To study the relationship between perceived clinical performance and objective measures of resident knowledge, the performance and records of 19 recent graduates of an ophthalmology training program were retrospectively reviewed. Six faculty members and six ancillary staff personnel independently ranked residents on the basis of dutiful performance of duties and quality of care provided by the end of residency. Clinical performance ranks were then compared with ranks of results on standardized tests of knowledge, and number of publications before and during residency. Additionally, a resident's ranking on clinical performance and knowledge-related criteria was compared with his or her ranking at the time of the ophthalmology match. The perceived clinical performance of residents was not related to their results on standardized examinations or their number of publications. Residents highly regarded at the time of the ophthalmology match were not the same as those so regarded at the end of residency. Using data available before the commencement of the residency, the only correlation to quality of care provided was the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Part I scores. The scores on the NBME Part I did not, however, correlate with those of the Ophthalmology Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP).