Admission into the Membership/Residency Training Programmes is for

Medical practitioners who are already fully registered by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria with evidence of completion of the National Youths Service Corps or an Exemption where necessary. 

The candidate must have passed the primary fellowship examination.  A few without primaries are also admitted. 

Residents are recruited on a fulltime basis. 

TRAINING OBJECTIVES AND PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

The Training Programme of this department is patterned according to the guidelines of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Surgeons, for Postgraduate training in the discipline of Ophthalmology.

The overall objective of the postgraduate training is for residents to acquire relevant knowledge and skills (including surgical) that will help him/her in the practice of ophthalmology, especially in a developing world setting. 

(a)      A sound knowledge of the scientific basis of ophthalmology

(b)        A proficiency in clinical ophthalmology

(c)      Refined clinical judgment through the application of various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

(d)     Ability to carry out successful modern surgical techniques to the advantage of the patient, when deemed necessary.

(e)      The ability to identify research problems and formulate approaches to their solution

(f)       The ability to teach principles and skills of ophthalmologic care.

(g)      Communication skills necessary for the development of rapport with the patients.

(h)     The ability to manage the resources of manpower, money and material in the provision of cost effective and equitable ophthalmic care.

(i)       The ability of self-assessment/ criticism by constant involvement in peer evaluation process designed to improve patient care.

(j)       The sound knowledge of the scientific basis of modern ophthalmic practice through access and effective use of up-to date library services.

(k)      The motivation for self-education by constant exposure to educational challenges through participation in learned conferences, seminars, clinic and surgical demonstration and other educational activities.

The learning objectives for candidates in the Membership programme in Ophthalmology are designed to emphasize recall of information (bank of knowledge), understanding and application of basic sciences (e.g. anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, embryology,  pharmacology) to the practice of Ophthalmology. 

Candidates in the programme are expected to learn how to apply pathogenetic mechanisms to clinical problems, ordering and interpreting clinical, laboratory, and imaging information, development of a differential diagnosis, implementation of a reasonable and appropriate therapeutic medical and/or surgical plan, and anticipation, recognition, and treatment of complications. 

 Candidates completing the membership programme are expected to demonstrate a depth of knowledge and understanding expected of an independent Specialist, not sub-specializing in the field of ophthalmology.   

Course duration: Three years (3 years)

The Fellowship Programme is purely a subspeciality training programme.

The candidate will specialize in one of the following subspeciality areas:

1. Anterior segment and cornea
2. Glaucoma
3. Paediatric Ophthalmology and strabismus
4. Retina and Vitreous
5. Oculoplastic surgery
6. Neuroophthalmology

1. Entry Requirements for Fellowship Training

• Must be registered and in good standing with Medical and Dental Council
• Candidate must possess a membership or equivalent
• Candidates can progress directly from membership but One year experience(post-membership) an advantage
• Must produce recommendations from 2 referees
• Must pass selection exam/ interview

1. ii) Fellowship objectives

• Prepare to be a trainer
• Prepare to be a specialist: Exposure to subspecialties

– Public  health component of each subspecialty

• Prepare to be a researcher

– A dissertation

• Courses

– Management

– Research methodology

– Communications – training  methods and skills

The Fellowship Programme is purely a subspeciality training programme.

The candidate will specialize in one of the following subspeciality areas:

1. Anterior segment and cornea
2. Glaucoma
3. Paediatric Ophthalmology and strabismus
4. Retina and Vitreous
5. Oculoplastic surgery
6. Neuroophthalmology

1. Entry Requirements for Fellowship Training

• Must be registered and in good standing with Medical and Dental Council
• Candidate must possess a membership or equivalent
• Candidates can progress directly from membership but One year experience(post-membership) an advantage
• Must produce recommendations from 2 referees
• Must pass selection exam/ interview

1. ii) Fellowship objectives

• Prepare to be a trainer
• Prepare to be a specialist: Exposure to subspecialties

– Public  health component of each subspecialty

• Prepare to be a researcher

– A dissertation

• Courses

– Management

– Research methodology

– Communications – training  methods and skills

1.To produce a subspecialist that can deliver specialist ophthalmic care in response to the ocular pathology

2. To produce a specialist in a subspeciality area with the requisite amount of knowledge, skills and attitudes who is capable of independent subspeciality practice

3.He/she should be able to contribute to his subspeciality through publications and is expected to participate in the training of postmembership trainees under him

1. Duration of Training
2. The duration shall be two (2) years, full-time, for the award of Fellowship of the College.

1. Course content

This will depend on the area of subspeciality.

 Community Posting

            During this period, 3 months is spent in our Community outpost at Aluu (Ikwerre LGA); thereafter each resident rotates on a 3-monthly basis through all the subspecialty units (Appendix).

1.To produce a subspecialist that can deliver specialist ophthalmic care in response to the ocular pathology

2. To produce a specialist in a subspeciality area with the requisite amount of knowledge, skills and attitudes who is capable of independent subspeciality practice

3.He/she should be able to contribute to his subspeciality through publications and is expected to participate in the training of postmembership trainees under him

1. Duration of Training
2. The duration shall be two (2) years, full-time, for the award of Fellowship of the College.

1. Course content

This will depend on the area of subspeciality.

 Community Posting

            During this period, 3 months is spent in our Community outpost at Aluu (Ikwerre LGA); thereafter each resident rotates on a 3-monthly basis through all the subspecialty units (Appendix).

1. Post Graduate Seminars – These are held every Wednesday, during which selected residents are given topics to prepare and present with audiovisual aids. As much as possible, case presentations are done with clinical demonstration of commonly encountered conditions during such seminars (Appendix 2.) This is supervised by consultants and coordinated by senior registrars.  Attendance is mandatory for all consultants and residents.  The nurses also participate.  Questions and contributions are then discussed with those present.
2. Case Presentations – The residents are given cases to clerk in detail and present to the consultant in charge on the clinic and discussion is made on various aspects of the case; the Etiology, Pathology, Clinical features, Investigations, Management, Complications and Prevention.
3. Examination – Tests, both written, clinical (OSCE) as well as oral, are given to the residents at regular intervals during their training.
4. Consultant lectures are held once every two months (Appendix2).
5. Journal club meetings are held once a month during which selected journals in various subspecialties are criticized. These sessions are supervised by consultants and attendance is mandatory for both residents and consultants. (Appendix 2)
6. Tutorials are given by consultants once a week after topics have been distributed to the residents to read ahead.
7. Senior residents’ dissertation proposals are usually presented to the department during departmental research seminar for input and correction by the consultants before submission to the college.
8. Residents who have completed their community posting give a presentation on their experience, highlighting challenges and proferring solutions on how to improve the service delivery at the community centre.

 Other Activities

           Other activities aimed at teaching residents include:

                        Undergraduate training – To enhance their knowledge base, senior residents are assigned tutorial topics to deliver to medical students during their ophthalmology posting.