I'm curious about the level of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills required to perform surgery on the eye. Obviously, it's greater than that needed for other surgical subspecialties. My question for the residents and attendings in the field is: do you think that this is an innate skill that would preclude most people from becoming ophthalmologists, or is it a skill that can be learned by the average med student over the course of the training?

I'm good at sports, video games, etc. and think I have decent control over my hands, but I don't think I'm particularly gifted in that respect and was wondering if that would prevent me from looking further into the field. Thanks for your help.

Most people who are willing to put in the effort can learn to be good surgeons. Once you get used to working under the microscope, it's relatively easy to control your tremor (most of the time).
Obviously if you have a major tremor, that would preclude you from doing ophthalmology, but it would also preclude you from other surgical specialties.

One of my attendings in residency pointed out something that I think is very true. It's a lot easier to make someone a good surgeon if you're starting with bad hands and a good head than it is with someone with naturally gifted hands but a bad head.

I agree. The reason that you want to go to a program that affords a high surgical volume is that it takes time and a lot of practice to get good at ophthalmic surgery.

Most people who are willing to put in the effort can learn to be good surgeons. Once you get used to working under the microscope, it's relatively easy to control your tremor (most of the time).
Obviously if you have a major tremor, that would preclude you from doing ophthalmology, but it would also preclude you from other surgical specialties.

One of my attendings in residency pointed out something that I think is very true. It's a lot easier to make someone a good surgeon if you're starting with bad hands and a good head than it is with someone with naturally gifted hands but a bad head.