Officer Subspecialty
OPHTH
Ophthalmology
An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.
Description
<p>Ophthalmology, General: A physician who has undergone specialized medical and surgical training to specialize in vision and diseases of the eye. Examines, diagnoses, and treats routine and emergency patients in a variety of settings including in the office, hospital, or emergency room. An ophthalmologist may prescribe medication or perform surgery as part of a treatment plan and may also fit and prescribe corrective lenses for vision problems.</p> <p>Ophthalmology, Subspecialist: Ophthalmologists who have completed further training (fellowship) in subspecialty areas to include: Vitreoretinal Diseases, Cornea, Glaucoma, Pathology, Pediatrics/Strabismus, Oculoplastics, Neuro-ophthalmology, or others. Physicians in these subspecialties have undergone an additional one to two years of training beyond ophthalmology residency and provide specialized care in the area of their training.</p>
Core Skills
- eye examination
- ocular disease diagnosis
- vision correction prescribing
- ophthalmic medication management
- microsurgical procedure
- emergency eye care
- retinal and cornea assessment
- patient counseling
- clinical documentation
Common Certifications
- American Board of Ophthalmology Board Certification
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification
- American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Maintenance of Certification
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration
- State Medical License
Civilian Career Paths
- OPTOMETRY
- CLINICAL TECHNICIAN
- SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
- TRAINING AND EDUCATION
Training & Development
Getting Started
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
- United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Ophthalmology Residency
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
Career Growth
- American Board of Ophthalmology Board Certification
- Ophthalmology Fellowship Training
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification
- Medical license maintenance and continuing medical education
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Data sourced from official Navy publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.