droopy eyelids, repair of tear duct obstructions, orbital fracture repairs, removal of tumors in and around the eyes, and facial rejuvenation procedures including laser skin resurfacing, eye lifts, brow lifts, and even facelifts.
Oculoplastic procedures frequently have both functional and aesthetic purposes. For example, blepharoplasty, a procedure for excessive and droopy eyelid skin, may improve peripheral vision as well as facial beauty and rejuvenation. Repair of tear duct obstructions prevents tears from running out of the eyes and down the face, in some cases without even an incision. Repair of traumatic orbital fractures may prevent double vision as well as a sunken eye appearance. Droopy eyebrows are being raised through tiny incisions hidden in the hairline. Laser skin resurfacing is resolving facial wrinkles, acne scars, and the usual signs of aging and sun-damage resulting in a more natural, youthful appearance. The list goes on.
The great majority of these procedures are performed by oculoplastic surgeons. The oculoplastic surgeon, trained first as an ophthalmologist, and secondly as an oculoplastic specialist, has immense skill and training to deal with all of the complex ramifications of eyelid, orbital, tear duct, and facial plastics procedures. However, some of the above mentioned procedures are performed in an extremely competent manner by general ophthalmologists and other ophthalmology sub-specialists. Don't hesitate to discuss with your ophthalmologist his or her training and experience with any given procedure. It is our firm belief that most of the above mentioned procedures are best handled by ophthalmologists and, specifically, oculoplastic surgeons.
PROCEDURES:
Blepharoplasty (Eyelift)
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Ultrapeel Microdermabrasion
Ptosis Repair for Droopy Eyelid
Endoscopic Foreead and Browlift
Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)
Botox Injections
DCR (Dacryocystorhinostomy) for Tearing
Ectropion Repair
Entropion Repair
Orbital Reconstruction / Ocular Prosthetics (False Eyes)
Orbital Decompression for Grave's Disease
Liposuction of the Face and Neck
Treatment of Eyelid Skin Cancers
Most fellowships are two years. Some are one year, but these are mostly offered by non-academic programs. The lifestyle is good unless you're on call and there are traumas. The average oculoplastic surgeon can make over $250,000-300,000 per year. Fellowship is extremely competitive because the number of spots are few. Iowa, for example, accepts one fellow every other year.
The following description is copied from the EyeMD website:
http://www.eyemdlink.com/EyeProcedure.asp?EyeProcedureID=4
Oculoplastic procedures refer to a large variety of surgical procedures that deal with the orbit (eye socket), eyelids, tear ducts, and the face. These procedures include repair of droopy eyelids, repair of tear duct obstructions, orbital fracture repairs, removal of tumors in and around the eyes, and facial rejuvenation procedures including laser skin resurfacing, eye lifts, brow lifts, and even facelifts.
Oculoplastic procedures frequently have both functional and aesthetic purposes. For example, blepharoplasty, a procedure for excessive and droopy eyelid skin, may improve peripheral vision as well as facial beauty and rejuvenation. Repair of tear duct obstructions prevents tears from running out of the eyes and down the face, in some cases without even an incision. Repair of traumatic orbital fractures may prevent double vision as well as a sunken eye appearance. Droopy eyebrows are being raised through tiny incisions hidden in the hairline. Laser skin resurfacing is resolving facial wrinkles, acne scars, and the usual signs of aging and sun-damage resulting in a more natural, youthful appearance. The list goes on.
The great majority of these procedures are performed by oculoplastic surgeons. The oculoplastic surgeon, trained first as an ophthalmologist, and secondly as an oculoplastic specialist, has immense skill and training to deal with all of the complex ramifications of eyelid, orbital, tear duct, and facial plastics procedures. However, some of the above mentioned procedures are performed in an extremely competent manner by general ophthalmologists and other ophthalmology sub-specialists. Don't hesitate to discuss with your ophthalmologist his or her training and experience with any given procedure. It is our firm belief that most of the above mentioned procedures are best handled by ophthalmologists and, specifically, oculoplastic surgeons.
PROCEDURES:
Blepharoplasty (Eyelift)
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Ultrapeel Microdermabrasion
Ptosis Repair for Droopy Eyelid
Endoscopic Foreead and Browlift
Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)
Botox Injections
DCR (Dacryocystorhinostomy) for Tearing
Ectropion Repair
Entropion Repair
Orbital Reconstruction / Ocular Prosthetics (False Eyes)
Orbital Decompression for Grave's Disease
Liposuction of the Face and Neck
Treatment of Eyelid Skin Cancers
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2001
- Messages
- 1,004
- Reaction score
- 1
andrew, thanks for a super prompt and helpful reply!
i hope you are doing well, and also hope ophtho is what you expected and then some. I'm sure you are just tearing it up over there at Iowa. would you still recommend ophtho to medical students interested in ophtho, now that you are an 'insider'?
take care and thanks again!
i hope you are doing well, and also hope ophtho is what you expected and then some. I'm sure you are just tearing it up over there at Iowa. would you still recommend ophtho to medical students interested in ophtho, now that you are an 'insider'?
take care and thanks again!
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2002
- Messages
- 5,633
- Reaction score
- 20
Originally posted by chef
Would you still recommend ophtho to medical students interested in ophtho, now that you are an 'insider'?
Absolutely! It's a great field.
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2002
- Messages
- 52
- Reaction score
- 1
One personal concern I have with Ophthalmology is that many of the surgeries are performed under a microscope. During my clerkship I found it uncomfortable to view the operating field.
Does this take time to get used to, or are there people who are just not suited for this type of work?
Do Oculoplastic docs do more "non-microscopic" procedures relative to general ophtho docs? I prefer looking at things with my naked eye.
Does this take time to get used to, or are there people who are just not suited for this type of work?
Do Oculoplastic docs do more "non-microscopic" procedures relative to general ophtho docs? I prefer looking at things with my naked eye.
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2002
- Messages
- 5,633
- Reaction score
- 20
Working under the microscope takes practice. You'll have plenty of time to master it. Every resident starting out always devote some time getting used to manipulating instruments under the scope.
Oculoplastic surgeons use surgical loupes more than the microscope. Loupes are surgical telescope lenses that are worn on glasses.
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2002
- Messages
- 5,633
- Reaction score
- 20
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2001
- Messages
- 1,004
- Reaction score
- 1
andrew,
looking at the procedures list carefully, it seems like a lot of them overlaps w/ plastic surgeon or a dermatologist procedures, like all the cosmetic eyelid stuff, botox, etc. is this why there are so few oculoplastic spots/yr? how long is the fellowship, 2 yrs?
looking at the procedures list carefully, it seems like a lot of them overlaps w/ plastic surgeon or a dermatologist procedures, like all the cosmetic eyelid stuff, botox, etc. is this why there are so few oculoplastic spots/yr? how long is the fellowship, 2 yrs?
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2002
- Messages
- 5,633
- Reaction score
- 20
Oculoplastics is a 2-year fellowship. There is overlap with derm and plastics. I'm not sure how programs decide how many spots there should be per year, but it's likely associated with the demand.
