Ophthalmology

Program Director

DR. MOHAMMED SAID SALIM AL ABRI

Duration of the Residency Training Program

Duration of the Program:

· 5 years of structured training; total of 65 periods, 13 blocks per year, each block is 4 weeks’ duration. These 5 years will be divided into 4 initial years of actual ophthalmology training to meet the ACGME-I requirements and a final 5th year as a year of electives/sub-specialization year to meet the OMSB requirements of 5 years of ophthalmology training.

· Rotation consists of blocks of periods designed in subspecialty.

· Rotations will be designed at the beginning of each academic year by the Program Director.

· On-call schedule will be put up at the beginning of each block by the corresponding hospital in which the resident is rotating in.

Trainee must fulfill a minimum of 75% of each period (3 weeks)

Core Structure:

The main training of Residents will be conducted in one of the OMSB accredited hospitals Al-Nahdha Hospital (ANH), Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) & Armed Forces Hospital (AFH). Courses and some Elective rotations will be conducted in other centers and hospitals accredited by OMSB as it will be explained below in the respective items.

 The 5 years ophthalmic training will be divided as followed:

 1. 4 Years’ Ophthalmology training to meet the ACGME-I requirements:

· In the first (PGY1) year, residents will be rotating in medical/general ophthalmology rotations (ward, ophthalmology emergencies, general ophthalmology and pediatric ophthalmology) with introduction to ophthalmic surgeries (mainly extraocular surgeries)

 · In the second and fourth (PGY2& PGY4) year, residents will be rotating in various ophthalmology subspecialties (retina, pediatric ophthalmology, oculoplastics, neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma, refractive surgery and anterior segment). These two years will be consolidated to gain ophthalmic surgical skills with more responsibilities to patient's care. There will be two blocks set aside for Basic Science Course in Saudi Arabia in year two and two research blocks, one in year two and one in year four.

 · The third (PGY3) year will be a surgical ophthalmology (intraocular surgery) year; residents will be trained to perform various ophthalmic surgeries with main focus on the updated cataract surgeries. In addition, there will be one block of phaco elective rotation in India.

 2. The Final (PGY5) Year - OMSB requirements year.

· This is a subspecialty in ophthalmology year. Residents will have the option to choose between different ophthalmic subspecialties.

 General rotation outlines of the ophthalmology residency:

 · All year level training is divided into 13 blocks (12 rotations plus 1 annual leave)

· PGY-1: Total of 13 blocks distributed as follows: 1 block in Optics and Refraction, 1 block Ward posting, 3 blocks in Pediatric Ophthalmology, 4 blocks in General Ophthalmology, 3 blocks in Emergency Ophthalmology and 1 block annual leave.

 · PGY-2: Total of 13 blocks distributed as follows: 2 blocks Basic Science Course (KSA), 2 blocks in Oculoplastics, 3 blocks in Anterior Segment, and 1 block of each of the following rotation: Glaucoma, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Vitreo-retina, Ward, and Research as well as 1 block annual leave.

 · PGY-3: Total of 13 blocks distributed as follows; 11 blocks in Surgical Ophthalmology/Intraocular surgeries, one block Phaco Course (India) and 1 block annual leave. Residents will be distributed in three affiliated hospitals (ANH, SQUH and AFH) and will focus on lens and cataract surgeries.

 · PGY-4: Total of 13 blocks distributed as follows: one block in Neuro-Ophthalmology, 1 block in Research, 1 block in Refractive Surgery, 2 blocks in Oculoplastic, 3 blocks in Vitreo-retina, 2 blocks Glaucoma, 2 blocks in Pediatric Ophthalmology, and 1 block annual leave.

 · PGY-5: Total of 13 blocks, 12 blocks will be elective rotations among various Ophthalmology Subspecialties (Pediatric Ophthalmology, Oculoplastic, Refractive Surgeries, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Glaucoma, and Vitreo-retina) and 1 annual leave. There will be four rotations during this year each rotation of 3 blocks. The rotation will be determined by the residents after arrangement with the Program Director.

SPECIALTY ADMISSION CRITERIA

 1. The trainee is selected as per the OMSB rules and regulations.

2. The number of residents accepted each year will be decided by the ophthalmology training program after approval from OMSB.

3. The trainee:

a. Should register with OMSB and abide by all its bylaws.

b. Must pass an interview conducted by the Ophthalmology Education Committee.

c. Should demonstrate interest in Ophthalmology.

d. Must successfully complete his / her Internship which requires submission of records of completion.

e. Should be medically fit as per OMSB requirements. 

f. Should meet the ophthalmology fitness criteria (visual acuity, binocularity, etc.)

g. Must submit a letter of approval from his/ her sponsor confirming permission to join the OMSB specialty training program on full time basis for the entire period of training.

h. Provide three letters of recommendation from three consultants.

Training Center:

1. Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQOH)

2. Al Nahda Hospital (ANH)

3. Armed Forces Hospital (AFH)

4. Muscat Eye Laser Center (MELC)

Training Center:

1. Sahai Hospital (India)