Glaucoma Fellowship
Overview
The OHSU Casey Eye Institute Glaucoma Fellowship is a one-year, AUPO-certified clinical and surgical fellowship that trains future leaders in glaucoma care for children and adults.
Beginning in 2027, the fellowship is fully based at Casey Eye Institute, building on a long-standing partnership with Legacy Devers Eye Institute that began in 1999. This transition reflects the growth of Casey’s glaucoma service and our commitment to providing a focused, immersive training experience within our academic environment.
Fellows train as active members of the care team—managing patients, performing surgery, teaching learners, and developing the skills needed for careers in academic medicine or high-level clinical practice.
Fellowship Goals
Our fellowship is designed to:
- Train highly skilled glaucoma specialists prepared for careers in academic medicine and comprehensive private practice
- Provide progressive independence in clinic, surgery, and teaching
- Develop strong competency in MIGS, trabeculectomy, tube shunt surgery, and pediatric glaucoma care
- Support wellness and long-term career development
Program highlights
Casey Eye Institute offers a glaucoma fellowship grounded in strong clinical training, thoughtful teaching, and a collaborative culture. Fellows are treated as junior colleagues and supported as they grow into confident, independent glaucoma specialists.
- Full immersion model: Fellows work closely with all glaucoma faculty across clinic and surgery
- Wide surgical exposure: Experience the full spectrum—from MIGS to complex trabeculectomy and bleb revisions
- Strong research environment: Nationally recognized work in OCT, AI, big data, and basic science
- Structured education: Regular didactics, wet labs, and case-based learning
- Meaningful commitment to outreach: Opportunities to serve global and local underserved communities
- Exceptional support staff: Skilled technicians and coordinators reduce administrative burden and support learning
- Excellent work-life balance: Portland, Oregon is a vibrant city boasting an unmatched food scene within easy access to mountains, coast, and rivers
Clinical experience
Fellows function as independent comprehensive ophthalmologists with advanced glaucoma training. They spend approximately 2.5–3 days per week in clinic, with a mix of adult and pediatric glaucoma.
Clinical structure
- Weekly continuity clinic and weekly pediatric glaucoma clinic
- One-on-one attending supervision
- Exposure to broad pathology from a five-state referral base (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming)
Our clinics typically see 30–40 patients per day, offering both variety and time for in-depth discussion.
Conditions treated
- Primary open-angle glaucoma (including normal tension glaucoma)
- Angle-closure glaucoma
- Pseudoexfoliation and pigmentary glaucoma
- Uveitic, steroid-induced, and traumatic glaucoma
- Pediatric glaucoma (weekly dedicated clinic)
Clinics are designed to operate independently, allowing fellows flexibility to participate in additional clinics or the operating room for high-yield learning opportunities.
Outreach opportunities
Fellows are encouraged to participate in outreach activities that broaden understanding of rural, underserved, and global glaucoma care.
Fellows may participate in:
- The Casey Community Outreach Program, a mobile clinic providing free eye care in Portland and across rural Oregon
- Global health initiatives, including partnerships in American Samoa
Participation is optional and tailored to fellow interests.
Surgical experience
Surgical training is a cornerstone of the Casey glaucoma fellowship, with extensive hands-on experience and direct faculty mentorship.
Operating room experience
- Two scheduled OR days per week, plus add on and urgent cases
- One-on-one attending supervision (separate from resident cases)
- Dedicated continuity clinic OR time
- Video recording for review and feedback
Surgery is typically performed one-on-one with attending faculty, with progressive autonomy and opportunities to staff residents as skills advance.
Core procedures
- Trabeculectomy (fornix-based, limbus-based, Moorfields safer surgery techniques; primary and revision cases)
- Glaucoma drainage devices (Baerveldt, Ahmed, ClearPath, pediatric valves)
- MIGS procedures (KDB, OMNI, VIA360, iTrack, Hydrus, iStent, Xen)
- Cataract surgery (standalone and combined; routine and complex)
- Pediatric glaucoma surgery (goniotomy, trabeculotomy, pediatric tube shunts, CPC)
- Laser procedures (SLT, LPI, YAG capsulotomy, CPC, micropulse, ECP)
Due to the high prevalence of normal tension glaucoma in the region, fellows gain significant experience in trabeculectomy and bleb management, including revisions and needling.
Call schedule
We have a full-time hospital service that takes care of daytime consults and surgery. Fellows participate in a limited call schedule, including:
- Two weeks of trauma call per year, consistent with Casey faculty
- Evenings and weekends supervising residents for open globes and inpatient consults
Casey’s residency program is consistently ranked among the top programs nationally, and fellows play an active teaching role.
Research
Research is an integral component of the glaucoma fellowship, supported by strong institutional infrastructure.
Areas of focus
- OCT and OCTA imaging (COOL Lab with David Huang, MD, PhD)
- Artificial intelligence and big data (EHR, SOURCE, COSMOS)
- Basic science research in optic nerve and trabecular meshwork biology
- Outreach and population health research
Expectations and support
- Submission of at least one abstract to a national meeting
- Presentation at Casey Eye Institute Research Day
- Access to statisticians and informatics specialists
Fellows may participate in ongoing studies or develop independent projects.
Education and didactics
Fellows are both learners and teachers throughout their training.
Core activities
- Weekly Grand Rounds
- Glaucoma and interdisciplinary journal clubs
- Case presentations
- Wet lab and surgical simulation training
- Monthly small-group discussions with senior faculty
Additional opportunities include attending national meetings such as AAO, AGS, and ARVO, as well as regional conferences.
Fellows regularly teach residents and medical students in clinic and conference settings.
Application process
The Glaucoma Fellowship participates in the AUPO San Francisco Match
- Applications submitted through SF Match at www.sfmatch.org
- Applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited ophthalmology residency
- Applicants must be eligible for Oregon medical licensure
- Interviews typically held in September or October
Program Leadership
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- Aiyin Chen, M.D.
- Head of the Glaucoma Division
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Appointments and titles
- Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine
- Head, Glaucoma Division
- Fred P. and Joan Thompson Family Endowed Professor
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Specialty
- Ophthalmology
- Glaucoma
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Appointments and titles
- Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine
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Specialty
- Ophthalmology
- Glaucoma
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Casey Eye Institute Glaucoma Faculty
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- Aiyin Chen, M.D.
- Head of the Glaucoma Division
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Appointments and titles
- Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine
- Head, Glaucoma Division
- Fred P. and Joan Thompson Family Endowed Professor
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Specialty
- Ophthalmology
- Glaucoma
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Appointments and titles
- Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine
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Specialty
- Ophthalmology
- Glaucoma
- Pediatric Glaucoma
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Appointments and titles
- Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine
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Specialty
- Ophthalmology
- Glaucoma
- Pediatric Glaucoma
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- John C. Morrison, M.D.
- Jennie P. Weeks Professor
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Appointments and titles
- Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine
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Specialty
- Ophthalmology
- Glaucoma
Life in Portland
Portland offers easy access to mountains, coast, and outdoor recreation—all within about an hour of the city. Fellows enjoy a strong sense of community, a vibrant food scene, and a balance between training and life outside of work.
Frequently Asked Questions
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One fellow is accepted per year, allowing for individualized mentorship, consistent surgical exposure, and progressive independence.
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No. Starting in 2027, the Casey Eye Institute Glaucoma Fellowship is an independent program. All clinical training, surgery, and mentorship take place at OHSU.
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As a tertiary referral center for adult and pediatric glaucoma, we have a catchment area that includes five states, allowing one to participate in care of rare diseases on a regular basis.
The fellowship provides comprehensive training in the medical, laser, and surgical management of glaucoma, including MIGS fellowship training, advanced trabeculectomy techniques, glaucoma drainage devices, and pediatric glaucoma surgery,
Despite national declines in trabeculectomy volume, Casey maintains a strong emphasis on primary trabeculectomy, revisions, and bleb management.
Fellows gain broad exposure to angle-based and bleb-based MIGS, performed as standalone procedures and in combination with cataract surgery.
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Yes. Fellows participate in a dedicated weekly pediatric glaucoma clinic and assist in the operating room.
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Surgical cases are typically performed one-on-one with faculty, with increasing responsibility as the year progresses.
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Fellows are actively involved in surgery every week, with two dedicated OR days and additional cases. You will gain experience across a wide range of glaucoma procedures with increasing independence.
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Fellows participate in 2.5-3 days of clinic per week, and are designed to be flexible so the fellow is able to join another clinic or the OR to participate in interesting patient cases. Continuity clinic is held one half day a week.
Academic clinics have about 30 - 40 patients per day, allowing for a breadth of types of glaucoma seen, yet also time to slow down to have a complex discussion with a patient or about a case with faculty.
Adult clinics include normal tension glaucoma, classic high tension POAG, juvenile glaucoma, PXG, PDG, UGH uveitic and steroid induced glaucoma.
Pediatric clinic is held weekly with Drs. Edmunds and Gale. In general, the fellow and resident are in separate clinics, so the trainee can work one-on-one with the attending.
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Yes. Fellows work one-on-one with faculty in both clinic and surgery, allowing for direct teaching, feedback, and mentorship.
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Yes. Research is encouraged and supported, with access to strong infrastructure and mentorship. Research is an important component of our fellowship program, and per AUPO guidelines, every fellow will submit at least one abstract to a major conference and will present at the Annual Casey Research Day. Fellows can be involved in clinical trials and basic research and are encouraged to design their own project.
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Yes. Fellows regularly teach residents and medical students and may take on increasing teaching responsibility over the year.
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Casey offers a highly collaborative, teaching-focused environment with strong support staff, broad clinical exposure, and meaningful surgical experience—all within a respected academic center. Training includes:
- Sustained emphasis on trabeculectomy training, including complex cases, bleb management, and revisions
- Balanced exposure to both MIGS and traditional glaucoma surgery across disease severity
- Meaningful participation in pediatric glaucoma care through dedicated clinic and operating room experience
- Close, one-on-one clinical and surgical mentorship with approachable academic faculty
- Access to internationally recognized research programs in OCT/OCTA imaging, artificial intelligence, and big data
- Exceptional technician and administrative support, allowing fellows to focus on learning and patient care
- A work‑life balance that reflects Casey’s values and the advantages of living in Portland, Oregon
- A genuine commitment to outreach, global ophthalmology, and care for underserved communities