Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery/Oculoplastics
Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery/Oculoplastics has been a very active and busy medical specialty of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology for more than 35 years. Our faculty members serve all of the ophthalmic plastic needs of both adult and pediatric patients. This includes the diagnosis, treatment and surgery of eyelid and orbital problems. While many of our patients live in the local area, we also care for patients who come to us from other parts of the United States and internationally. These patients have benign or malignant tumors, traumatic injuries, orbital fractures, lid or eyeball malpositions, tearing problems, thyroid-related eye disease and cosmetic issues. We deal with both straightforward problems and very complex, vision-threatening disorders. Our ophthalmic plastic surgeons collaborate with other fields, such as oncology, endocrinology, dermatology, radiology, otorhinolaryngology, neurosurgery and plastic surgery, allowing us to design a well-informed, comprehensive individually focused treatment plan for the patient.
Education
The Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery/Oculoplastics medical specialty has training rotations for the Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center ophthalmology residents each year of their residency. The residents work closely with the ophthalmic plastic attending physicians in their office, in the hospital and in the operating room. The residents participate in a regularly scheduled, organized ophthalmic plastic lecture curriculum. These training experiences involve not only ophthalmology residents but also Feinberg School of Medicine students. The ophthalmic plastic attending physicians also teach in the head and neck section of the integrated medical school curriculum. The residents of the plastic surgery division rotate within the ophthalmic plastic division as part of their training. In addition, residents of many other departments are taught by our attendings through our close collaboration with these departments.
Research
The ophthalmic plastic surgeons have been and continue to be involved in a wide range of research projects covering the multitude of aspects of the subspecialty. Some of the research projects have been carried out within the Department of Ophthalmology. Other projects have been done in cooperation with other areas of the medical school, including oncology, pathology, radiology, otorhinolaryngology and neurosurgery. Current research focuses on lid issues, orbital tumors and optic nerve surgery. The ophthalmology residents and Feinberg School of Medicine students are encouraged to participate in the research. This has led to journal publications with the residents and medical students being included in the list of authors. Our ophthalmic plastic surgeons feel that this participation in research is an important part of their education and will stimulate them to question and investigate throughout their careers.