Optometry Glaucoma Fellowship
Advanced Training Program in Non-Procedural Glaucoma Management for Optometrists
This 1-year post-residency optometric training program at UIC provides advanced non-procedural training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma, including post-operative care. Upon completion of this program, optometrists will be well-equipped to work in a multitude of practice settings, including academic medical centers, managing the spectrum of glaucoma disease.
Application Information
Fellowship applicants will need to submit applications to be received by February 15, 2026 for a summer 2026 start date. Application requirements include:
- Letter of intent/future professional career plan
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of recommendation (including one from your current residency program director)
- Optometry school transcript
- NBEO score report
Please send all of the above documents to the Fellowship Director, Pathik Amin, OD.
Salary and benefits
The 2026-27 salary for the one-year post-residency Optometry Glaucoma Fellowship is at the PGY-2 level (UIC PGY-2 schedule for 2025-26 was $74,338.00). 24 days of vacation per year are available as provided in the University system.
Benefits offered parallel those offered for all UIC employees (e.g., health, disability and life insurance, sick leave, malpractice insurance). More information on benefits is available on the UIC Human Resources website.
Program Overview
This program offers a variety of opportunities in clinical and educational areas, and more.
Details
Residency-trained optometrists completing the program will gain the necessary experience to:
- Pursue professional and multi-disciplinary opportunities requiring a high-level of expertise in non-procedural glaucoma eye care
- Serve as educators and researchers in academic settings
- Serve the profession of optometry as experts and leaders in glaucoma diagnosis and management
- Pursue Diplomate status distinction within the Glaucoma Section of the American Academy of Optometry
- Strengthen co-management relationships between optometry and ophthalmology in the care of glaucoma patients
What to expect
Goal: To spend the majority of the fellowship program providing evidence-based patient care in an outpatient eye clinic in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois Chicago. The fellow will spend 70% of their time providing care in the Glaucoma Eye Clinic, which will supervised by an attending in the service. The fellow will be given the appropriate clinical faculty appointment within the department and spend 20% of their time providing direct primary eye care in the Comprehensive Eye Clinic. 10% of fellow’s time will be dedicated to research and didactic activities (discussed in the relevant sections).
Clinical Schedule:
- Glaucoma Service, Supervised Care
- Spend 7 sessions per week providing attending-supervised eye care to patients in the Glaucoma Clinic.
- Comprehensive Service, Unsupervised Direct Care
- Spend 2 sessions per week providing direct eye care to patients in the Comprehensive Eye Clinic
What to expect
Monthly Educational Seminars
Optometry seminars are held on the 1st Friday of each month and start promptly at 7:00 AM. Attendance is mandatory. Seminars will consist of fellow-led presentations and faculty lectures.
Ophthalmology Grand Rounds & Selected Lectures
Grand Rounds are held weekly at 5:00-6:00 PM on Wednesdays. Attendance is mandatory. The fellow will also be assigned to attend several relevant lectures on Thursday AM, running from 7:30 – 8:00 AM.
Glaucoma Journal Club
Journal clubs are held throughout the year on Thursdays from 5:00 – 6:00 PM. Attendance is mandatory. The fellow will be scheduled to lead several journal clubs throughout the year, during which a selected glaucoma manuscript will be discussed.
Fellows will also attend the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science’s quality improvement conferences.
Details
The fellow is expected to propose, research, and complete one prospective or retrospective glaucoma research project. Submission for a research grant through the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness (ISPB) will be encouraged. Additionally, the fellow will receive guidance and mentorship to complete 3 publishable quality case reports, which can be part of the application for the Diplomate Program within the Glaucoma Section of the American Academy of Optometry.
With a number of dedicated clinical and/or basic science research faculty, The UIC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is consistently highly ranked in NIH funding among all U.S. Medical School Ophthalmology Departments. Investigations are laboratory- and patient-based, ranging from studies of single molecules and their role in the visual process to evaluations of rehabilitation therapy for people living with impaired vision. A wide range of basic and clinical science programs are represented within the Department’s robust research division.
