Cataract surgical training in Europe: European Board of Ophthalmology survey.

PURPOSE: To survey recently graduated European ophthalmologists concerning cataract surgery (CS) training opportunities. SETTING: Countries affiliated to the European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of anonymous survey results. METHODS: A 23-question online survey was emailed to candidates who sat the EBO Diploma Examination as residents between 2018 and 2022. RESULTS: 821 ophthalmologists from 30 countries completed the survey. The mean residency duration was 4.73 (SD 0.9) years. The mean reported number of entire CS procedures performed was 80.7 (SD 100.6) at the end of residency, but more than 25% of respondents (n = 210) had received no live CS training during their residency. The self-confidence (scale, 1 to 10) to perform a simple case or challenging case, manage posterior capsular rupture, and realize a corneal stitch were rated 4.1, 3.2, 4.2, 2.4, respectively. We observed extensive variation in clinical exposure to CS and self-reported confidence to perform CS between European trainees. Females reported a mean of 18% fewer entire procedures than their male colleagues and were also less confident in their surgical skills (P < .05). Trainees in residency programs longer than 5 years performed fewer procedures and were less confident than trainees in residences of shorter duration (P < .001). The importance of fellowships to complete surgical education was rated 7.7 out of 10. CONCLUSIONS: CS training across European countries lacks harmony. Female ophthalmology trainees continue, as in other specialties, to experience apparent gender bias. European level recommendations seem necessary to raise and harmonize competency-based CS training programs and promote post-residency fellowship training programs.

Procedural aspects of the organization of the comprehensive European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma examination.

The comprehensive European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma (EBOD) examination is one of 38 European medical specialty examinations. This review aims at disclosing the specific procedures and content of the EBOD examination. It is a descriptive study summarizing the present organization of the EBOD examination. It is the 3rd largest European postgraduate medical assessment after anaesthesiology and cardiology. The master language is English for the Part 1 written test (knowledge test with 52 modified type X multiple-choice questions) (in the past the written test was also available in French and German). Ophthalmology training of minimum 4 years in a full or associated European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) member state is a prerequisite. Problem-solving skills are tested in the Part 2 oral assessment, which is a viva of 4 subjects conducted in English with support for native language whenever feasible. The comprehensive EBOD examination is one of the leading examinations organized by UEMS European Boards or Specialist Sections from the point of number of examinees, item banking, and item contents.