1.2. Exam Content

Topic Areas

• Lens and Cataract
• Cornea, External Disease, and Anterior Segment
• Glaucoma
• Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Oculofacial Plastic, Lacrimal, and Orbital Surgery
• Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Optics and Refractive Management
• Retina, Vitreous, and Intraocular Tumors
• Uveitis

For additional information about the content of the examination, check out the WQE Content Outline.

Source Material

Questions (items) that appear on the Written Qualifying Examination (WQE) assess the breadth and depth of a candidate’s basic science and clinical knowledge following the completion of an accredited residency program in ophthalmology.

All WQE content is written and reviewed by diverse teams of board-certified subject matter experts who must cite verifiable sources when submitting their questions for peer review. References are not limited to one specific source or set of sources, however. As an independent standard-setting and assessment organization, the ABO neither requires nor endorses the purchase of any curriculums, practice tools, or textbooks. Some WQE content may be sourced from the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course book series, for example, but the volunteers who create examination questions are encouraged to draw from relevant, high-quality, peer-reviewed sources.

To help set candidate expectations, the ABO publishes a freely available consensus-based content outline that lists the topics to be covered on the examination. The Board recommends that candidates look to the content outline as a starting point for building a personalized program of review; however, this document is not intended to serve as a comprehensive study guide.