ACE: Ophthalmology

School of Medicine

Ophthalmology is a wonderful specialty, combining both medical and surgical care of the eye and the peri-ocular structures. The ACE will allow medical students to participate in care delivered at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, the Nashville Veterans' Affairs Hospital, the Vanderbilt University Hospital and Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital's inpatient and emergency room and OR. Through shadowing attendings and performing ophthalmic exams, it is expected at the conclusion of the ACE a medical student will be able to (1) perform a basic slit-lamp examination and a dilated fundus examination with a direct ophthalmoscope, (2) have a working understanding of the major etiologies of vision loss in the United States, including cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and amblyopia, and (3) accurately diagnose common ophthalmic issues, including corneal abrasions, conjunctivitis and acute-angle closure glaucoma. Additionally, the societal impact of loss of vision on a person's activities of daily living, the reestablishment of independence following restoration of sight and the evolving role of the ophthalmologist providing this care should be appreciated by the medical student.