(2 positions available for 2025-2026 cycle)

Accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE)

Mission

The optometry residency in Primary Eye Care with emphasis in Contact Lenses at Johns Hopkins Medicine Wilmer Eye Institute provides an exceptionally rewarding opportunity for qualified optometrists to gain patient care experience within the Johns Hopkins network of unique patient demographics. Clinical emphasis and exposure will predominantly focus on ocular pathologies unique to large tertiary referral centers like Johns Hopkins. This program prepares residents to become leaders in the optometric field and qualifies them to practice in medical and academic centers with advance clinical competencies- ACOE Affiliate: The Ohio State University College of Optometry.

Commitment

• Program Length: Twelve months
• Program Starting Date: First week of July
• Typical Weekly Hours and After-Hours Responsibilities: The resident will work 40 hours per week with limited after-hours responsibilities including on-call eye consults, a responsibility that rotates amongst all optometry faculty.

Program Description 

The residency is a 12-month program, specifically designed for qualified candidates seeking clinical exposure and residency-level didactic experience managing multiple levels of ocular pathologies (i.e. primary to tertiary care). The program will involve a continuity clinic with direct patient care overseen by attending Doctors of Optometry or Medicine (comprehensive eye care and specialty contact lenses). While the residency’s focus will be in primary eye care, the program will also provide the resident with experience in specialty contact lens evaluations for a broad array of medical indications including keratoconus, post-PKP, post-LASIK ectasia, post-CXL, post-trauma, and ocular surface diseases.

In addition, the resident is expected to attend weekly Wilmer Grand Rounds and subspecialty lectures. The resident will be required to present at least two lectures among several conference opportunities in the year including Ohio State’s Resident Day, Wilmer Evidence Based Care Conference, and/or a national conference.

Lastly, successful completion of this program will require composing a research paper, journal article, or peer review format manuscript on a clinical topic of choice. The clinical topic must be approved by the residency director, and the paper must be completed before the final month of residency. 

See frequently asked questions about our program

Curriculum

• Attendance and participation in weekly Wilmer Grand Rounds
• Attendance and participation in monthly Optometry Grand Rounds
• Attendance and participation in weekly Journal Club
• Completion of resident case discussion 1-2x/month
• Submission of two case reports to present at AAO, AOA, SECO, GSLS, and/or Heart of America
• Presentation given at The Ohio State University Optometry Resident Scholarship Day
• Completion of a research paper, journal article, or peer review format manuscript on a clinical topic of choice.

Sample Schedule

A tentative sample schedule is provided below. Days and locations of eye care may change from year to year, but this schedule reflects the variety of clinical exposure the optometry resident will experience. Typical work hours are 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.*

*Grand Rounds takes place each Thursday from 7:30-8:30 a.m.

Requirements for Completion

Complete all the components of the curriculum to a satisfactory level of performance to the faculty.

Benefits

• Salary: $48,500 annually 
• Program Benefits and Liability Coverage: Medical insurance coverage, professional liability insurance, two weeks of vacation, CE stipend for local or national conferences, including continuing education opportunities within Wilmer.

Application Materials and Procedures

Deadline: January 20th, 2025 (Monday)    

By February 1st, applicants should have the following on file with the residency coordinator: 

• Completed application through OR Match
• Current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Statement of Intent
• Official optometry transcripts
• NBEO scores
• Letters of recommendation from three faculty closely acquainted with the applicant’s clinical proficiency
• Eligibility for State of Maryland Optometry licensure

Selection Procedure and Admission Criteria

Candidates are evaluated on the basis of clinical and academic competence, recommendations, interpersonal skills, and interest in future work at academic medical centers.

Success in this program is contingent upon demonstrating advanced level of clinical aptitude and initiative.

Admission requirements include: 

• Doctor of Optometry degree from an ACOE accredited school or college of optometry
• Successful completion of Parts I, II, III and TMOD of the NBEO scores by January 20th two months prior to beginning of the program
• State of Maryland Optometry license application prior to the beginning of the program

Contact Information

For those wishing to participate in the residency who do not have access to a personal vehicle, public transportation options are available. It is recommended that residents live in the Inner Harbor or Mt Vernon area to access public transit easily.

To downtown Hopkins: take shuttle to downtown Hopkins from Mt Vernon square (20 min).

To Bayview: take shuttle to downtown Hopkins (20 min) then connect to Bayview shuttle on N Wolfe Street entrance (20 min).

To Odenton: take MARC train to Odenton station (25 min), connect to green line bus #202 to Odenton Health Campus (21 min).