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The Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance is an independent, nonprofit, patient/consumer health organization that provides detailed information about refractive surgery and certifies LASIK surgeons based upon patient outcomes. CRSQA was founded by healthcare reimbursement and marketing consultant Glenn Hagele in 1997 *.
CRSQA operates the USAEyes.org website, which primarily carries information for patients considering conventional and wavefront LASIK, IntraLASIK, PRK, LASEK, Epi-LASIK, RLE, and other refractive surgery procedures. CRSQA also operates a sister website, ComplicatedEyes.org, which primarily provides information for patients who are experiencing difficulties with LASIK-related complications.
Surgeon certification
According to the CRSQA, refractive surgeons applying for certification must provide documentation stating that they meet certain professional and surgical standards *. CRSQA reports that these certifications are re-evaluated every three months.
Funding
The CRSQA is funded through the certification fees it charges to ophthalmologists. These fees amount to $3,250 for the initial evaluation and certification process, then $1,250 every three months thereafter for reevaluation and recertification *.
Criticism
CRSQA founder Hagele has been criticized by a small number of very vocal refractive surgery opponents. Hagele has claimed that these individuals have intended to defame his reputation Responding to perceived defamation, Hagele has sued the owner of two of the critical websites[http://www.glennhagele.com/brenthanson/Hagele_v_Brent_Hanson_Defamation.pdf.
See also
External links
"Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance"