The Retina Service was organized in 1959 as the first working Retina Service in New York City. Over the years, the scope of the Service has gradually expanded from treating primarily retinal detachment and retinal tears to encompassing new and varied technologies, including digital fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, argon, krypton, dye, and YAG laser treatments.
State-of-the-art vitrectomy surgery including the use of long-acting gases and silicone oil for treating difficult retinal detachment cases is performed routinely at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. Recent innovations such as surgery for macular holes and submacular pathology are also performed on the Service. In addition, clinical research involving liquid perflurocarbons, diode lasers, color Doppler echography of the retinal vasculature and vascular flow studies are being performed.
The mission of the Retina Service is to serve the dual roles of providing outstanding specialized patient care and meeting the needs of resident education and training.
The Retina Service accommodates approximately 40,000 patient visits per year, in addition to performing approximately 1009 ERGs, 3657 angiograms and 3855 laser treatments. Service Surgery accounts for approximately 1377 vitrectomy procedures, 244 scleral buckles and 127 cryopexies per year.
The senior retina resident attends all surgical retina clinics and organizes the surgical schedule in concert with the attendings on the Service.
Surgery is performed under the direct supervision of an attending surgeon, who makes decisions based on the residents ability and the patient’s needs. In addition, the resident is responsible for monitoring all in-house retinal patients, assisting and supervising the junior resident, and is available for retinal consultation on all clinic cases.
The senior resident is expected to consult with the Chief of Service on any unusual cases, reoperations, and scheduling problems. The average number of surgical cases done by each senior resident is 12 scleral buckles, 14 vitrectomies, and 4 cryopexies.
The junior resident is involved primarily with medical retinal patients, learning advanced diagnostic procedures, performing and reading fluorescein angiograms, and performing laser surgery. Each junior resident performs approximately 100 fluorescein angiograms, 130 laser treatments, and examines 35 neonates.
Read more about Resident Training in Ophthalmology and Fellowship Opportunities in Retina.
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