Wills Eye Surgical Curriculum

The Wills Eye Surgical Curriculum was developed to help junior residents become better, quicker, and safer surgeons, which increases their surgical volume and improves their patient outcomes. The curriculum includes class-specific lectures (in light blue) and wet labs (in white) alternating every other Monday morning throughout the first two years of training. Senior residents have a separate curriculum focused on more advanced devices and techniques.

We invite you to click the lessons in the table below to explore ways to incorporate them into your training. We also invite you to come see our new Measey Ophthalmic Surgical Training (MOST) wet lab the next time that you are in Philadelphia.

Lecture Wet Lab

Month First Year Second Year
July Common ER Pathology Iris Management & Capsulorrhexis
July Corneal Pathology & ER Procedures Phaco Fluidics & Lens Division Techniques
August Refraction Lens Division & Removal
August Canthotomy/Cantholysis & Lid Laceration Repair Anterior Vitrectomy
September B-Scan Examination Anterior Vitrectomy
September Enucleation & Evisceration White & Dense Cataracts
October Optic Nerve Evaluation & OCT Interpretation Secondary IOLs & MSICS
October Gonioscopy Oculoplastic Suturing
November Measuring Deviations in Strabismus Oculoplastic Suturing
November Strabismus Surgery Orbital Surgery
Residency Interviews
Winter Interim
January Cornea Office Procedures Retina Surgery
January Peripheral Retinal Anatomy & Pathology Core Vitrectomy
OKAP Night Review Course
March Introduction to Cataract Surgery Corneal Suturing
March Phaco Machine & Instruments Glaucoma Surgery
April Viscoelastic & Intraocular Lenses Glaucoma Surgery
April Phaco Incisions, OVD, & Irrigation/Aspiration Corneal Transplants
May Ruptured Globe Repair Corneal Transplants
May Ruptured Globe Repair Biometry & Topography
June Iris Management & Capsulorrhexis Cataract Surgery Signup & IOL Selection
Graduation