New guidance reinforces priorities for resident education, patient transparency, and appropriate clinical practice.
The Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO), in collaboration with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), has released a new Principle Statement on the Inclusion of Optometry Post Graduate Training Programs in Academic Ophthalmology Departments.
As academic ophthalmology departments continue to evolve, this joint statement outlines key principles intended to support high-quality ophthalmology resident education while promoting transparency for patients and maintaining appropriate clinical practice standards.
The statement emphasizes three core principles:
- Resident Education – Ophthalmology residency training should remain the highest educational priority within academic ophthalmology departments, with mechanisms in place to ensure resident education is not adversely affected by the clinical training of non-physician trainees.
- Patient Transparency – Patients should be able to clearly identify the education, credentials, and training status of all members of their care team through consistent professional identification and communication.
- Practice Standards – Departments should ensure that all clinicians practice within their state's legal scope of practice and maintain the standards expected of academic ophthalmology training programs. AUPO believes that departments of ophthalmology are responsible for determining credentialing of ophthalmic services and that only ophthalmologists who have undergone or are in ophthalmology residency under supervision should perform injections and surgery using scalpels and lasers, regardless of the scope expanded under state laws.
This statement reflects AUPO's ongoing commitment to excellence in ophthalmic education, patient-centered care, and the preparation of the next generation of ophthalmologists.