Press Release

Statement on the Which? Report: April 2009 Eye Openers

25 March 2009

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists' Charter has no direct remit to control professional standards in the laser refractive industry, but has recently launched an Assessment of Competence for surgeons in this sector. This is the only independent assessment of how competent your laser refractive eye surgeon is.

Patients should ask the following questions before deciding on their surgeon:
Does the surgeon hold the Certificate of Competence in Laser Refractive Surgery from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists?

What are the risks of surgery?

How many laser refractive procedures has my surgeon carried out in the past two years?

Will a surgeon assess my suitability to have the operation?

How many of the surgeon's patients have had to come in for further treatment?"

More information and advice to the public is available at www.rcophth.ac.uk