International Council of Ophthalmology

IFOS/ICO International Fellowship:

International Council of Ophthalmology Draft Meeting Minutes, July 20 - 21, 2001, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Present:

Gottfried O. H. Naumann, MD, President
Mark O. M. Tso, MD, Vice President
Bruce E. Spivey, MD, Secretary General
Balder Gloor, MD, Treasurer
Akira Nakajima, MD, (Honorary President for Life)
Adenike Abiose, MD
Rubens Belfort Jr., MD
Benjamin Boyd, MD, (Honorary Member for Life)
Jean-Jacques DeLaey, MD
Akef El-Maghraby, MD
Hannah Faal, MD
Peter Hardy Smith, MD
M. Daud Khan, MD (new member)
Paul R. Lichter, MD
Frank J. Martin, MD
Pran N. Nagpal, MD
Bo Phillipson, MD
Yves Pouliquen, MD
Alvaro Rodriguez, MD
Bradley R. Straatsma, MD
Peter Watson, MD

Unable to Attend:

Ian Constable, MD
August Deutman, MD
Abdel Latif Siam, MD
Arthur Lim, MD
Bjorn Tengroth, MD

Guests & Observers:

Frank Billson, MD
Rosario Brancato, MD
Francisco Contreras, MD
August Colenbrander, MD
William Felch
H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD
Enrique Malbran, MD
Marilyn Miller, MD
David Noonan
R. Pararajasegaram, MD
Gustavo Piantoni, MD
Gullapalli Rao, MD
S. Selvarajah, MD
E. Randolph Simpson, MD
Alfred Sommer, MD
Yasuo Tano, MD
Bjorn Tylefors, MD
Georges Yaya, MD
Zbigniew Zagorski, MD

I. Welcome, Introduction & Meeting Logistics

Dr. Naumann opened the meeting by welcoming the members, guests and observers.

Drs. Piantoni and Lichter extended greetings by welcoming members and guests on behalf of PAAO.

On behalf of the ICO, Dr. Naumann expressed his gratitude to the members of PAAO for the many courtesies extended to the ICO and Academia during their stay in Buenos Aires. Dr. Naumann acknowledged the presence of the honorary President for Life Dr. Nakajima, who extended his greetings to the assembly.

II. Approval of Minutes

Action: The minutes of the ICO, May 20, 2000 were approved as presented.

Drs. Belfort and Abiose were asked to sign the minutes for the record.

III. Election of Replacement for Dr. Arthur Lim

The ICO reviewed the curriculum vitae of Dr. Mohammad Daud Khan.

Action: Dr. Khan as unanimously elected to full membership as an ordinary member of the ICO.

IV. Report of the President (see appendix 1 and 2)

Dr. Naumann presented the ICO with a comprehensive report of the activities of the ICO officers on behalf of IFOS as well as a report of the extensive travels for ICO-IFOS interaction.

He stressed the need for rapid comprehensive communication between the partners to evolve a global network of cooperating organizations in the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness (WHO, IAPB, INGO's, governments). He urged the members to provide Dr. Spivey with comprehensive information to be included in the "Global Ophthalmology Guide."

V. Report of the Treasurer (see appendix 3 and 4)

Dr. Gloor presented his Treasurers report and that of the Auditors.

Action: The reports were received for filing.

Considerations of revisions to the regulations, which would allow for an increase of dues, was deferred to later in the meeting.

VI. Report of the Secretary General

Dr. Spivey began his remarks expressing his thanks to the members of the ICO for their cooperation and support through out the year and for their responsiveness to his communications.

He reminded the members that they should remember that the meeting next year will be held in Sydney and the accommodations will be made at the Sheraton-on-the-Park Hotel.

Dr. Spivey reminded the members of the logistics and social arrangements for the Buenos Aires meeting and the fact that the ICO meeting would be continued the following day, if required.

He reported that the web site was up and functioning well. He expressed his thanks to Mr. Felch and to Dr. Nagpal for their services in helping the ICO become much more visible to members of IFOS through the web site and the newsletter. He also thanked the presenters at the meeting for providing advanced materials for the agenda submission, which facilitates the meeting discussion.

Dr. Spivey extended yet another plea for members of the ICO to keep him aware of changes to their address, phone, fax and email. He has had difficulty in communicating with some of the members due to faulty data.

He noted that the medals election process (see XXII) would be an executive session process for members of the ICO only.

He presented a list of future meeting dates for review, (see appendix 5).

VII. Report of the President of IAPB (see appendix 6)

Dr. Faal presented a comprehensive report (in appendix) noting the important role played by IFOS/ICO and their role in participation with IAPB in preventing avoidable blindness.

She stressed the need to mobilize resources if the tasks are to be achieved. She recognized the role to be played by the ICO in assessing what vision centers need through out the world.

VIII. Progress Report of the XXIX International Congress, Sydney 2002 (see appendix 7)

Dr. Hardy Smith noted that since submission of his report, the amount of exhibit space sold rose from 66% to over 80%. Support to the ICO from the Sydney meeting are being negotiated.

IX. Progress Report of the XXX International Congress, Brazil 2006

Dr. Belfort announced the date and location for the 2006 meeting on February 15 -19 in São Paulo, Brazil. The meeting will precede carnival by five days and will be marketed as the World Congress of Ophthalmology and Vision - The XXXth International Congress of Ophthalmology.

The meeting will be linked to the Brazilian Congress of Ophthalmology and to the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology meeting.

Dr. Belfort suggests that in the future the selection of International Congress sites be determined in conjunction with negotiations for the financial return to the ICO.

X. Discussion of XXXI (2010) and XXXII (2014) Congress

The discussion of future meeting dates 2010-2014 resulted in the consensus that all future meetings must be associated with supranational society meetings, or in conjunction with meetings of very large national societies (over 5,000 members).

It was noted that there was a conflict in scheduling in supranational meetings that are currently scheduled in odd years as opposed to the ICO even year schedule.

It was noted that the ICO was free to accept invitations for sites for 2010 up to January of next year.

While no formal action was taken, there seemed to be little opposition to the concept of advertising the name of the International Congress of Ophthalmology as the World Congress of Ophthalmology, so long as the title is linked to the continuation of the ICO numbering sequence of meetings.

XI. Report and Recommendations Regarding Future Congresses – Policies and Procedures

Drs. Hardy Smith and Simpson led a wide ranging discussion on recommendations for future Congresses. It was noted that the current schedule of every four years leaves the ICO invisible to most IFOS members between Congresses. They suggest that meetings every two years will add visibility and relevancy to the meeting content.

There was agreement that there is real value to linking the Congress to supranational or large national society meetings of societies with 5,000 or more members.

Action: The members of the ICO voted 13 to 2 in favor of every 2-year meetings of the ICO Congress in conjunction with supranational societies or national societies with over 5,000 members.

Action: The members of the ICO voted 12 to 1 in favor of changing the regulation of the ICO to permit meetings of the congress more often than every four years.

It was noted that the decision for a meeting in 2010 could be called at the discretion of the President with 30 days notice to the ICO members.

Dr. Akef El-Maghraby issued a verbal invitation for the ICO to meet in Cairo in 2004 in conjunction with the Pan Arab African Council (PAACO).

Dr. Nagpal issued a verbal invitation for the ICO to meet in India in 2008 with the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS). Dr. Tso suggested that Hong Kong and the APAO would also like to host a meeting in 2008.

XII. Communications (ICO Web Site, Newsletter and MedBiquitous) – Status & Recommendations, (see appendix 8)

Dr. Spivey presented a lengthy report on the status of efforts to improve communication between the ICO, members of IFOS, and the International Ophthalmic community at large.

Mr. Felch and Dr. Nagpal were recognized as having made major contributions to this effort by developing and enhancing both the web site and the newsletter.

Action: The ICO strongly endorses seeking ophthalmic industry support to help underwrite the costs of enhancing our communication tools.

Action: The web site plan and budget were approved as presented.

Dr. Spivey reviewed the objectives and plans for a consortium of medical specialty society interests in developing common communication standards and services with internet technologies. By joining this consortium (called MedBiquitious), the ICO has placed itself in a position to develop our outreach to the world, utilizing common language and internet compatibility.

XIII. Report of Standing Committees

Report of Advisory committee – see appendix 9
Report of the Advocacy committee and the Program Advisory Committee of WHO and the Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness by the year 2020 (see appendix 10, minutes Vision For The Future meeting, July 20, Buenos Aires.)
Report of Education Committee, see appendix 11
- This report helped to underscore a need to find mechanisms to provide financial support to Residents who cannot afford to take the test. Dr. Watson noted that hardship cases have been accommodated as necessary. It was suggested that linking the tests to academic standing within Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis would enhance the stature of the exams.
Report of Standards Committee (deferred to later in the meeting)
Report of Supranational Committee
1. Pan Arab African Council of Ophthalmology, (see appendix 12).
2. Afro Asian Council of Ophthalmology, (see appendix 13).
3. Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology
  - Dr. Khan reported the recent success of the PAAO meeting in Taiwan.
4. Pan American Association of Ophthalmology.
  - Dr. Lichter outlined the Scientific and Educational Programs for Buenos Aires requesting comment from the ICO. The members noted the strength of the program and the wide international participation in the PAAO program.
5. Societas Ophthalmologica Europea, (see appendix 14).
  - Dr. Phillipson noted participation in Istanbul of 36 National Societies. He was selected to a four-year term as President. He noted the communication with Eastern European representatives as a continuing problem. SOE meeting dates are June 7-12, 2003 in Madrid and May 22-27, 2005 in Berlin.
6. The supranational report concluded by recognizing the efforts of Ms. Wendy Ovaitt (AAO), for her efforts to assist the ICO.

XIV. Vision for the Future – Implementation and Relationship to VISION 2020

This section of the meeting was held as a separate session and function of the ICO with the AOI and invited guests from IAPB and NGOs. Meeting report, attached here as appendix 20.

ICO Structure and Function – Recommendations, (see appendix 15)

This series of recommendations produce a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the ICO and the future rules for committees and members.

Considerable discussion focused on the role of Program Director's and their roles in the ICO and the need for them to be voting members of the Council in the future.

Dr. De Laey expressed his concern that the need to continue an Advisory Committee to the Council be explored and a conscious decision be made about its future. He was assured that there was indeed a role for the committee, particularly in light of the fact that the Advisory Committee as proposed would be the ICO link to the International Subspecialty societies.

Action: The ICO unanimously adopted the proposed ICO structure and functions outline, including increasing the size of the ICO and providing voting status to the Program Directors (or a suitable name to be determined).

Action: Dr. De Laey was asked to proceed to propose a restructuring of the Advisory Committee and to suggest to the ICO such refinements, as the committee feel will enhance their value as a committee to the ICO.

Action: The ICO Executive Committee was directed to prepare such refinements to the statues that may be required to affect the proposed plan by vote of the IFOS members meeting in Sydney. They should also make changes in the regulations to reflect these decisions.

XVI. "Foundation of the International Council of Ophthalmology" – Fund Raising/Development, (see appendix 16)

The members of the ICO recognized that the ICO may need a device or series of devices that permit the ICO to enjoy support from various organizations and entities if they are to realize all the aspects of its strategic plan.

The ICO members reviewed the plan as suggested and noted the requirement that any plan finally adopted must have a strong link to the ICO.

Further concerns were expressed over the intricacies of sponsorship donation requirements as they varied from country to country.

Action: The ICO members unanimously adopted the establishment a system where by the ICO could benefit from tax advantaged sponsorship funds to support its strategic plans. This would likely take the form of more than one foundation in the world. The foundations would have the same format and all would be coordinated by a Foundations chairman who would be a member of the ICO.

The ICO Executive Committee was charged with setting up what legal platforms would required to achieve to goal.

XVII. Membership, Dues, New Members, Members for Suspension of Voting Rights

Action: The members of the ICO unanimously adopted motions to accept the Chinese Association of Ophthalmology and the Uzbekistan Society of Ophthalmology as voting members of IFOS upon payment of dues.

Dr. Gloor noted the roster of IFOS members delinquent in payment of dues and asked ICO members to assist him in gaining payments.

Action: Acting on the recommendations of the Treasurer, the ICO members directed the Secretary General to draft amendments to the statues amending the cap to allow membership dues up to 5 CHF.

The potential increase in dues for IFOS membership began a wide- ranging discussion of the need for such a raise if outstanding dues were collected. The impact of a successful Congress site selection, subscription sharing and the impact of bi-annual congresses were also noted as opportunities to defray the need to raise dues.

Action: The proposed 2002 budget was approved as provided.

XVIII. ICO/IFOS Fellowship Program, (see appendix 17)

Dr. Gloor presented his report. He was asked to select the next round of candidates in close collaboration with the ICO members.

XIX. International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies

This initial report was amended by action of the ICO relative to dues. (See item XVII above).

XX. Visual Standards for Blindness, (see appendix 18)

This excellent report was well received by the members of the ICO. Questions were expressed about the use of Best Corrected Vision versus the Available Corrected Vision and further questions was expressed over the social economic impact of the universal adoption of the proposed classification.

Most members of the ICO expressed appreciation for the value of the proposed classification in bringing uniformity to data analysis inthe future.

Action: Before presenting the classification for adoption by the IFOS members in Sydney, the ICO suggests further review with the WHO and broad publication by national journals to begin a consensus building effort before the ICO takes final action.

Action: The ICO members expressed their gratitude to Dr. Colenbrander for his lifetime effort to bring order to the classification of visual loss.

XXI. Unfinished Business

IFOS Membership
- 72 societies have not paid dues. Some haven't paid dues since 1987.
- Of significant concern are the 29 societies who paid dues in 2000 and haven't paid in 2001.
Book of World Ophthalmology
- AAO (Ms. Ovaitt) continue to build this resource. It was suggested that she tap WHO and IAPB as additional data resources.
Teachers availability after forced retirement
- Now coupled with twinning effort.
5% of trainees from Developing Nations
- Now an ICO policy.
Ophthalmology as Mandatory in Curriculum
- Dr. Tso noted that this is a geographic and local committee driven issue that continues to plague the value of training programs at a point where young trainees could use the basic education and understanding of ophthalmology.
WHO classification of impairments disabilities and handicaps, (see appendix 19).
Relationship of ICO to International Subspecialty Societies
- Following Dr. Nakajima's leadership, the proposed reorganization of the Advisory Committee will place new emphasis on this important societal interaction.
Twinning of National Ophthalmological Societies especially international annual meetings.
- Dr. Nagpal reports some success in gaining this interaction, but suggest that there is still much to be done.

XXII. New Business

Election of medal winning – Executive Session
- Dr. Spivey announced the election results of awards to be presented in Sydney:
1. Gonin – G.O.H. Naumann, MD
2. Duke-Elder – Peter Watson. MD
3. Francois – Bradley Straatsma, MD
Ceremonial medals for ICO Council Members
- It was determined that there was value in producing and identifies medal to be worn by IFOS representatives at the International Congresses as a tool to link them together and as a means of others to seek them out for ideas, support and concerns.
- The ICO members strongly urge selection of IFOS members representation form individuals under 50 years of age who can commit to a time of service of 8-10 years.
Availability of mailing lists and criteria for distribution.
- The Secretary General was authorized to determine the selection of organizations to be given the mailing lists of ICO and IFOS members, with the restriction that no commercial enterprise be given the lists.
Braille election ballots, taxies, pharmaceuticals
- Dr. Naumann urged ICO member support of these efforts to raise public awareness of the plight of the blind, which can raise national eye care priorities.
"ICO Atlas" initiative
- This effort is underway with the efforts of Drs. Machemer and Michelson.

XXXIX. Adjournment

In adjourning the meeting, Dr. Naumann expressed his gratitude to the participants for their lively and engaging participation. He praised those who had provided written reports that facilitate prompt disposition of the issues to be debated and he further expressed a collective gratitude from the ICO members to their Pan- American meeting hosts. He further acknowledged the help and support of the AAO and Mr. Noonan and Ms. Oviatt.

APPENDIX 1- ICO SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

APPENDIX 2 - TRAVELS ICO-IFOS

APPENDIX 3 - ICO TREASURERS REPORT

APPENDIX 4 - AUDITORS REPORT

APPENDIX 5 - ICO MEETINGS

APPENDIX 6 - ICO BUENOS AIRES

APPENDIX 7 - 2002 CONGRESS REPORT

APPENDIX 8 - ICO WEB SITE

APPENDIX 9 - ACICO 2001 MTG MINUTES

APPENDIX 10 - VISION FOR THE FUTURE

APPENDIX 11 - REPORT 2001

APPENDIX 12 - PAACO

APPENDIX 13 - AACO

APPENDIX 14 - IFOS _IAPB

APPENDIX 15 - ICO STRUCTURE & FUNCTION

APPENDIX 16 - FOUNDATION BACKGROUND

APPENDIX 17 - IFOS/ICO FELLOWSHIP

APPENDIX 18 - RANGES OF VISION LOSS - HOW BLIND IS "BLIND"

APPENDIX 19 - WHO INT'L CLASSIFICATION

APPENDIX 20 - REPORT ON VISION FOR THE FUTURE MEETING 7/20/01

Next: APPENDIX 20: VISION FOR THE FUTURE, A DRAFT REPORT BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Also see:

APPENDIX VFTF 2 - PROPOSAL OF A MEDICAL SCHOOL CURRICULUM IN OPHTHALMOLGY
APPENDIX VFTF 3 - NATIONAL OPHTHALMOLOGIC SOCIETY CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION SURVEY
APPENDIX VFTF 4 - REPORT ON ADVOCACY
APPENDIX VFTF 5 - "APIRATIONAL" GOALS FOR RESEARCH
ICO Minutes, July 20 - 21, 2001

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