Becoming an Ophthalmologist with POAG

[Cheron]

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Hi All,

I am an incoming first year med student with a strong interest in pursuing ophthalmology. I have a family history of glaucoma with a parent who has it. I recently have been diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma. I'm in my early twenties, and I will be doing a visual field test to determine if there's any vision loss. If I have well managed glaucoma and no vision loss, and assuming I am competitive enough, can I still become an ophthalmologist?

Thanks in Advance!

 

[Hanky]

Yes.

 

[Cheron]

Thank you Hanky for your response! That's a relief!

 

[0phtho]

I'm curious how you got diagnosed without a visual field. But I agree with Hanky. Also, I would talk to an advisor/mentor in ophthalmology regarding what to disclose in your application/personal statements.

 

[DopaDO]

Without knowing anything about you, it would exceedingly rare for you to have POAG just based on your age alone. I would consider getting another opinion.

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[Cheron]

Hi All,

Thanks for your concern! I actually just had a visual fields test showing no vision loss. I will be going back to the same glaucoma specialist in August. He did a comparison of OCT from 2015 and the OCT I got in June of this year to diagnose me. My father and other members of his family have it.

Thanks so much!

 

[0phtho]

Consider getting another glaucoma specialist, i agree with DopaDO.