Cataract Surgery
Performing cataract surgery offers an introduction to intraocular surgery and is a foundational skill for comprehensive ophthalmologists and many subspecialists. The elegance of the surgery and the happy post-operative patients remind us why we chose to practice ophthalmology.
Our residents get involved in cataract surgery early in their training and continue to build their skills over the following four years. A comprehensive wet lab is held every fall and covers everything from loading lenses to phacoemulsification - for many of our PGY1 residents this will be their first opportunity to practice complex bimanual and bipedal surgery.
During PGY2 residents will begin performing independent cataract surgeries on their VA rotation. PGY3 brings continued surgical growth with more complex cases performed at UCSD while on the Cornea rotation.
Finally, three rotations during PGY4 focus heavily on cataract surgery and allow residents to greatly increase their surgical numbers. These cases include highly complex surgeries, including post-operative, dense, or unstable cataracts, use of iris dilating devices, premium toric and multifocal lenses, and combination cases with minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries.
Oculoplastic Surgery
Residents have a robust oculoplastic experience in all 3 years of residency. At the VA, residents help manage functional, orbit, and lacrimal conditions in the clinic and in the operating room, working directly with our oculoplastic attending, first-hand. This allows for many learning opportunities including nuances on decision-making, and time for honing surgical skills.
During PGY3 and PGY4 year rotations at Shiley Eye Institute, residents are key members of the busy oculoplastic service. Clinical case and photo/imaging reviews are held at the end of clinic days to enhance education. Residents participate in this highly surgical service where faculty are dedicated in building surgical skills and decision-making.
In addition to functional and aesthetic cases, residents will gain significant exposure to complex conditions requiring an interdisciplinary team, including regular combo cases with ENT, neurosurgery, facial plastics, craniofacial, and dermatology. Clinicopathological conferences, journal clubs, and surgical wetlabs also supplement clinical and surgical teaching.
Navy Refractive Rotation
UCSD pairs with the Naval Medical Center to offer residents a unique opportunity to participate in a busy refractive clinic. Residents typically complete >50 cases of PRK, LASIK, and SMILE and can be certified on the Alcon EX500, Zeiss Visumax, and Alcon Allegretto.
These certifications across multiple platforms offer a leg up to residents that pursue future comprehensive or cornea subspecialty positions. The refractive surgery experience during UCSD residency exceeds many refractive surgery fellowship programs.
By the Numbers (2022 - 2023)
We present a range of surgeries performed because some residents may focus on certain types of surgeries over others.
Dear Dr. Nudleman and the Shiley Team:
Several weeks ago I became a patient of yours when I experienced a torn retina while on vacation. Interestingly, I was alone at the time and after navigating the downtown ER came to you for emergency surgery. Having no one to assist me during a stressful time, I was thankful to have you all there to provide care and world-class medical advice. I am a banker and our company mission statement is “every day we will make a positive difference in the financial lives of everyone we touch” so I am constantly evaluating customer service through this lens. Without question, the Shiley team made a positive difference in my life. Thank you!
Warm regards,
Brigham L. Tubbs
I have been a patient there for more than 25yrs.
I have had so many complications with my vision, and have seen various specialists at Shiley. The doctors there are top notch, and have saved my eyesight on several occasions with emergency situations. Thank goodness We have Shiley here in San Diego.
May 2022
Dr. Eric Nuddleman - I had detached retina and saw Dr N. He was the most caring and competent Dr. I could have ever chosen.
I had detached retina and saw Dr N. He was the most caring and competent Dr. I could have ever chosen. I had no idea how bad the detachment was until Dr. N said we must do it now. Waiting would have caused much more damage & he scheduled it for the next AM. The surgery went well & he saved my vision.! I would highly recommend Dr. N to everyone. As far as I am concerned, his skills as a surgeon are top-notch. I thank God daily for Dr. N! Shiley Eye Institute is world class.
Mar 2021
but it's most important to find a doctor who sticks by you to make things right when unexpected complications arise
I normally don't write reviews, but my niece who is a highly trained physician herself (at Northwestern University and Stanford) advised me that this is an important review to write. She said that it's easy to write a review for a doctor when everything goes smoothly and turns out great the first time, but it's most important to find a doctor who sticks by you to make things right when unexpected complications arise. Dr. Korn is like that and I have a great deal of respect for him..
Close to a year and a half ago, I had cosmetic eyelid surgery done by Dr. Korn on both my upper and lower eyelids. After the surgery it was very noticeable to me that one eye looked bigger than the other eye. Dr. Korn said that when my eyes were sufficiently healed, he would open the corner of the smaller eye to enlarge it.
Three months after the surgery I developed an eye condition in both eyes called Chemosis. Dr. Korn did not think that the Chemosis was caused by the surgery and he gave me the reasons why. He said that we had to deal with my medical condition before we could do corrective cosmetic surgery. To his credit, he tried to determine the underlying cause of the Chemosis by having me take various tests (MRI and blood tests) and try certain eye drops, etc. in an effort to make a differential diagnosis. He even talked about my case to other physicians at a medical conference he went to China.
Finally a few months ago, Dr. Korn started to see improvements in the Chemosis, and earlier this month, he said that it looked much better. Last week he was able to open the corner of my smaller eye to enlarge the appearance and he had to do some cauterization so that my eye would drain properly. I still have a small amount of Chemosis and my eye is still healing from the surgery, but I can tell that it looks better already.
The bottom line is that for the last year and a half Dr. Korn has been very kind, patient, available, and medically diligent. Those are the characteristics of a fine doctor and one whom I appreciate.
Jun 2019
I was lost suffering from thyroid eye disease until I found the most amazing staff and the Dr's. From the time I called and made my first appointment there was a kind person on the other side of the phone to easy my fear. It has been one year since my last surgery and recently went in for a follow up walking into the office I didn't realize I was going to be so emotional but it was so full circle.
I was so broken when i first arrived not ever thinking I would be me ever again and Dr. Kikkawa, Dr. Ko, Dr. Lila, Denise and all of the amazing staff have given me my life back. I want others who are going threw this disease to feel the same joy. I know people mentioned having to wait to be seen but just know they give each patient so much time and attention.
Jan 2019