Cornea fellowship training and refractive surgery: standard requirements

The Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Fellowship Compliance Committee (AUPO FCC) provides standardized guidelines for seven ophthalmology subspecialties. Participation in this process is on a voluntary basis. The subspecialty of Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery (CEDRS) was one of the first to join the AUPO FCC compliance process. This article reviews the development of subspecialty guidelines, the establishment of the AUPO FCC, and the impact of fellowship training on the ophthalmology community. Particular attention is given to the effect of this process on CEDRS fellowship requirements.

There have been few studies evaluating the surgical outcomes of cornea fellows during training. Overall, these studies concluded that cornea/refractive surgery fellows achieve similar postoperative results when compared with more experienced senior faculty. Extensive preoperative training and guided supervision were the main factors that contributed to successful surgical outcomes.

The establishment of guidelines in various ophthalmology fellowships has been generally accepted as a method to ensure a more uniform and comprehensive training experience. Additionally, the presence of fellows at an academic institution often enhances the education of residents. Fellows also contribute to the field with their participation in basic science and clinical research. Under proper guidance and supervision, cornea fellows can achieve surgical outcomes that are comparable to experienced surgeons. The additional training offered in fellowship helps develop a subset of physicians with advanced clinical and surgical skills.