What it's really like in ophthalmology—from 3 physicians who know

As a medical student, do you ever wonder what it’s like to specialize in ophthalmology? Over the years, three ophthalmologists from around the country and working in a variety of practice settings have taken the time to be featured doctors in the AMA’s "Shadow Me” Specialty Series, which offers advice directly from AMA member physicians about life in their specialties. Check out their insights to help determine whether a career in ophthalmology might be a good fit for you.

1. Shadowing David H. Aizuss, MD

   1. Dr. Aizuss has nearly 40 years in practice. A typical nonsurgery day for him consists of seeing 25–30 patients in the morning followed by another 25–30 in the afternoon. On his weekly surgery day, he performs about 10 anterior segment surgical procedures—primarily cataract extraction with intraocular lens implants—at an outpatient surgery center next door to his office building in the morning, then returns to his office for laser vision-correction procedures in the afternoon.
   2. He said the most challenging aspect of the specialty has to do with the fact that eyesight is so critical to quality of life. “As ophthalmologists we perform highly technical, complex surgery that can easily go awry if there is not extraordinary, constant attention to detail. One error inside of an eye could result in severe visual loss, so the surgery is highly stressful for the patient as well as the physician.”
   3. But this also points to the most rewarding aspect of ophthalmology: that patients tend to be thrilled with their surgical results. “In general, patients tend to be very appreciative of their physician’s skills, the attention they receive and the teamwork of the office staff that ensures they receive superb care,” he said.

2. Shadowing Barbara J. Arnold, MD

   1. When this profile was written, Dr. Arnold had 49 years in practice. She said one question physicians in training should ask themselves before pursuing ophthalmology is: Am I interested in specialty care for the love of the profession or the love of its earning potential? Ophthalmology has challenges, she said, including encouraging patients in their efforts to manage their diabetes and having to deal with prior authorization for eye exams.
   2. Self-employed in a solo practice, her weeks are much like Dr. Aizuss’: four days in clinic and one day in surgery. She describes her lifestyle as “better than I had ever imagined,” noting that she has plenty of time to paint, which “has taught me a lot about the power of observation,” she said. “Painting is also like meditation and helps counterbalance the intensity of my professional life.”
   3. For medical students considering ophthalmology, Dr. Arnold recommends, “Spend time in the offices of practicing ophthalmologists—shadow us and ask us questions. When I visited offices as a medical student, I found ophthalmologists to be level-headed, caring and genuinely interested in their patients and other people.”

3. Shadowing Grayson W. Armstrong, MD, MPH

   1. At the time of this profile, in 2021, Dr. Armstrong was still in fellowship. This proximity to medical school helped him reflect on the skills that every physician being trained in ophthalmology should have even though the board exam won’t test for them. At the top of that list: the ability to perform microsurgery.
   2. “Even if you don’t want to do surgery for the rest of your life, you need to learn how to perform ophthalmic surgery during residency training,” he said. “It’s hard to know whether you are a good microsurgeon during medical school—those opportunities don’t arise often. That’s why it’s not tested.”
   3. He went on to say that you should enjoy working with your hands; be detail oriented, focused and precise; and have experience working with microscopes and doing small tasks with precision. “Most of us don’t know that about ourselves before residency though, and that’s OK! You don’t need to know this yet,” Dr. Armstrong said. “Just be aware that this is important for you in the future if you are considering this specialty.”

The AMA Specialty Guide simplifies medical students’ specialty selection process, highlights major specialties, details training information, and provides access to related association information. It is produced by FREIDA™, the AMA Residency & Fellowship Database^®. 

Learn more with the AMA about the medical specialty of ophthalmology.