Research

Though our residency program has a very strong clinical base, research remains very important in the Ophthalmology Division to enhance resident education, increase medical knowledge and ultimately improve public health and patient care.

There are a number of ongoing research projects in the division of ophthalmology. The majority of research is focused on clinical studies. The large volume and diversity of our patient population provides a wonderful opportunity for ophthalmic research. All residents are required to participate in at least one research project during their residency. The research project should lead to completion of a structured abstract for paper or poster presentation or a manuscript suitable for submission. A research award is presented annually to the best resident research project.

Recent clinical projects have included the following:

• ocular findings in a dedicated AIDS/HIV clinic, which was done in conjunction with the CORE center of Cook County
• racial differences in incidence of diabetic retinopathy
• etiology of blindness in an urban population
• differences in clinical experience in recognition of stages of retinopathy of prematurity
• comparison of conjunctival autografts versus conjunctival advancement in the management of post-trabeculectomy bleb-leaks
• comparison of management techniques in advanced neovascular glaucoma 
• comparison of IOP control using Travatan versus Xalatan in an African-American population
• etiology of uveitis in a suburban ophthalmology clinic
• a novel technique of marking the anterior lens capsule for aide in capsulorhexis formation
• differences in rate of retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight and extremely low birth weight infants
• use of subconjunctival mitomycin C in the surgical management of pterygium

The majority of these projects have led to presentations at national meetings and publications in which the resident was the principal author. All research projects are mentored by one of our faculty members. Residents may join faculty members in ongoing research projects; though, they are permitted to independently develop project ideas and select a faculty mentor.