The Royal College of Ophthal-mologists has introduced the first ever independent assessment in laser refractive surgery, which leads to a certificate of competence to practise.
The assessment is aimed at aspiring laser refractive surgeons who wish to develop a special interest in laser surgery as well as established surgeons.
This move follows the recommendation by an all-party parliamentary report that called for tighter regulation in the sector.
'The certificate is optional. It is not competitive and tests competence, not excellence,' said Jeremy Prydal, chairman of the College's Laser Refractive Surgery Committee. 'The aim is to provide the public and industry with the confidence of a consistent basic level of training, knowledge and understanding. Successful candidates receive a certificate, but no letters after their name.
'The certificate shows that the holder is competent to perform refractive procedures using a laser. It does not have any bearing on their suitability to perform other refractive procedures such as insertion of lenses into the eye.'
The RCO said this week that the first assessment took place on October 29 2007 with four candidates - three of whom were successful. This followed a pilot assessment, which took place in May, with 14 candidates, all of whom passed.
The announcement comes at a time when there has been an expansion in the refractive surgery market in the UK and Ireland. As reported in last week's issue, Optician's seventh annual survey of the market identified 105 clinics in the UK, 10 more than 2006. The increase follows four consecutive years of little or no growth.