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Listed below are more programs and initiatives of the International Council of Ophthalmology, with links to the sections of the Eye Site where you can find out more, including how to contact those responsible for each program.
Also see: Other Programs and Initiatives.
You can also download a listing of ICO Programs and Iniatives as a PDF file (203 KB).
On this page:
- Advocacy for Preservation of Vision
- VISION 2020: The Right to Sight
- Representation of Ophthalmology Internationally
- Policies and Positions on Vision and Eye Care Issues
- Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention
- IFOS/ICO Newsletter
- The Eye Site
- Database of Societies and Residencies
- International Ophthalmology
- ICOFoundation
(Also see: ICO Programs and Initiatives)
Advocacy for Preservation of Vision
International Ophthalmology's Vision for the Future (described in the other list of ICO programs and initiatives) also stressed the important role that international ophthalmology can play as an advocate for preservation of vision, including raising awareness worldwide of the economic, social and personal impact of vision loss and the need for increased funding and other support.
Hugh Taylor, MD, is ICO director for advocacy.
VISION 2020: The Right to Sight
IFOS is a member of the Task Force of "VISION 2020: The Right to Sight," an international initiative with the goal of eradicating preventable blindness around the world by the year 2020.
"VISION 2020: The Right to Sight" was organized in 1999 by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, World Health Organization and various Non-Governmental Development Organizations (NGOs).
The ICO has encouraged IFOS societies to support the "VISION 2020: The Right to Sight" campaign in their countries and to participate actively in the World Sight Day, the second Thursday in October each year.
Representation of Ophthalmology Internationally
IFOS is the only ophthalmologic organization with an official relationship with the World Health Organization and was one of the founders, along with the World Blind Union, of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
The ICO also maintains formal and informal relationships and represents ophthalmology to a variety of organizations that have an impact on ophthalmology, eye care and vision around the world.For example, it is a member of the MedBiquitous Coalition, which is working to define technology standards for medical education.
Policies and Positions on Vision and Eye Care Issues
As part of its advocacy efforts, the ICO has adopted and promoted policies and positions on issues related to eye care around the world, including:
- Advocating "twinning:" ongoing collaboration and cooperation between ophthalmologic institutions and organizations in developed and developing countries
- Urging the mandatory inclusion of ophthalmology in the curriculum for all medical schools
- Encouraging ophthalmology departments to allocate at least five percent of the positions in their training programs to individuals from countries where there is an undersupply of ophthalmologists
- Supporting a total ban on antipersonnel landmines
- Advocating the inclusion of statistics on vision loss and blindness in all WHO and almanac publications.
Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention
Chaired by Alfred Sommer, MD, the ICO Research Committee has defined opportunities for operational and epidemiologic research that would benefit underserved populations of poor countries.
The Committee's "Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention" concentrates on the seven ocular diseases and conditions that cause the greatest vision disability in the largest number of individuals around the world:
1. Cataract
2. Trachoma
3. Onchocerciasis
4. Xerophthalmia
5. The Glaucomas
6. Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
7. Refractive Error.
IFOS/ICO Newsletter
Edited by P. N. Nagpal, MD, the IFOS/ICO Newsletter offers news of the ICO and international ophthalmology in an eight-page printed newsletter that is distributed to IFOS societies and elsewhere through the world once a year.
All issues can be downloaded from the ICO Eye Site.
The Council has encouraged national societies to seek grants to cover the cost of printing and distributing the IFOS/ICO Newsletter to all ophthalmologists in their countries, particularly where many do not have Internet access.
The Eye Site
The Web site for the ICO, the Eye Site is a world atlas for eye care: a guide to finding information, education and resources related to ophthalmology and vision around the world.
Directed by ICO President Bruce E. Spivey, MD, the Eye Site offers information on ICO and IFOS, ophthalmologic organizations, ophthalmic education and preservation and restoration of vision, as well as resources for ophthalmologic societies, ophthalmologists and the public.
Database of Societies and Residencies
The ICO maintains the most comprehensive listing of information on ophthalmologic societies and ophthalmology residency programs throughout the world.
The data can be accessed on the Eye Site at www.icoph.org/soc/ifos.cfm and updated by society leaders at www.icoph.org/soc/update.cfm with a user name and password available from the ICO (database@icoph.org).
International Ophthalmology
Periodically, the ICO publishes a listing of the most recent information in its database of ophthalmologic societies and ophthalmology residency programs (see above) in book form.
Published most recently in 2006, International Ophthalmology was sent free to members of IFOS and is available for sale to others from the Secretary General (info@icoph.org).
Information contained in the database and International Ophthalmology is copyrighted by the ICO and can be used only with its permission.
ICOFoundation
The International Council of Ophthalmology Foundation was formed in 2002 to advocate preservation and restoration of vision through education, quality eye care and research.
To that end, the ICOFoundation seeks financial support for measures to prevent, alleviate and eliminate the loss of human vision.
Chaired by Bradley R. Straatsma, MD, the ICOFoundation is focused initially on obtaining support for:
- Ophthalmic education and training
- Ophthalmic knowledge assessment
- Ophthalmic fellowship training
- Eye and vision care guidelines
- Advocacy for preservation of vision
- Research in ophthalmology and vision
Next: Minutes of IFOS and ICO meetings
Also see: ICO initiatives in ophthalmic education
You can also download a listing of ICO Programs and Iniatives as a PDF file (203 KB).
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