Ophthalmology Match 

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Unlike the Main Residency Match, the Ophthalmology Residency Match utilizes the San Francisco Match (SF Match), not the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). However, the ACGME mandates a preliminary PGY-1 internship year for ophthalmology residents; while some ophthalmology programs integrate this PGY-1 year into their programs, others require a joint application with the SF Match and NRMP. Be sure to check for this with each program of interest. For the 2024 cycle, applicant registration via the SF Match’s Central Application Service opened on July 3, 2023, and applications were released to programs on September 1, 2023. Registration requires a non-refundable fee (2024 registration cost $150). Interviews were offered and conducted between October 10-December 22, 2023. Students could register for optional Open House tours between November 1, 2023, and January 25, 2024. These tours occurred between January 5-25, 2024, and rank lists were due shortly after, on January 30, 2024, at 12 pm PT. 

Like the Urology Residency Match, the excitement culminates in early February on Match Day, and there is no period between finding out if you matched and where you matched. This year, all ophthalmology applicants found out if and where they matched on February 6, 2024. Training for Ophthalmology Residency will begin in June 2024 for integrated programs and July 2025 for programs that require a separate PGY-1 internship year. Match statistics are not yet available for this year’s cycle. In 2023, 815 medical students participated in the Ophthalmology Residency Matching Program, and 514 (63%) matched. Like urology, ophthalmology is a competitive program, so we recommend early planning during your first and second years of medical school to ensure a successful match!

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