Studies & Degrees in Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the eye and the visual system. Ophthalmologists are doctors who diagnose, treat and prevent eye disorders, using both medical and surgical skills. The Spanish official training programme defines it as the medical-surgical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of defects and diseases of the visual system.
It is not a subject that can be chosen as a first degree. An ophthalmologist first qualifies as a doctor and then trains for several years in a hospital eye department. Students who want a shorter route into eye care can look at related occupations such as optometry and ophthalmic dispensing, which are described below.
What trainees learn
Training combines clinical medicine with microsurgery. According to NHS Health Careers, ophthalmologists treat patients of all ages and a range of conditions that includes cataracts and glaucoma. After general training, some ophthalmologists specialise further. The American Academy of Ophthalmology lists these main subspecialty areas, each usually requiring one or two more years of training called a fellowship:
- glaucoma
- retina
- cornea
- paediatric ophthalmology
- neuro-ophthalmology
- oculoplastic surgery
Qualifications and levels
The route depends on the country, but it always has two stages: a medical degree and a supervised specialty training period.
- United States. The American Academy of Ophthalmology describes typical training as a four-year college degree, four years of medical school and at least four additional years of medical and surgical training. The American College of Surgeons specifies one year of general patient care followed by three years in ophthalmology. At Stanford University, for example, the ophthalmology residency is a three-year programme that accepts six residents each year.
- United Kingdom. A medical degree normally lasts five years and is followed by the paid two-year foundation programme. Ophthalmic specialist training (OST) is then a seven-year postgraduate programme, during which trainees must pass the examinations for the Fellowship of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
- Spain. The bachelor's degree (grado) in Medicine has 360 ECTS credits. Oftalmología is one of the health specialties trained through the residency system; the official programme lasts 4 years and requires a degree in Medicine.
Other eye-care occupations have different training. An optometrist is not a medical doctor and holds a doctor of optometry (OD) degree in the United States. Opticians are technicians who fit eyeglass lenses, frames and contact lenses. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that opticians typically need a high school diploma and on-the-job training, and that some complete a 2-year associate's degree or a 1-year certificate at a community college or technical school.
Where to study it
The SpainExchange directory lists 15 schools for ophthalmology. Eight are in the United States and two in Ukraine; Nepal, India, Mexico, Russia and the United Kingdom have one each. Most are universities with a medical school and a hospital eye department. Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) run both a residency and fellowship programmes in ophthalmology, and the Department of Ophthalmology at Saint Louis University combines patient care, resident education and research.
Because specialty training is paid hospital work with patients, entry rules are national. Applicants with a foreign medical degree should ask the school and the medical regulator of the country which exams, licence and language level are required before applying.
Careers
Qualified ophthalmologists work in hospital eye departments and clinics, and can move into teaching and research. In the United States all states require physicians and surgeons to be licensed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate projection for ophthalmologists; for physicians and surgeons as a whole it counted 862,800 jobs in 2025 and projects growth of 4 percent from 2025 to 2035. For opticians it counted 74,300 jobs in 2025, with the same projected growth of 4 percent.
Entry to specialty training is selective. In the United Kingdom there were 430 applications for 75 ophthalmology training places in 2020, according to NHS Health Careers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study ophthalmology as a bachelor's degree?
No. Ophthalmology is a medical specialty. Students first complete a medical degree and then apply for specialty training in ophthalmology in a hospital.
How long does it take to become an ophthalmologist?
In the United States, typical training is a four-year college degree, four years of medical school and at least four more years of medical and surgical training. In Spain the degree in Medicine has 360 ECTS credits and the specialty programme lasts 4 years. In the United Kingdom specialist training alone takes seven years.
What is the difference between an ophthalmologist, an optometrist and an optician?
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and treat eye diseases and perform eye surgery. An optometrist is not a medical doctor and provides primary vision care. An optician is a technician who fits eyeglasses and contact lenses from a prescription.
Is it hard to get a training place in ophthalmology?
Places are limited. NHS Health Careers reports 430 applications for 75 specialty training places in the United Kingdom in 2020, a competition ratio of 5.73.