EBO-EURETINA Subspecialty Exam 2026

The EBO and Euretina have come together to develop the FEBOS-R qualification.

The purpose of this qualification is to harmonise the standard of expected knowledge and clinical acumen for retina specialists across Europe. The exam will assess candidates’ ability to manage a retina clinic. It could be seen as an “exit” exam, confirming that a candidate has achieved the theoretical level of knowledge required to manage patients safely and effectively.

• Euretina is designing this exam, as the society’s mission is to promote the most up-to-date science and encourage evidence-based practice, to provide the best care and outcomes for patients.
• EBO is accrediting this exam, as part of its mission to harmonise knowledge and training in ophthalmology to promote better patient care across Europe.
• Candidates will sit the exam to attain certification that they have met the standards set by Euretina regarding the knowledge and acumen of a retina specialist who manages patients safely and effectively.
• The exam will benefit the wider community, as the standard for retina specialists across Europe is harmonised. Fellowships and other opportunities for those training to become retina specialists can use the exam to inform their training.

In this way, Euretina and the EBO are setting the standard for retina specialists and patient care across Europe.

Online MCQ / SBA Section: June 8, 2026 from 10:00 CEST to 12:30 CEST

Viva Voce onsite in Vienna: September 30, 2026 from 08:00 CEST until 13:30 CEST

This exam will be conducted in two parts:

PART I: Online multiple-choice exam conducted remotely, composed of Single Best Answer question types.

Candidates must pass PART I to proceed to PART II, the viva voce (clinical knowledge) test.

PART II: Viva voce is a 60-minute interview-based exam in four parts. Candidates will be interviewed at four stations by experts.

Each station interview will be based on two cases (one case per subject area) and will last 15 minutes (7.5 minutes per case). The stations are:

Please note: these subjects represent the eight subsections of Euretina. In the viva voce, each subject will carry an equivalent weight in the candidate’s final score.

The following represent minimal requirements to sit the exam:

• You must be a licensed ophthalmologist.
• Candidates must have a boards-level exam (e.g. the FEBO or equivalent national or international exam).

You must also:

• Have completed a two-year retina fellowship,
  OR have two years’ full-time equivalent experience dedicated to retina.

Those with more extensive experience, but without a specific diploma, will be considered.

Informal enquiries about eligibility can be made by emailing
exam@euretina.org.

When applying you will be asked to upload a CV and recommendation letter. You must use the following templates:

• EBO–EURETINA Exam CV Template
• EBO–EURETINA Exam Recommendation Letter Template

Failure to use these templates may result in your application being rejected.

The current fee for the EBO–Euretina exam is €550.

Euretina will include a complimentary registration to the 26th Euretina Congress in Vienna for accepted candidates.

If an applicant is not accepted, or if they withdraw before the closing date for applications, they will be refunded €400.

Except in exceptional circumstances, if a candidate does not attend for the exam or cancels after the closing date, they will not be reimbursed.

Applications will open on November 27th, 2025.

Applications will close on Saturday February 28th, 2026 (23:59 CET).

During the application process, you will be asked to provide:

• The fee (currently set at €550)
• A photograph matching your national / government ID
• CV in the format provided (You must use the CV template, which you can download here)
• Recommendation letter in the format provided (you must use the recommendation letter template, which you can download here)
• Proof (Scan, etc.) of certification used to support your application (FEBO, FRCOphth, etc.)
• Your registration details regarding your license to practise ophthalmology (e.g. medical council or governing authority number, etc)

If you do not pass PART I, you will have two options:

1. Apply to resit in 2027 for €300 (your 2026 Congress registration is forfeited).
2. Attend the 2026 Congress and reapply in 2027 at the full fee.

From 2025 onwards, if you pass PART I but not PART II, you may resit both parts at the reduced rate (€300).

The minimum required knowledge is that covered in the AAO Basic and Clinical Sciences volumes:

• Section 1: Update on General Medicine
• Section 4: Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Tumors
• Section 9: Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation
• Section 12: Retina and Vitreous

In addition, candidates will be expected to have kept abreast of recent important research, trials, and clinical practice.

Please also see the EBO–Euretina Exam curriculum for a detailed account of the subject areas covered in the exam.

Those accepted to sit the exam will also be given access to a section of the Euretina website that holds exam preparation resources based on Euretina sessions and webinars.

The following texts have also been recommended:

1. Clinical Ophthalmic Genetics and Genomics, edited by G.C.M. Black et al., 2022; Academic Press.
2. van Dijk EHC, Fauser S, Breukink MB, et al. Half-Dose Photodynamic Therapy versus High-Density Subthreshold Micropulse Laser Treatment in Patients with Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: The PLACE Trial. Ophthalmology. 2018;125(10):1547-1555. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.04.021
3. van Rijssen TJ, van Dijk EHC, Tsonaka R, et al. Half-Dose Photodynamic Therapy Versus Eplerenone in Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (SPECTRA): A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Ophthalmol. 2022;233:101-110. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2021.06.020
4. van Rijssen TJ, van Dijk EHC, Yzer S, et al. Central serous chorioretinopathy: Towards an evidence-based treatment guideline. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2019;73:100770. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.07.003
5. van Dijk EHC, Boon CJF. Serous business: Delineating the broad spectrum of diseases with subretinal fluid in the macula. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2021;84:100955. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100955

As well as the minimum required knowledge outlined above, candidates are expected to be aware of the latest research and trials in this area.

As well as the minimum required knowledge outlined above, candidates are expected to be aware of the latest research and trials in this area.

As well as the minimum required knowledge outlined above, candidates are expected to be aware of the latest research and trials in this area.

1. Graeme C.M. Black, Jane L. Ashworth, Panagiotis I. Sergouniotis (Eds). Clinical Ophthalmic Genetics and Genomics, Academic Press; 2022.
2. Peuch B, De Laey JJ, Holder GE (Eds). Inherited Chorioretinal Dystrophies, A Textbook and Atlas, 1st Edition, 2014, Springer. Hardcover ISBN 978-3-540-69464-9; eBook ISBN 978-3-540-69466-3.
3. Zahid S, Branham K, Schlegel D, Pennesi ME, Michealides M, Heckenlively J, Jayasundera T (Eds). Retinal Dystrophy Gene Atlas, 1st Edition, 2018, Springer. Hardcover ISBN 978-3-319-10866-7; eBook ISBN 978-3-319-10867-4.
4. Elias I Traboulsi (Ed). Genetic Diseases of the Eye, 2nd Edition, 2012, Oxford. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-19-532614-7; eBook ISBN 978-0-19-997518-1.
5. Lyons CJ & Lambert SR. Taylor Hoyt’s Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, 6th Edition, 2022, Elsevier. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-702-08298-6; eBook ISBN 978-0-702-08299-3.

1. (English) Spaide RF, Ohno-Matsui K & Yannuzzi L (Eds). Pathologic Myopia. 2nd Edition. Springer; 2021.
2. (French) Gaucher D, Leveziel N. Les Myopies – Rapport SFO 2019. Elsevier; 2019.
3. (Spanish) Ruíz J, Arias L, Gómez-Ulla F. Patología Retiniana en Alta Miopía. Sociedad Española de Oftalmología; 2015.

1. Goldman D, Waheed NK, Duker JS. Atlas of Retinal OCT: Optical Coherence Tomography, 1st Edition. Elsevier; 2018.
2. Ehlers JP et al. OCT and OCTA in Retinal Disorders, 1st Edition. Wolters Kluwer; 2020.
3. Holz FG & Spaide RF (Eds). Medical Retina – Focus on Retinal Imaging. Springer; 2010.
4. Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF & Yannuzzi L. The Retinal Atlas, 2nd Edition. Elsevier; 2016.
5. Ryan SJ & Sadda SR. Ryan’s Retinal Imaging and Diagnostics, 1st Edition. Elsevier; 2013.
6. Wilkinson CP, Ferris FL 3rd, Klein RE, et al. Proposed international clinical diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema disease severity scales. Ophthalmology. 2003;110(9):1677-1682. doi:10.1016/S0161-6420(03)00475-5
7. Algaeed AH & Kozkak I (Eds). Clinical Atlas of Ophthalmic Ultrasound, 1st Edition. Springer; 2019.

1. Whitcup S & Nida Sen H. Whitcup and Nussenblatt’s Uveitis Fundamentals and Clinical Practice, 5th Edition. Elsevier; 2021.
2. Zierhut M, Pavesio C, Orefice F, Rao N, Ono S. Intraocular Inflammation, 1st Edition. Springer; 2016.
3. Salmon JF. Kanski’s Clinical Ophthalmology, 9th Edition. Elsevier; 2019.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please email
exam@euretina.org.

View candidate pass list here.