International Council of Ophthalmology

Ophthalmic Education:

Describe basic ocular anatomy and to identify the histology of the major structures of the eye (e.g., conjunctiva, sclera, cornea, anterior chamber angle, iris, ciliary body, lens, vitreous, retina, retinal pigment epithelium, choroid, optic nerve).
Describe basic pathophysiology of the common disease processes of the eye and to identify the major histologic findings of each (e.g., infection, inflammation, neoplasm).
Identify the histology of important intraocular and adnexal diseases (e.g., endophthalmitis, retinoblastoma, choroidal melanoma, microbial keratitis).

Describe appropriate steps in the basic handling and processing of gross specimens in the ocular pathology laboratory (e.g., basic preparation of the specimen) and to demonstrate proficiency in these steps in the laboratory.
Describe specific information necessary for communication with the pathologist regarding special handling of specimens for special stains or studies.
Describe indications for frozen sections in ocular pathology.
Perform cutting and gross examination of whole globes.
Participate under supervision in the microscopic examination of ophthalmology specimens from active cases.

Describe more advanced ocular anatomy and identify the histology of the major and minor structures of the eye (e.g., conjunctival glands, normal pigment, common variants).
Describe more advanced pathophysiology of the disease processes of the eye and to identify the major histologic findings of each (e.g., fungal keratitis, skin and adnexal neoplasms, and less common intraocular tumors).
Identify histology of the less common but potentially vision or life threatening intraocular and adnexal diseases (e.g., temporal arteritis, fungal endophthalmitis, extraocular spread of intraocular tumor, metastatic disease to the eye).
Describe more advanced techniques in ocular histopathology (e.g., electron microscopy, cytology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, tumor free margins).

Describe appropriate steps in the more advanced handling and special processing of gross specimens in the ocular pathology laboratory.
Describe specific indications for special handling and to communicate to the pathologist the necessity for special handling of specimens for special stains or studies (e.g., electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, cytology).
Describe indications and to perform and prepare a biopsy specimen for frozen section in ocular pathology.
Prepare of a basic histologic specimen for review by the pathologist.
Participate as an "at-the-elbow" observer during microscopic examination of active ophthalmology cases and to perform microscopic examination of a specimen with and without direct supervision.

Describe the most advanced ocular anatomy and identify histology of the major and minor structures of the eye and their less common "normal" variants (e.g., pars plana cysts, iris heterochromia, cobblestone degeneration of the retina).
Describe the most advanced, less common, or more complex pathophysiology of the disease processes of the eye and identify major histologic findings of each (e.g., inflammatory pseudotumor, lymphoma, artifacts of processing).
Identify the histology of the least common but potentially vision or life threatening intraocular and adnexal diseases (e.g., healed giant cell arteritis, mimics and masqueraders of inflammation or neoplasm, uncommon benign and malignant neoplasms).

Describe and to perform appropriate steps for handling gross or cytologic specimens in the ocular pathology laboratory.
Perform preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative consultation with the pathologist, regarding specific indications for special stains or processing (e.g., orientation of specimen, special handling).
Perform and interpret the pathologic report of frozen section in ocular pathology.
Perform the preparation of basic and more advanced histologic specimens for review by the pathologist (e.g., simple or special stains or fixation methods).
Participate as an "at-the-elbow" observer during the microscopic examination of active ophthalmology cases.
Perform microscopic examination of a specimen with and without direct supervision and provide a relevant differential diagnosis.

Also see: Table of Contents of the Principles and Guidelines of a Curriculum for Education of the Ophthalmic Specialist