The evolution of refractive surgery training

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Refractive surgery is a common ophthalmic procedure with limited literature on resident and fellow education.
• Current refractive surgery training in US residency programs is highly variable and lacks a standardized curriculum.

Approach:

• Review of the current state and recent updates in refractive surgery education.
• Evaluation of the safety and visual outcomes of refractive procedures performed by trainees.

Key Points:

• There is no standardized refractive surgery curriculum in the US, only minimum procedural requirements.
• Refractive surgery training varies significantly, from dedicated rotations to didactic-only approaches.
• Studies confirm the safety of refractive surgery performed by residents and fellows.

Conclusions:

• Comprehensive refractive surgery education is crucial due to the procedure's increasing popularity.
• Further studies are required to establish optimal training methods in the evolving field of refractive surgery.