FEBOS-CR Exam

The ESCRS and EBO have developed this examination to certify the expertise and advanced knowledge of experienced cataract and refractive surgeons, to prove their readiness to teach others and run a cataract service. 

Successful candidates will earn the post-nominal title of FEBOS-CR (Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology Subspecialist in Cataract and Refractive surgery). 

This is sure to distinguish those surgeons as teachers and potential leaders in the field, with superior knowledge, an ability to deal with more challenging cases and an appreciation for evidence-based medicine that can develop the subspecialty into the future. 

Candidates must therefore be independent surgeons with a varied case mix who regularly deal with complex situations, and who are willing to have their expertise and theoretical knowledge challenged. 

The 2023 examinations will take place during the 41st Congress of the ESCRS in Vienna, on Monday 11 September 2023.  

• Monday 12 December 2022 applications open 
•  Friday 31st March 2023 all materials submitted by applicants, as well as the non-refundable deposit (€150) paid and applications close  
•  Friday 19th May 2023 confirmation for eligible candidates to sit the examination
• Friday 16th June 2023 candidates confirm intent to sit examination, and pay balance of examination fee (€700)   
• Monday 11 September 2023 date of Examination 

Profile 

Those selected to sit the FEBOS-CR Examination will be experienced surgeons, who are active in the community (local, national or international), as demonstrated by a commitment to teaching, research and/or publication. Those awarded FEBOS-CR will be future leaders in the cataract and refractive subspecialty, and will be running centres, training fellows, publishing research and continuing to contribute to the scientific knowledge and clinical practice of cataract and refractive surgery. 

Please note: the FEBOS-CR is open to cataract and refractive subspecialists from UEMS member countries – ESCRS membership is not required. 

To be accepted to sit the FEBOS-CR examination, applicants must: 

• Have at least 5 years' experience operating without supervision, having completed a minimum of 4 year's general ophthalmology training. This training should be documented by a recognised fellowship programme (FRCOphth, EBOD, etc.) 
• Have completed 1,000 cataract surgeries, without supervision 
• Be able to demonstrate superior knowledge of cataract and refractive surgery. 
• Have experience that includes practice without supervision in an institution that offers adequate capacity and the appropriate infrastructure for high quality, diverse exposure to cataract and refractive surgical cases and their management. The institution should have a sufficient number patients as well as an area fully equipped with access to current diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical equipment. 

• A letter from a Director/Head of Department/other senior figure in your Institution that recommends you as a surgeon of advanced experience and expertise. If you are in this role, the Practice Manager can sign and stamp the letter instead. 
• A video of a complex case you operated on, which demonstrates your current skillset. This video should meet the following criteria (failure to do so will lead to rejection of the video and thus the application):  
• MP4 format 
• Titled as follows: "LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_CASE TYPE.mp4" 
• Maximum 5 minutes. Editing should not affect the core surficial procedure, using WeTransfer to ukamc@mci-group.com
• The video must be the sole work of the candidate, and must state that this is the sole work of the candidate 
• There must be no music, narration, or credits on the video 
• Include the following steps (videos will be judged to determine suitable candidates for the examination): incision, capsulorhexis, hydro dissection, nuclear disassembly, irrigation/aspiration, IOL implant and closure. More information is available in the curriculum 
• No FLACS, the surgery must demonstrate your current skill set in a complex situation 
• No patient-identifiable information should be included/ remain in the video. 
• Provide the following information about the complex surgery video in the CV/ Application: Background case data and a short description of what makes the surgery complex for you 
• Completed CV/ Application, which lists surgical, teaching and publication experience. A section of this form also asks for information on the complex video you submit 

This process will not be considered complete until you have submitted all the information listed above. Failure to submit these documents automatically excludes you from consideration to sit this examination. Videos are to be upload using WeTransfer to ukamc@mci-group.com CV and letter of recommendation can be uploaded to your registration form. 

All candidates will be informed of their eligibility to sit the examination no later than 1 May 2023. The Examination Board reserves the right to accept or refuse any applicants based on their eligibility. Their decision is final.

Applicants who are found to submit false materials (letter of recommendation, logbook or videos) will be automatically excluded from the process. 

Please note: this examination will be conducted in English only. 

• The examination will follow the 'Multiple Choice Question' and oral structure.  
• 50 multiple choice questions (each question will contain a statement in the 'stem', and 5 true/false statements in relation to the statement) 
• 1 hour viva voce with 4 stations (15 mins each):  
• Candidate discusses their own surgical videos (submitted prior to the exam) 
• Candidate discusses a surgical video that they have not previously seen 
• Exhaustive case review (video, images, corneal topography, OCT scans, etc.) in which the candidate must discuss how they would manage a case, given diagnostic information etc. 
• Critical evaluation of the literature, sent prior to the examination 

Documents and videos will be reviewed by the Examination Board and successful candidates will be invited to register and pay for the examination.  

Candidates will be informed whether they are eligible to sit the examination before the end of May.

Queries not answered on this page should be sent to education@escrs.org