Vitreo-Retinal

Program Description:

Because of the advances in the field of ophthalmology and progressive development of its different subjects and increasing diagnostic - therapeutic modalities of ophthalmic diseases, it seemed that general ophthalmology is not sufficient. Therefore, in accordance to many other countries in the past two decades, a training program was suggested for vitreous and retinal fellowship in 1984.

 Now, this training program is being held in different universities, and requires a curriculum with similar required units for all universities that hold this course. So current curriculum was developed, which was circulated among the universities after being ratified by the committee and passing all the legal stages. The curriculum committee welcomes the valuable expert comments, which will be taken into consideration in next revision.

Definition

Vitreo-retinal fellowship is a Subset of ophthalmology and the graduates learn and are adept at the required skills for diagnosis and treatment of vitreous and retinal diseases in that they can independently and professionally diagnose and treat such diseases, and participate in relevant prevention programs.

Objectives:

1-To train knowledgeable, capable and liable physicians who will provide services in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, education and research of vitreous and retinal diseases, and continuously improve their abilities to improve the community health.

2-To rise the standards in the field of cornea and external eye diseases and to become one of the top ranking in the Middle East for next 10 years to the level of developed countries

Expected Competencies at the End of the Program

General Competencies*

Specific Competencies and Skills

At the end of the program learners will be competent in performing following procedures:

Indirect ophthalmoscopy (Diagnosis of pathologies retinal of periphery)

Knowing the indication and interpreting the results 

Posterior segment examination using slit lamp bio-microscopy and lens 78 D lens (Diagnosis of macular disorders) Fluorescein angiography

ICG angiography

OCT

Echography of eye and orbit and especially posterior pole

Electrophysiological tests of the eye

Surgical management of vitreous hemorrhage, endophthalmitis, complications of cataract surgery, RD, vitreo-retinal interface abnormalities Surgery: 

1- Retinal laser photocoagulation in patients with diabetic retinopathy (Macular photocoagulation

and pan retinal photocoagulation), Retinal barrier laser around break

2- Indirect laser photocoagulation in patients with retinopathy of prematurity…

3. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with CSCR or PCV
4. Scleral buckling + subretinal fluid drainage + cryotherapy 
5. Parsplana deep vitrectomy (20G, 23G, 25G) in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, tractional retinal detachment, combined RRD and TRD, advanced diabetic retinopathy, endophthalmitis
6. Membrane peeling, IL peeling, (in patients with epiretinal membrane macular hole and PVRC)
7. Gas/fluid exchange, Injection of endotamponade (SF6, C3F8, silicon oil) 8- Endolaser, endodiathermy  

9. Pars plana lensectomy
10. Scleral window in patients with exudative RD
11. Vitrectomy with procedures including endolaser or injection of vitreous substitutes 
12. Scleral buckling 
13. Laser therapy, Pan Retinal Photocoagulation (PRP) 14- Laser therapy, Macular Photocoagulation (MPC)

15. Laser therapy for other vitreous and retinal diseases
16. Vitreous needle biopsy or vitrectomy