Value of cornea fellowship for cataract surgeons?

[krukenbergspindle]

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Current PGY-3 here, contemplating fellowship. I love the power of refractive surgery to uplift a patient's quality of life and happiness. The only refractive surgery I have personally done at this point is a bunch of cataracts (and I absolutely love both performing and seeing the results of cataract surgery) though I've watched a lot of LASIK/PRK etc. How much of a value add is a cornea fellowship (over just being a comprehensive ophthalmologist) out in practice? How many cataract heavy surgeons actually do other refractive procedures like LASIK, PRK, keratotomies, corneal inlays etc? Would it valuable from a knowledge, patient care, practice-building and employment perspective to expand my breadth and versatility in refractive surgery with a cornea fellowship?

 

[CECFellow2018]

PM ME and I'll explain.

 

[increscence]

It's worthwhile to consider a refractive-oriented fellowship. It'll train you not only in refractive procedures, but also in efficient cataract surgery.

It's likely also useful from a business standpoint - learning how to structure your practice, how to handle unhappy cataract surgery patients, etc.

If high-volume cataract/refractive is your goal, I do think a fellowship is worth it, so long as you choose wisely.

 

[LightBox]

You might as well do fellowship. No one is going to be hiring in the next year given COVID and the ensuing economic depression.

 

[eyescold]

I think a cornea fellowship that has a significant amount of cataract surgery, especially complex cataracts or IOL exchanges, etc, is extremely helpful in private practice, which in my experience is ~90% comprehensive/cataract, and 10% specialty. The extra year of cataract training - learning new techniques, instruments, variations on IOL calcs, potentially different topographers/biometers, etc, pays off on a daily basis, and the anterior segment skills (transplants, complex cataracts/IOL cases) is a great way to round out your niche in private practice and in the community.

The same probably applies to a glaucoma fellowship, btw.