Facharzt/Fachärztin Fachrichtung Augenheilkunde

The specialist training to become an ophthalmologist is typically conducted at university or teaching hospitals as well as other healthcare institutions, including private ophthalmology practices. The standard duration of this postgraduate training is five years. The program structure and requirements are governed by the state medical associations based on the model training regulations of the Federal Medical Association.

The training culminates in a specialist certification examination.

Degree title

Specialist in Ophthalmology / Ophthalmologist

Core topics in specialist training for ophthalmology

• Cross-disciplinary subjects, e.g., fundamentals of occupational, sports, and traffic ophthalmology
• Genetic counseling related to eye diseases
• Emergencies: diagnosis and treatment of acute ophthalmic conditions
• Eyelids, lacrimal system, and orbit: evaluation and conservative management of inflammatory, degenerative, and neoplastic disorders
• Uvea, retina, and vitreous body: e.g., laser surgery on the retina
• Endocrine-related eye changes, e.g., comprehensive retinal assessment in diabetes mellitus
• Strabismus, pediatric and neuro-ophthalmological disorders
• Ocular tumors
• Prevention and rehabilitation: advising on and fitting magnifying visual aids
• Diagnostic techniques: slit-lamp examination, intraocular pressure measurement
• Optometry: measurement and assessment of visual functions
• Glaucoma management
• Lens and refractive surgery
• Ophthalmic pathology: basics of histological evaluation of the eye and its adnexa

General training content

• Foundational knowledge: ethical, scientific, and legal principles of medical practice
• Patient-centered topics: informed consent and documentation of findings
• Treatment-related content: handling medical emergencies, including life-saving immediate interventions
• Technical-diagnostic aspects: preanalytics and laboratory-supported detection methods in specialty-specific contexts