ICO Membership

• ICO Membership and Benefits
• Criteria and Expectations
  
• Apply for ICO Membership
• ICO Member Dues Payment

ICO Membership and Benefits:

Membership in the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) offers societies the opportunity to:

• Speak for your country or subspecialty in the “parliament” of international ophthalmology, the ICO General Assembly, with the right to vote
• Participate in defining the future of international ophthalmology and in improving and enhancing our profession
• Help preserve and strengthen ophthalmology as a single specialty, rather than as many fragmented societies with different agendas
• Give ophthalmology a stronger voice to those who influence and set health priorities and policy related to eye care around the world, including WHO
• Provide input into ICO programs, including the scientific program of the World Ophthalmology Congress and ICO International Clinical Guidelines
• Provide input into ICO policies and guidelines, such as curricula for training of ophthalmologists, medical students and allied eye care personnel
• Provide guidance for improving ophthalmology residency training, subspecialty training and continuing professional development of ophthalmologists
• Meet, communicate and share experiences with the leaders of ophthalmological societies and eye care organizations from around the world
• Keep informed of news and developments in international ophthalmology beyond your specific area of interest
• Increase the recognition of your society and programs, with your congresses listed on the ICO Web site
• Participate in and support other efforts to enhance ophthalmic education and preserve and restore vision for the people of the world.
• The ICO also sends ICO Notes, a montly e-mail newsletter, to current ICO Members.  

Download ICO Member Benefits (PDF – 2 MB)

Criteria and Expectations for ICO Membership

To be eligible for membership in the International Council of Ophthalmology, organizations must:

• Be a not-for-profit society or association
• Be composed of ophthalmologists and others who work with ophthalmologists, or be composed of ophthalmological societies or ophthalmic organizations
• Have regular election of officers
• Hold regular governing board meetings
• Be willing to pay ICO dues and name an official Representative to participate in the ICO General Assembly every two years
• Support the goals and programs of the ICO
• Be approved by the International Council of Ophthalmology

National ophthalmologic societies must also:

• Represent ophthalmologists primarily in one country
• Be the primary or one of the primary ophthalmologic societies in that country

Subspecialty and related societies must also:

• Represent ophthalmologists in a subspecialty or other area of interest closely tied to ophthalmology (e.g., ophthalmic education or research)
• Have a substantial international membership, preferably at least 100 members
• Sponsor regular meetings that attract an audience from many countries.

The ICO expects all Members to:

• Provide input into ICO policies, programs and initiatives
• Name an official Representative (preferably an officer who will have some continuity) to participate the ICO General Assembly at the World Ophthalmology Congress every two years
• Name an Advocate to work with the ICO on advocacy issues
• Pay dues of 3 Swiss Francs per member per year

Download ICO Membership Criteria (PDF – 2 MB)

Apply for ICO Membership

• Download ICO Membership Application (DOC – 996 KB

ICO Member Dues Payment

• Pay Your ICO Member Dues