Hands-on LASIK training prepares the next generation of refractive surgeons
At the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, refractive surgery education is built into the core of cornea fellowship training. Through direct supervision and structured surgical experience, fellows at the WashU Medicine LASIK Surgery Center gain valuable, hands-on exposure to LASIK and PRK procedures using state-of-the-art technology.
Patients may choose to participate in this training program and receive special pricing for their procedure. Each LASIK fellow undergoes comprehensive training with refractive surgeon Stephen Wexler, MD, who provides real-time oversight and guidance throughout the entire surgery.
Stephen A. Wexler, MD
Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Email: swexler@nospam.wustl.edu
Medical Director WashU Medicine LASIK Surgery Center
“Fellow participation is beneficial for patients in that they get a highly discounted rate for state-of-the-art technology,” said Wexler. “Cornea fellows are ophthalmologists who have completed four years of training after medical school and have performed many types of eye surgeries but have not had the opportunity to use this new technology and perform LASIK. It is important to have that hands-on experience.”
This enhanced training model sets WashU Medicine Ophthalmology apart, as only a minority of cornea fellowship programs nationwide offer refractive surgery experience.
“Training the next generation of refractive surgeons is one of the missions of WashU Medicine and an obvious necessity for the future. I’ve been mentoring and training corneal fellows for over 15 years.”
Stephen Wexler, MD
By learning how to evaluate candidates, interpret corneal imaging, and perform LASIK steps under direct supervision, fellows are prepared to offer refractive surgery confidently and safely in their future practices. Patients also benefit from this collaborative approach, receiving high-quality care at a reduced cost.
For more information about LASIK performed in partnership with our cornea fellows, please call the WashU Medicine LASIK Surgery Center.
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.