Optometry Residency

The Emory Eye Center Optometry residency is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). The program is designed to offer optometry school graduates advanced clinical expertise above and beyond that provided in a doctor of optometry (OD) program. The residency will focus on the anterior segment, allowing residents to develop clinical expertise in medical contact lens fitting and management. It will also focus on the assessment and management of refractive conditions and various diseases of the anterior segment. Optometric residents will be mentored and instructed by Emory optometric faculty. 

The goals of the Emory optometry residency

The goal of this residency is to provide residents with intensive training in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease. Once they have passed their State Board Licensing Examination,   residents will practice to the scope of Georgia law, which will allow them to manage and treat their patients who present with ocular disease.

Didactic instruction will include a wide array of ocular disease topics. Rotations will include primary, secondary, and tertiary settings where residents will participate in a diversity of ocular disease and medical contact lens assessments and treatments. In addition, they can expect to be involved in

• fitting and designing specialty contact lenses; 
• examining and fitting pediatric patients with contact lenses after ocular surgery or traumatic insult;
• examining patients with ocular disease in clinics that will include glaucoma, retina/vitreous, anterior segment and triage/comprehensive care;
• comparing their diagnostic and management skills to those of the attending provider 
• examining and following patients in the primary care and/or triage clinics. The resident will make the final decision regarding the impression and plan;

Completion requirements

For completion and certification, the resident must commit to 54 weeks and attend all assigned clinics, participating in the adequate number of patients in order to become competent in ocular disease and contact lenses. The resident will also be required to engage in didactic activities to supplement their clinical education which include:

• Attending Emory Eye Center Grand Rounds and Weekly Journal Clubs (if applicable)
• Presenting a case during at least One Contact Lens Grand Round
• Poster/Paper presentation at Global Specialty Lens Symposium or American Academy meeting
• Writing a minimum of one case report following AAO fellowship guidelines

Candidate requirements

As a post-graduate program, the Optometry Residency at Emory Eye Center will consider candidates who have received a doctor of optometry (OD) degree from a college of optometry that is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). In addition, all candidates must have successfully completed the National Boards Parts I, II, and III, and be eligible for optometric licensure in the state of Georgia within a month of matriculation.

Application process 

The Optometry Residency at Emory Eye Center begins in July of each year. All application materials should be successfully submitted by January 31 to ensure a slot in that year's cohort.

Candidates should anticipate completing the following steps:

• Registering with the Optometry Residency Matching Service (ORMatch)
• Providing the following information as a part of the application:
  • Current curriculum vitae
  • Letter of intent (LOI)
  • Official optometry school transcripts
  • Official NBEO scores
  • Three letters of recommendation
• Scheduling an on-campus or Zoom interview, if requested.