Dear Editor, The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted ophthalmology residency training, prompting institutions to adopt online webinars as substitutes for clinical exposure and virtual wet labs to compensate for curtailed surgical experience.1,2 The suspension of elective surgeries and reduced outpatient volume resulted in a considerable backlog of surgical training. This deficit has had lasting implications, with many residents experiencing heightened anxiety and a lack of surgical confidence even after completing residency. To assess the long-term impact, we circulated a structured online questionnaire via Google Forms among ophthalmologists who completed their residency during the pandemic. The survey explored perceptions of clinical and surgical training, the challenges faced in current practice, and the psychological effects of training disruptions. No personal identifiers were collected to ensure candid responses. Of 60 contacted post-residents, 35 responded (71% female, 29% male). Among respondents, 80% reported deficits in clinical training, and 75% reported limitations in surgical exposure, most respondents from private institutions being affected. While 88.5% acknowledged that mitigation measures such as webinars were beneficial, 57.5% felt the need for additional post-residency training, and 71.5% reported diminished confidence in their current practice, with 51.5% attributing these challenges solely to the pandemic. Interestingly, these effects were not confined to private institutions. Residents from government colleges, who traditionally benefit from higher patient loads and surgical opportunities, reported similar setbacks. Redeployment to COVID duties, suspension of elective services, and restrictions during peak pandemic periods neutralised the expected advantages of higher caseloads, resulting in perceived deficits in clinical competence and mental well-being comparable to those from private institutions.3 Beyond technical training, a significant proportion of respondents reported ongoing stress, anxiety, and reduced confidence in performing clinical and surgical tasks, highlighting the pandemic’s lasting psychological impact. Concerns about surgical skill adequacy, fear of requiring extended training, and uncertainty about career progression continue to affect current clinical performance. Although self-reported surveys have inherent limitations, these findings underscore the long-term challenges faced by ophthalmologists trained during the COVID-19 era. Institutions providing postresidency training should prioritise not only skill enhancement but also structured mental health support, ensuring that residents evolve into competent, confident, and resilient clinicians. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.
Singh et al. (Thu,) studied this question.