Cataract surgery education in member countries of the European Board of Ophthalmology.

Purpose: To address the use of and knowledge about skills assessment and competency-based training in cataract surgery in European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO) member countries.

Methods: A survey was emailed directly to all directors of the European societies in ophthalmology. The survey included queries about criteria to undergo training in cataract surgery, regulation of education in cataract surgery, and skills assessment and training methods. In addition, all Danish Eye Departments were further asked to what extent they find assessment tools useful, if competency-based training in cataract surgery would be an improvement, and if an assessment tool would be considered for use in future training of cataract surgeons.

Results: Training in cataract surgery in EBO countries is very diverse; although some EBO countries consider it mandatory in residency, most do not. In EBO countries where training is mandatory and regulated by the local health authority, the use of skills assessment tools and competency-based education are more prevalent (e.g., U.K., Ireland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands). In Denmark, training in cataract surgery is not mandatory, and none of the eye departments used assessment scores to evaluate their trainees; 63% did not believe that using assessment tools would improve the outcome of surgical training, and less than one-third would consider frequent use of assessment tools in the future.

Conclusion: General unawareness and scepticism toward objective structured assessment of technical skills and a considerable heterogeneity in concept and organization of training in cataract surgery across EBO countries is an issue to address.