Ophthalmology

The Division of Ophthalmology at the Cook County Health offers medical and surgical ophthalmic care to adults and children with diseases and injuries of the eye, orbit and eyelids.
Program Contact
Lisa Thompson, M.D.
Program Director
Katina Haymer
Program Coordinator

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About

Common diseases that affect the eye include diabetes, glaucoma and cataracts, but in addition, comprehensive care is offered to patients suffering from a broad spectrum of common and rare eye conditions ranging from eye disease due to premature birth to severe traumatic injury in adults.

Each year, the division treats 50,000 patients, performing over 2,300 major ocular surgeries, 10,000 intraocular injections and over 2,000 laser procedures. This is in addition to routine medical management of ophthalmic disease, as well as countless numbers of minor procedures. The Division of Ophthalmology is the busiest unit under the Department of Surgery.

Clinic services include fluorescein angiograms, visual field testing, ultrasound imaging, corneal hysteresis, ocular coherence tomography and nerve fiber layer analysis. The physicians utilize many methods of sophisticated care options, and many eye diseases can be treated with medical, surgical or laser procedures.

The Ophthalmology clinic, located in the Professional Building, is a comprehensively equipped facility with specialists available in seven subspecialties including: medical/surgical retina, oculoplastics, cornea, glaucoma, uveitis, pediatrics/strabismus and neuro-ophthalmology.

Minor surgery procedures can be performed within the clinic and the vast majority of major surgical procedures are performed on an outpatient basis using “same-day” surgery in the Hospital.

Clinical Schedule

The PGY-1 residency positions were integrated into the program July 2021 providing our residents with a comprehensive experience prior to beginning their formal ophthalmology training.

The first year begins with a two-week orientation in which subspecialty attendings give introductory lectures and provide hands-on instruction in use of ophthalmic equipment and refraction. Rotations consist of two-, four- and six- week rotations in a variety of specialties, including internal medicine, rheumatology, trauma surgery, plastic surgery, endocrinology, dermatology and ophthalmology.

During their ophthalmology rotation, residents can expect to receive early exposure to the operating room as well as in-office procedures. They will participate in general clinic, as well as train in ophthalmic imaging, testing and refraction.

For More Information

For more information, visit https://www.cookcountyophthalmology.com.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO or PPO health insurance, dental coverage, vision plan, disability, worker’s comp, life insurance, pension plan, and flexible spending accounts.
Paid Leave
House staff physicians are entitled to the following paid leaves per academic year: 21 vacation days, 12 sick days, 12 holidays, 5 conference days, and 3 days bereavement.
Education Allowance
An educational allowance of $1,500 per year is available for reimbursement of expenses for conferences, seminars, review courses, purchasing of lenses or books.
Ophthalmology
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