High Quality, Low Cost Examinations
Bringing internationally recognized ophthalmology examinations to candidates worldwide.
The Ophthalmology Foundation offers online examinations delivered through local centers across the globe, available twice each year. Our examinations are designed to assess knowledge against international standards and support ophthalmologists in advancing their professional development and careers. Learn more below:
Announcements
Subspecialty Exams (New!)
We are proud to introduce the development of a new generation of Subspecialty Examinations in Retina and Glaucoma, designed to support ophthalmologists seeking advanced recognition in key areas of ophthalmic practice.
Travel Grant for Top Achievers
The David and Molly Pyott Foundation Travel Grant of $10,000 for Excellence in Ophthalmology Clinical Sciences Examination honors the top-achieving candidate in the Clinical Sciences examinations from March or September.
Informational Webinars
We hold informational webinars about the examinations registration process, format, and answer your questions! Check the next live event for prospective exam candidates or watch past webinar recordings below.
Fellowship Points
Successfully passing the Ophthalmology Foundation Examinations will earn you valuable points towards your IOFF e. V. fellowship application. Starting with the July 2027 OF–IOFF Fellowship appliation, applicants are required to pass our examinations.
About Our Examinations for Ophthalmology
Ophthalmologists play a vital role in diagnosing and treating eye diseases, as well as identifying other systemic conditions. The Ophthalmology Foundation examination aims to assess the depth and breadth of trainees’ knowledge, benchmark performance, and ensure readiness for certification.
To prepare them for these challenges, the OF exams are meticulously crafted to align with the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Basic and Clinical Sciences (BCSC) standards and the professional requirements in the field. BCSC is a comprehensive ophthalmic knowledge educational resource widely used internationally. Content is created by U.S. and international experts in every specialty within ophthalmology and is revised periodically.
Examinations are offered in:
🇬🇧 English 🇨🇱Spanish 🇧🇷Portuguese
🇫🇷French 🇻🇳Vietnamese 🇨🇳Chinese
Download the examinations flyer in these languages:
The exams are proudly in partnership with Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, one of the oldest and most prestigious eye hospitals in the world, and Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore. Their partnership underscores the global relevance of these examinations.
Examination Ophthalmology Categories
View the Exam Topics Index, adapted from the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Basic and Clinical Sciences Course (BCSC)
Table of Contents.
Visual Sciences
120 Single Best Answer Questions
3 Hours
Subjects
- Anatomy
- Embryology and Development
- Genetics
- Biochemistry and Metabolism
- Pharmacology
- Imaging and Digital Ophthalmology
- Ophthalmic Pathology
Optics, Refraction, and Instruments
60 Single Best Answer Questions
1.5 Hours
Subjects
- Optics
- Refraction
- Instruments
Clinical Ophthalmology
160 Single Best Answer Questions
4 Hours
Subjects
- Neuro-Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
- Orbit
- Cornea, and external eye disease
- Uveitis
- Glaucoma
- Cataract
- Retina
- Community and Public Health
- General Medicine related to Ophthalmology
OF Examinations Board Committee (reporting to the OF Board)
David Pyott, Chair
Karl Golnik
Julia Haller
Eduardo Mayorga
Peter McDonnell
Ana Gabriela Palis
Examinations Working Committee
Luis Amaya, Chair, United Kingdom
Ishtiaque Anwar, Bangladesh
Tsedeke Asaminew, Ethiopia
Richard Bowman, United Kingdom
Essam El-Toukhy, Egypt
Angela Maria Fernandez, Colombia
Rebecca Ford, United Kingdom
Karl Golnik, USA/OF Board
Ashok Grover, India/AIOS
Nat Knox-Cartwright, United Kingdom
Muhammad Moin, Pakistan
Bernardo Moscovici, Brazil
Henry Nkumbe, Cameroon/OF Board
Adeola Onakoya, Nigeria
Ana Gabriela Palis, Argentina/PAAO/OF Board
Venkatesh Prajna, India/Aravind
Christopher Rapuano, USA/Wills Eye Hospital
Tara Barqee Rashid, Iraq
Berthold Seitz, Germany/OF Board
Mazen Sinjab, United Arab Emirates
Hoang Thanh Tung, Australia
Banu Turgut Öztürk, Turkey
Wandsy Velez, Puerto Rico, USA
Chee Chew Yip, Singapore
Nicola Quilter, United Kingdom – Exams Director, Consultant