Cornea/External Disease Fellowship

Photo Sonal Tuli, M.D.

The University of Florida fellowship in Cornea, External Diseases, and Refractive surgery is a 1-year program aimed to train fellows in the wide range of clinical pathology and surgical techniques of the cornea and anterior segment. The program has a long-standing track record of producing skilled and confident graduates who have moved on to both private and academic practices.

The UF Cornea Service is Florida’s major referral center for corneal infections, herpetic eye disease, trauma, corneal dystrophies such as Fuchs’ dystrophy, and ocular surface diseases including dry eyes. Surgical procedures fellows routinely perform include the latest techniques in anterior segment surgery for routine and complex cataracts, full thickness (PKP) and partial thickness (DSAEK, DMEK) corneal transplants, keratoprosthesis, and intraocular miniature telescopic surgery. Refractive procedures include LASIK/PRK and implantable collamer lens implantation. Presently, over 200 new and established patients are seen per week by the service at UF Health at the Oaks.

Fellows will work with Drs. Sonal Tuli (fellowship director and department chair), Allan Steigleman, and Lauren Jeang. The faculty are fellowship-trained cornea/refractive specialists whose diverse backgrounds cover the entire spectrum of corneal and anterior segment conditions.

Fellows will participate in and serve as primary surgeon in a large variety and number of anterior segment surgery including but not limited to routine and complex cataract surgery, corneal transplantation including full thickness (PKP), endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK and DSAEK), and keratoprosthesis. In addition, they perform conjunctival flaps, pterygium surgery, and ocular surface reconstructions. They will have the opportunity to become certified with the LenSx femotosecond laser and ORA intraoperative aberrometry. Fellows can also expect to perform several refractive surgery procedures during the year. In addition, facilities are available for performing research in all areas of corneal disease including microbiology.

Overall responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, working in the cornea clinics and surgery sessions at UF Health, consulting at Shands Hospital, and participating in cornea care at the VA Medical Center. Refractive surgery and comprehensive contact lens training will be provided. The fellow is expected to attend the educational conferences that are part of the Department of Ophthalmology training program and to assist in the resident training program in the form of informal teaching, through prepared lectures, and staffing resident surgeries throughout the year. Fellows are also assigned call duties. The remaining time is available for independent study and research in the area of cornea and external disease, refractive surgery, contact lenses, etc.

Please submit your application through the San Francisco Match www.sfmatch.org

Physicians

Sonal S Tuli

Sonal S Tuli MD

Professor And Chair; Director Of The Cornea And External Disease Service
W. Allan Steigleman

W. Allan Steigleman MD

Associate Professor
Lauren Jeang

Lauren Jeang MD

Assistant Professor

Fellowship Coordinator

Christie Little


Current Fellow