Training in Oculoplastic Surgery in Spain: A Journey Without a Map
Author: Carlos Francisco Vargas Lopez
Base Hospital / Institution: Vilafranca Alt Penedés Hospital
ePoster presentation
Abstract ID: 25-197
Purpose
To highlight the reality faced by young ophthalmologists in Spain after completing their residency, focusing on the lack of structured oculoplastic training pathways and the urgent need for national fellowship programs offering a clear and progressive educational route.
Methods
A descriptive narrative analysis was conducted based on personal interviews with recently graduated ophthalmologists, gathering their experiences, perceptions, and the strategies they have used to overcome the gaps in formal oculoplastic training across Spain.
Results
Currently, there are no official oculoplastic fellowship programs available in Spain. After completing residency, the professional development of a young ophthalmologist depends largely on the supervising consultant they trained under, whose own background may have been limited by similar circumstances. This creates a cycle where gaps in knowledge and surgical exposure are unintentionally passed down from one generation to the next.Without clear national guidelines, structured curricula, or standardized mentorships, young surgeons are forced to “find their own way”: enrolling in expensive private courses, traveling to observe surgeries performed by colleagues, or seeking training opportunities abroad.The first surgical experiences are often limited to eyelid malpositions, small tumors, or lacrimal drainage disorders, but exposure is highly variable and rarely follows a logical, progressive structure. This lack of reproducibility makes consistent high-level training across Spain almost impossible.
Conclusion
The absence of organized, official oculoplastic training programs in Spain threatens the future quality and safety of patient care. Structured fellowships are not a luxury; they are a fundamental need to ensure progressive, reproducible, and supervised training. Spain urgently requires national fellowships to support the development of highly skilled surgeons in eyelid, lacrimal, orbital, and aesthetic surgery.
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