want to attend med sch.. but have strabismus

[davey22]

I have a form of strabismus, which is followed by double vision, along with poor depth perception. This condition has existed since I was a child and it is controlled. However, I have uncertainties of the surgical aspect of med school and my competence to excute my potential to the fullest for future patients or just getting through medical training. Is anyone aware of present students that also have this condition or if there are any stipulations regarding this disorder in the medical career field?

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[Droopy Snoopy]

Hi. I have had internal strabismus in my left eye since birth. A lifetime of correction has straightened it out (except after a 16-hour study session), and my vision in that eye is now 20/25. I still have poor depth perception, but no double vision. I don't really have a lot of practical advice for you since I'm only an M2, just wanted to let you know you're not the only one. So far I haven't had much of a problem, just minor stuff like having to use a monocular scope instead of a bi- in Histo. I've been told my an opthalmalogist (sp?) that it would be an uphill battle to do well in any surgical specialty because of all the arthroscopy, and especially with fine procedures such as in optho or plastics. I'm not interested in surgery at this point, but I'm with you in that even if I was, I'd hesitate to go into a field like that for fear that I might hurt someone. As far as institutional technical standards, my school doesn't have anything specifically, just:

"Observation - The medical student must be able to observe and participate in demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences, including but not limited to: physiologic and pharmacologic demonstrations in animals, microbiologic cultures, and microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states, and anatomical specimens. The student must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision, hearing, and somatic sensation. It is enhanced by the functional use of the sense of smell.

Hope this helps.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

I am not aware of other individuals that share your condition, however, I am aware of a blind student that made it through medical school. I believe he is going through a psychiatry residency now. 👍

 

[skypilot]

Would you have problems with things like drawing blood using a needle or doing a spinal tap using a needle? If not I wouldn't worry. You probably will not be a surgeon but most other specialties will be ok.

 

[davey22]

Hi. I have had internal strabismus in my left eye since birth. A lifetime of correction has straightened it out (except after a 16-hour study session), and my vision in that eye is now 20/25. I still have poor depth perception, but no double vision. I don't really have a lot of practical advice for you since I'm only an M2, just wanted to let you know you're not the only one. So far I haven't had much of a problem, just minor stuff like having to use a monocular scope instead of a bi- in Histo. I've been told my an opthalmalogist (sp?) that it would be an uphill battle to do well in any surgical specialty because of all the arthroscopy, and especially with fine procedures such as in optho or plastics. I'm not interested in surgery at this point, but I'm with you in that even if I was, I'd hesitate to go into a field like that for fear that I might hurt someone. As far as institutional technical standards, my school doesn't have anything specifically, just:

"Observation - The medical student must be able to observe and participate in demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences, including but not limited to: physiologic and pharmacologic demonstrations in animals, microbiologic cultures, and microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states, and anatomical specimens. The student must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision, hearing, and somatic sensation. It is enhanced by the functional use of the sense of smell.

Hope this helps.

How are your eyes holding up during the intense studying? Do you get a lot of headaches? I thought that there is a small amount of surgical task involved in Med School that I would have to pass?

 

[kenmc3]

Most things medical students do in medical school involving surgery would be holding retractors and suturing/tying knots. I doubt you would have problems with that. But don’t worry, if a blind student can make it, you should have no problems.

 

[davey22]

Most things medical students do in medical school involving surgery would be holding retractors and suturing/tying knots. I doubt you would have problems with that. But don’t worry, if a blind student can make it, you should have no problems.

Thats kind of funny, I supose if you look at it that way I'm game.

 

[Jedix123]

I wonder how the blind guy did pathology and practicals.. Must do a lot of touch recognition or verbal description? I'd hate to describe something under a microscope slide though.

 

[Pythagoras]

One of my classmates has the same condition as you described. He got in. I don't see why you couldn't either.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

How are your eyes holding up during the intense studying? Do you get a lot of headaches? I thought that there is a small amount of surgical task involved in Med School that I would have to pass?

I do get headaches, but not frequently, and probably not any more than others in my class. But like I said I don't have the double vision. I wouldn't expect that you'd have much more of a problem in med school than you have during undergrad. Besides, threre are other ways of studying besides staring at a book -- record and listen to the lectures if you start having problems. I think most of the 3rd year surgical rotation is pretty dull stuff like retracting.

 

[ND2005]

I wonder how the blind guy did pathology and practicals.. Must do a lot of touch recognition or verbal description? I'd hate to describe something under a microscope slide though.

He was an ND grad (may have actually been valedictorian). I read an article about him -- the stuff he could do with his hands is amazing.

 

[akaz]

My husband has it and is in research. You can do it.

One of my classmates has the same condition as you described. He got in. I don't see why you couldn't either.

 

[tupac_don]

I have a form of strabismus, which is followed by double vision, along with poor depth perception. This condition has existed since I was a child and it is controlled. However, I have uncertainties of the surgical aspect of med school and my competence to excute my potential to the fullest for future patients or just getting through medical training. Is anyone aware of present students that also have this condition or if there are any stipulations regarding this disorder in the medical career field?

Yea it's possible, I knew of a doctor who was so nearsighted, and had diplopia, strabismus that she literally had to stick her head into the chart to read it. It's defiently doable, but it will be tough. Of course you wouldn't be able to do surgery or anything procedural, but psyciatry, IM, PM & R may be in the cards for you.

 

[Nightengale]

Some schools have "technical standards" you have to be able to meet to enter. For example my school requires "sufficient use of the sense of vision and hearing and somatic sensation necessary to perform a physical examination using obervation, palpation, aucultation and percussion, and the ability to execute motor movments reasonably required to provide both general patient care and emergency treatment."

So it's very school-dependant - while some schools admit completely blind students, my school won't. I would encourage you to check the policies to various schools and see if you think you can meet them. You could also talk to your ophthomologist if you have a good relationship with one, since she or he would know both your eyes and medical school training procedures.

I have difficulty with my hands, among other things, and made it through a surgical rotation, doing some but not all the things my classmates were doing. I was OK holding a suction devise and cutting sutures, but couldn't hold a retractor for more than a few minutes. because that requires more strength. With limited depth perception, you might be all right holding a retractor - the surgeon generally places it for you, but not as comfortable reaching in to cut sutures. However, even if all you can do in the OR is observe (and I suspect you can do a great deal more than that, with some figuring), you should still be able to get through surgery and GYN. And there are plenty of fields out there to choose from after you get through your training where you wouldn't be at any disadvantage!

 

[pillowhead]

I have a form of strabismus, which is followed by double vision, along with poor depth perception. This condition has existed since I was a child and it is controlled. However, I have uncertainties of the surgical aspect of med school and my competence to excute my potential to the fullest for future patients or just getting through medical training. Is anyone aware of present students that also have this condition or if there are any stipulations regarding this disorder in the medical career field?

There is a student in my class with strabismus and one who is colorblind. While I think a small number of fields may be limited for them (e.g. ophthalmology which requires very precise, small field surgeries and pathology for which color vision is pretty necessary), overall, they have done better than fine during school and both plan on entering competitive residencies.

 

[burntcrispy]

I'm a med student. (old premed at that) If you can read and study you can do it. I've seen medstudents with missing limbs. There is no real physical requirement.

Go for it.

 

[Doctor&Geek]

He was an ND grad (may have actually been valedictorian). I read an article about him -- the stuff he could do with his hands is amazing.

Tim Cordes is a graduate of the MD/PhD program at Wisconsin and was indeed valedictorian at Notre Dame.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7318398/