Different Certifications for
Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, etc., Refractive Surgeons

"Certification" by a laser manufacturer is not a certification in the traditional sense. This means only that the doctor attended a course on the operation of a particular laser, such course could have been as little as a weekend seminar. At most, certification by a laser manufacturer affirms the doctor knows how to operate the machine.

The American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) does not provide any evaluation specific to refractive surgery. ABO certification is valid for a lifetime if the doctor was certified before 1992, or 10 years if certified after 1992. In relation to conventional or custom wavefront Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, or other refractive surgery techniques, ABO certification would be conspicuous by its absence, but not terribly important by its presence. The ABO certification does a good job of affirming a doctor has learned what was taught.

The American Board of Eye Surgeons (ABES) is an ophthalmic group that provides procedure-specific certification. They have peer-reviewed certification for Lasik, but not PRK, LASEK, CK, or Epi-Lasik. The ABES certification for cataract surgery would be relevant to RLE. ABES Lasik certification is valid for seven years. ABES certification affirms that a doctor is able to practice what has been taught.

The Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (CRSQA, www.USAEyes) is a nonprofit consumer/patient organization that evaluates a doctor based upon actual patient outcomes. After an initial evaluation of consecutive patients, the doctor is reevaluated every three months based upon patient input. Another consecutive patient outcome evaluation is performed about every other year. CRSQA certification affirms in an ongoing manner that a doctor is currently providing patient outcomes at or above the norm. Click for patient outcomes details.

Every prospective patient should consider the relevance and value of these and other certifications the doctor may have achieved.

If you are ready to choose a doctor to be evaluated for conventional or custom wavefront Lasik, All-Laser Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, CK, RLE, or any refractive surgery procedure, we highly recommend you consider a doctor who has been evaluated and certified by the USAEyes nonprofit organization. Locate a USAEyes Evaluated & Certified Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Doctor.