In 1960 Wills Eye Hospital and the Board of City Trusts created the Retina Service as the first specialty service at the Wills Eye Hospital. Since 1960, the Retina Service has been instrumental in training over 180 retinal fellows in the diagnosis and management of retinal and vitreous diseases. These past fellows are now in practice in all parts of the United States and Canada, as well as in Puerto Rico, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
The Retina Fellowship Program, in conjunction with Wills Eye Hospital, combines surgical duties with clinical and academic responsibilities. Currently, three fellows are selected each year for this two-year combined medical/surgical fellowship. The fellowship begins on the first Monday in July and is completed two years later. Scheduled hospital obligations generally extend from 7am – 5pm daily, although the schedule may run past 6 pm occasionally.