DEPARTMENTAL FACILITIES

The UVA Eye Center currently houses both the General Ophthalmology Service, run by the residents, and the Consultation Services of the full-time faculty. Both divisions share an open waiting area, a common reception area and ancillary support rooms; including a photography suite, conference area, minor OR, laser surgical suite, electrophysiology lab, contact lens clinic, and departmental library.

In February 1992, the Department opened an off-campus satellite clinic in the Northridge Building, which is owned by Health Services Foundation and located 1.5 miles from the main Eye Clinic. This clinic attracts a substantial number of patients having eye care problems of a subspecialty nature. It is staffed by the full-time faculty assisted by the residents and technical staff. This additional space allows the current faculty subspecialty clinics to expand as well as provide an opportunity for recruitment of additional full-time faculty.

The Photography Suite includes state-of-the-art digital fluorescein angiography and fundus photography systems. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is also available to complement the more traditional photographic techniques. In addition, video equipment permits patient video recording as well as playback of pre-recorded library video material. Two photo slit lamps and macrophotographic equipment are available for external photography. Extensive corneal evaluation with endothelial cell photography, topographical mapping, and ultrasonic pachymetry are available. Professional ophthalmic photographers run the Photography Section, performing more than 1,500 fluorescein angiograms a year, as well as supervising preparation of visual material for lectures and conferences.

The Visual Function Lab includes equipment for electroretinography, electro-oculography and dark adaptometry. Color vision testing may be performed with the 100 Hue test, the Farnsworth D-15 test, and multiple screening color plates. Four Humphrey Field Analyzers provide computerized static perimetry. Residents perform physiologic testing in conjunction with the technicians and are trained in the use of the equipment and in interpretation. The Department uses the VERIS System for multifocal ERG and VEP. Clinical and research protocols are being designed. The Virginia Lions Eye Foundation has recently funded a Macular Imaging Function Lab. This will contain state-of-the-art OCT/SLO instrumentation.

The Bernard Samuels Ophthalmology Library is located in the Eye Center and is supported by its own endowment. It contains all major ophthalmic journals in addition to a large collection of textbooks dealing with ophthalmology and related subspecialties. The Department also maintains subscriptions to numerous audio-visual periodicals. Computers located in the Samuels Library allow 24 hour access to MEDLINE Retrieval Service for research and clinical investigation. The department has on-line terminals connecting to numerous ophthalmic discussion groups through the Internet.

The Ophthalmology Library is supplemented by the Medical Center's Claude Moore Health Sciences Library. It is located a short walk from the Eye Clinic and is the core library for the region containing most English language journals and textbooks. It has an extensive audio-visual section available for viewing and copying.

Three different sets of operating room facilities provide ample access to surgical experience. The new University of Virginia Hospital opened in 1991 and maintains an operating room assigned to the Department of Ophthalmology. State-of-the-art surgical instrumentation is available, including a Zeiss operating microscope, 20-, 23- and 25-gauge vitrectomy machines, intraocular laser photocoagulators, automated irrigation aspiration equipment and the latest phacoemulsification units.

The University of Virginia Outpatient Surgery Center is a modern free-standing, out-patient surgery unit. The majority of cataract surgery is performed in this facility, which has the latest technology in phacoemulsification. Subspecialty surgery, including cornea, glaucoma, oculoplastic and orbital surgery, is also performed at VASC.

The minor operating room is located within the Eye Center where it is easily accessible for minor procedures and emergencies.

A laser operating facility is equipped with two argon lasers, a dye laser, and a YAG laser. Residents are instructed in their use during the first year and benefit from extensive laser experience during all three years. Full-time faculty backup is immediately available.

The Ophthalmology Research Laboratories are located in the Clinical Neuroscience Research Center in Cobb Hall. The laboratory houses modern facilities for molecular, cell, and genetic research. University core facilities for oligonucleotide synthesis, protein sequencing, and image processing are readily available.

The clinical eye facilities at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salem, Virginia, comprise 1,500 square feet of space, including six completely equipped eye lanes. Two full-time ophthalmologists and two optometrists assist with management of the clinical load. This popular third year rotation encourages independent decision making in a large clinical setting augmented by a high surgical volume. The residents are encouraged to handle the full spectrum of clinical problems with backup available from the full-time faculty and community ophthalmologists.