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There are a number of different agencies, businesses, and groups in the US who "certify" doctors who perform wavefront Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, or other refractive surgery techniques. Some certifications provide a better evaluation of demonstrated ability than others. There are several membership groups some doctors refer to as evidence of proficiency. Every prospective patient
should consider the relevance and value of these groups and certifications
a Lasik doctor may have achieved.
Council for Refractive
Surgery Quality Assurance
The Council for Refractive
Surgery Quality Assurance (CRSQA, 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.
CRSQA certification affirms in an ongoing manner that a
doctor is currently providing patient outcomes at or above the norm.
American Board of Eye Surgeons
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, or Epi-Lasik. The ABES certification for cataract surgery would
be relevant to RLE. ABES also has a certification in RK, but they euphemistically call it Cornea-Keratoplasty. ABES Lasik certification is valid for seven years. ABES certification
affirms that a doctor is able to practice what has been taught. ABES certification for Lasik is considered by CRSQA as evidence in proficiency for purposes of its own certification.
American Board of Ophthalmology
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.
Laser Manufacturers
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 turn on and operate the machine. It does not, by itself, provide evidence of proficiency.
American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is a ophthalmic membership organization. The AAO is the largest trade group of its kind in the world. AAO membership is not based upon demonstrated ability, only that the ophthalmologist has paid the annual dues.
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) is a ophthalmic membership organization. ASCRS is a large trade group, but significantly smaller than the AAO. ASCRS membership is not based upon demonstrated ability, only that the ophthalmologist has paid the annual dues.
Looking For Best Lasik Surgeon?
If you are ready to choose a doctor to be evaluated for conventional
or custom wavefront Lasik, Bladeless Lasik, PRK, or any refractive surgery procedure, we recommend you consider a doctor who has been evaluated and certified by the USAEyes nonprofit organization.
Locate a USAEyes Evaluated & Certified Lasik Doctor.
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