The Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (USAEyes) employs
two methods of evaluating refractive surgeons who provide Lasik
and similar vision correction surgery. These two methods focus
on patient outcome information from medical records (Chart
Method), or outcome opinion derived from the Competence Opinion
Relative to Expectation (CORE) patient survey.
Outcome requirements change periodically based upon the
capability
of current technology and techniques. The standards by which refractive
surgeons are measured for USAEyes
certification are developed and refined
by the USAEyes
Quality Standards Advisory Committee
and approved by USAEyes'
governing Board of Trustees.
CORE Survey Method
Patient responses must be within the 90th percentile of peers and
key surgeon competency opinion questions must receive at least a
90% neutral-to-positive response.
CORE Survey
Certification Details
Chart Method
If refractive target is plano
(no residual refractive error):
- Not less than 90% of applicant's
refractive surgery patients must achieve Snellen 20/40 Uncorrected
Visual Acuity (UCVA) or better in each surgical eye.
- Not less than 65% of applicant's
refractive surgery patients must achieve Snellen 20/20 UCVA or better
in each surgical eye.
In all cases:
- Not less than 90% of applicant's
refractive surgery patients must achieve results within +- 1.0 diopter
of stated refractive target.
- Not less than 65% of applicant's
refractive surgery patients must achieve results within +- 0.5 diopter
of stated refractive target.
- Not more than 3% of applicant's
monitored refractive surgery patients may report debilitating refractive
surgery complications such as glare, haze, halo, etc.
- Not more than 0.5% of applicant's
monitored refractive surgery patients may experience vision-threatening
postoperative complications such as infection, flap complications,
Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis, epithelium ingrowth, etc.
Chart Method Certification Details
