Prometric Exam for Ophthalmologists: Specialist & Consultant Ophthalmology Licence for DHA, MOHAP, DOH, SCFHS & QCHP — Blueprint, Pass Marks, Surgical Privileges, DO vs MS Recognition and Salaries (2026)
Cataract, refractive and retinal surgery are among the busiest private specialties in the Gulf. This guide covers the Specialist Ophthalmology paper (150 questions, 65% to pass) and the Consultant paper (100 questions, 70%), the ten official blueprint areas and what repeats in each, how phaco, LASIK and vitreoretinal privileges are granted, how a two-year DO compares with MS, DNB and FCPS, and current salaries.
Diabetes prevalence in the Gulf is among the highest in the world, the population is ageing, and refractive surgery is a consumer market of its own. Eye hospitals and clinic chains recruit ophthalmologists continuously — and credential them carefully, because surgical scope is where both the risk and the revenue lie. If you hold an MS, MD, DNB, FCPS, FRCOphth, Arab Board or equivalent, this is the route. Optometrists are licensed separately (optometrist guide).
Two papers
| Exam (code) | Questions | Time | Pass mark | Correct answers needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist Ophthalmology (OPH5841) | 150 | 3 h | 65% | 98 |
| Consultant Ophthalmology (COP6072) | 100 | 3 h | 70% | 70 |
Both share one blueprint. The Consultant paper asks fewer questions, each worth a full percentage point, and leans towards complications, revision surgery and complex decision-making. The reference list is the AAO Basic and Clinical Science Course, Kanski, Yanoff and Duker, and Duane's — the BCSC volumes map almost one-to-one onto the blueprint areas, which makes them the natural spine for revision. Which title you are assessed for depends on your qualification tier and post-qualification experience (specialist overview).
The ten blueprint areas
- Anterior segment — corneal infections and their organisms, keratoconus staging and cross-linking, corneal dystrophies, cataract types and surgical planning, biometry and IOL power calculation, phacoemulsification complications (posterior capsule rupture, dropped nucleus, endophthalmitis, cystoid macular oedema), refractive surgery selection and contraindications
- Glaucoma — open-angle vs angle-closure mechanisms, gonioscopy grading, visual field patterns, target pressure, drug classes with their systemic side effects, laser options, trabeculectomy and tube complications, neovascular and congenital glaucoma
- Retina — diabetic retinopathy grading and treatment thresholds, vein and artery occlusions, age-related macular degeneration and anti-VEGF protocols, retinal detachment types and repair choice, central serous chorioretinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity screening criteria
- Uveitis — anatomical classification, HLA-B27 disease, Behçet's (common in the region), toxoplasmosis, sarcoidosis, Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada, masquerade syndromes, systemic immunosuppression
- Paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus — amblyopia treatment windows, esotropia types, cover-test interpretation, leukocoria differential with retinoblastoma first, congenital cataract timing, nasolacrimal duct obstruction
- Oculoplastics — ptosis evaluation and procedure choice by levator function, entropion and ectropion, thyroid eye disease activity and severity, orbital cellulitis vs preseptal, lid tumours and margins
- Neuro-ophthalmology — pupil abnormalities (Horner's localisation, third-nerve palsy with pupil involvement as an emergency), optic neuritis, papilloedema vs pseudopapilloedema, giant cell arteritis, visual field localisation along the pathway
- Comprehensive: optics and pathology — refraction, prisms, lens formulae, aberrations, ocular pathology patterns
- Patient safety — wrong-eye and wrong-IOL prevention, intravitreal injection protocols, endophthalmitis clusters
- Professionalism and ethics
What repeats
- The red-flag emergencies. Acute angle closure, endophthalmitis after surgery or injection, central retinal artery occlusion, giant cell arteritis, pupil-involving third-nerve palsy, orbital cellulitis, chemical injury (irrigate first). Each has a first action the examiners want.
- Diabetic eye disease. Grading, when to laser, when to inject, when to operate. Expect several questions every sitting.
- Visual field and lesion localisation. Junctional scotoma, bitemporal hemianopia, homonymous defects with and without macular sparing.
- Glaucoma drug side effects. Beta blockers in asthma and heart block, prostaglandin analogues and pigmentation, alpha agonists in infants, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and sulfa allergy.
- Optics calculations. Transposition, spherical equivalent, Prentice's rule, vertex distance, IOL formula selection by axial length.
- Leukocoria and the paediatric emergencies. Retinoblastoma until proven otherwise.
- Trial acronyms applied. The landmark studies behind diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and AMD management are fair game in the Consultant paper in particular.
Surgical privileges
The licence lets you practise; the hospital's credentialing committee decides what you may operate on. Phacoemulsification, refractive surgery, vitreoretinal surgery, glaucoma surgery, corneal transplantation and oculoplastics are each privileged separately, on the evidence of a signed logbook, case numbers as primary surgeon over the last two to three years, complication rates and references. Refractive and vitreoretinal privileges almost always require documented fellowship training. Two practical points:
- Surgeons trained mainly in manual small-incision cataract surgery should expect employers to ask specifically for phaco numbers. If yours are low, build them before you apply; it changes the offer.
- Laser and intravitreal injection clinics are also privileged procedures. List them in your logbook.
Recognition of qualifications
A three-year MS, MD or DNB in ophthalmology, FCPS and Arab Board are the standard routes to Specialist. A two-year DO or DOMS is a shorter qualification and generally sits at a lower tier — more experience required, possibly a lower title. FRCOphth with completed training and American Board certification are typically Tier 1 and exempt from the written paper in the UAE. See the recognition guide and the exemptions guide, and confirm your own case with the eligibility check.
Process
- Portal registration and title selection (Sheryan for DHA; Mumaris+ for SCFHS).
- DataFlow verification of both degrees, registration, experience and good standing (guide).
- Eligibility, booking (lead times) and exam — Prometric for most authorities, Pearson VUE for DOH.
- Offer, credentialing and privileging, activation.
Three to six months in total; fees are in the fee guide.
Salaries
Specialist ophthalmologists in the UAE typically earn AED 35,000–60,000 a month and Consultants AED 60,000–110,000. High-volume cataract, refractive and vitreoretinal surgeons in private groups commonly work on a lower base plus a share of surgical revenue, which can exceed the fixed figures substantially. Saudi packages run SAR 30,000–55,000 for Specialists with housing; the large eye hospitals in Riyadh and Jeddah recruit subspecialists at the top of the range. Compare in the salary calculator and register in the talent pool.
Ten-week plan
- Week 1: optics and refraction.
- Weeks 2–3: cornea, cataract, refractive.
- Week 4: glaucoma.
- Weeks 5–6: retina and uveitis.
- Week 7: neuro-ophthalmology.
- Week 8: paediatrics, strabismus and oculoplastics.
- Week 9: pathology, ethics and patient safety.
- Week 10: timed mocks from the Specialist or Consultant question bank.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the Prometric ophthalmology exam?
65% for the Specialist Ophthalmology paper, which has 150 questions in three hours, and 70% for the Consultant paper, which has 100 questions in three hours.
Is DO or DOMS accepted for a specialist ophthalmology licence in the Gulf?
A two-year diploma generally sits at a lower tier than MS, DNB or FCPS. It may require more experience or support a lower title, so confirm eligibility before paying for verification.
Can I perform LASIK or retinal surgery once I am licensed?
Only with the privilege granted by your hospital. Refractive and vitreoretinal surgery are privileged separately and almost always require documented fellowship training and recent case numbers.
Which book should I use for the ophthalmology Prometric exam?
The AAO Basic and Clinical Science Course is first on the official reference list and its volumes match the blueprint areas closely. Kanski is the usual companion for clinical pictures and quick revision.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with written reasoning on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.