Retina Fellowship

Medical and surgical retina is a well-established subspecialty of ophthalmology. Diseases of the retina are multifactorial and include degenerative disease, vascular disease, acquired disease and hereditary disease. The management of retina conditions requires the expertise of a fellowship-trained ophthalmologist.

The aging demographics of the Canadian population is increasing the need for retinal subspecialists to provide necessary care. In addition, the need for retinal subspecialists has significantly increased because of improvements in treatment options which have allowed us to improve vision in previously untreatable conditions.

• Fellows spend approximately half of their time in the office, improving and learning the examination and laser, intraocular injections, and other office procedures necessary to provide retina vitreous care.
• The rest of the fellow’s clinical time is spent in the operating room, observing and performing vitrectomies, scleral buckles and pneumoretinopexy.
• Half a day per week (or more depending on the needs of the fellow) is set aside for a research project to be completed by the end of the fellowship year, and presented at a national or international meeting and submitted for publication.
• Scholarly activity such as teaching residents and other members of the health team, presenting at grand rounds, journal club, and participating in research at an ophthalmology conference is also expected.

• Aqua i Laser
• Misericordia Health Centre/Buhler Eye Care Centre
• Waterfront Eye Institute
• Winnipeg Clinic

The split between clinical and research time, and medical vs surgical learning would vary somewhat, depending on the needs of the chosen fellow.

Clinical Activities
Diagnose and manage more complicated retina cases. This would include the appropriate examination techniques, medical knowledge, pharmacology knowledge, laser and surgical skills necessary to manage more difficult retina cases. As well, knowledge of the indications, and ability to accurately interpret the tests used in the diagnosis and management, such as OCT and fluorescein angiography would also be expected.

The fellow should spend approximately half of his/ her clinical time in the office, improving and learning the examination and laser, intraocular injections, and other office procedures necessary to provide retina vitreous care. The rest of the clinical time will largely be spent in the operating room, observing and performing vitrectomies, scleral buckles, and pneumoretinopexies. 

Research
One day a week (or more depending on the needs of the fellow) would be set aside for a research project. The goal would be to complete this by the end of the fellowship year, and present the information at a national or international meeting. Ideally this would then be written up so that it could be submitted for publication.

Teaching
Scholarly activity such as teaching residents and other members of the health team, presenting at Grand Rounds, presenting at Journal Club, participating in research, presenting his/her research from the fellowship year at an ophthalmology conference either nationally or internationally, would be expected.