![]() Fung, MD: In my first year of practice, a patient commented that she did not think I could be a capable surgeon because I paid attention to my appearance. Schmidt-Erfurth, MD: I have been excluded from boards, committees, and professional promotions, but as a result I have learned to be tolerant and resilient.Īnne E. We are fortunate to have so many smart, talented, and genuinely good people in our profession-hang out with them! I also learned to identify who these people are to and stay away. In each case I was able to defuse the situation and prevent escalation, but I learned that both of the male “harassers” were troubled individuals with significant problems of their own. Holekamp, MD: In the spirit of the #MeToo movement, I will say that I was sexually harassed by male retina colleagues on two occasions. Improvements have been made in these areas, at least in terms of clarification and expectations. Another challenge for me, when I was a resident several decades ago, was that there weren’t clear policies for maternity leave and family illness. Bressler, MD: Many studies have confirmed inequity in compensation for women relative to their male peers, and I believe this is an ongoing challenge. When my daughter was young and I wanted to be at her daytime school events during grade school and middle school, I learned to schedule time off for the events I chose to attend. I learned that open and early communication works in negotiating these details. Lim, MD: I was the first woman in my department to require maternity leave, and I had to negotiate time off and call schedules. I have learned to prioritize my goals, and I have realized that it is not always possible to do everything. It is even more challenging now as the mother of three small children and a clinician in an academic ophthalmology practice with personal goals to conduct research and teach. Baumal, MD: My personal struggle has always been finding a balance of work and life responsibilities. I learned that treating patients with kindness and empathy, gaining exposure through presenting and publishing, and working hard can help women to be recognized.Ĭaroline R. Male ophthalmologists preferred referring patients to other men, and some patients were skeptical of being treated surgically by a woman, particularly a young woman. Berrocal, MD: When I started in retina, there were very few women in the field. In competitions for academic positions, grants, or awards, I believe that male judges sometimes grade female applicants more harshly than male applicants with similar credentials. Most female physicians I know have occasionally over the course of their careers experienced inappropriate physical contact from male colleagues and/or from patients. Some female employees can be respectful of their male physician bosses but less deferential to their female physician supervisors. Some patients assume that women are nurses, assistants, or technicians and don’t afford them the same respect they do male physicians. Schefler, MD: There are overt and unconscious biases from patients, colleagues, and co-workers. What challenges have you faced professionally that are specific to your being a woman?Īmy C. ![]() An edited version of their conversation is shared below. But are these changes enough? Retina Today gathered a panel of respected female retina specialists and asked them to discuss their thoughts and experiences. Berrocal, MD, recalls, women were commonly told when hired that they would be paid less than their male colleagues because they didn’t have to support a family. 1 Women are increasingly visible in practices, at the podium, and in academia. In fact, women now make up more than 20% of ophthalmologists, and nearly half of US medical students and residents are women. Unusual red eye high blood pressure related eye problems diabetes mellitus related eye problems HIV or AIDS patients who can have eye problem in future need to consult an ophthalmologist as soon as possible to save their sight.There are more women in ophthalmology-and medicine in general-than ever before. Loss of peripheral (side) vision misaligned eyes new floaters (black "strings" or specks in the vision) and/or flashes of light pain in the eye thyroid disease-related eye problems (Graves' disease) Patients having eye problems like bulging of one or both eyes dark curtain or veil that blocks vision decreased vision, even if temporary ĭistorted vision double vision excess tearing eyelid abnormalities family history of eye disease halos (colored circles around lights) injury to the eye He/she is medically trained to deliver total eye care: primary, secondary and tertiary (i.e., vision services, contact lenses, eye examinations, medical eye care and surgical eye care), diagnose general diseases of the body and treat ocular manifestations of systemic diseases. ![]() Ophthalmologists is a physician who specializes in eye and vision care.
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