How can I check if my laser eye surgeon has the right qualifications?

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In the UK, all surgeons’ performing laser eye surgery have to be registered with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. To become registered, your ophthalmologist will have done a required training period, under the supervision of a senior medical colleague. Once this training is complete, they are required to sit a number of exams to show that they have the necessary level of knowledge and skill to be able to perform the procedure alone. Once they pass the exams, they register with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, who govern all the ophthalmological operations and consultants in the UK. Passing these exams is vital to being an ophthalmologist, without this a doctor cannot practice as an ophthalmologist. It is vital that you take the time to make sure the doctor who is operating on you has passed all the exams required and has been doing the procedure for a fair period of time. The best and easiest way to check is to look and see if your ophthalmologist is registered online. You can do this by visiting the Royal College of Ophthalmologists website and searching your surgeons’ name. Do not worry if you can’t find the name of your doctor, as there are different colleges of ophthalmology depending on which part of the country they are from, i.e. Scotland or Ireland. You can also ask to see their registration certificate if you wish.

If your doctor has come from abroad, they should still be registered with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists to show that they are adequately trained in the field of ophthalmology.