News of Eye Care and the ICO
Fellowships Added in Barcelona, London and Nagpur, India
Additional IFOS/ICO International Fellowships are now being offered at the:
There are now Fellowships available at 45 institutions.
Fellowships generally last three months, but the program is intended to be flexible to meet the needs of different countries and individuals.
The deadlines to apply for the next round of IFOS/ICO International Fellowships are March 31 and September 30 of each year.
Assessments Scheduled April 1, 2004, Application Deadline is January 31
The International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) will offer the next International Basic Science Assessment for Ophthalmologists and International Clinical Sciences Assessment on April 1, 2004.
The deadline for applications is January 31, 2004.
More than 1000 Ophthalmologists Took Assessments in 2003
Fellowship Preference for Applicants Who Have Passed International Assessments
Applicants for IFOS/ICO International Fellowships who have passed the International Basic and Clinical Assessments will be given preference in consideration for Fellowships, according to Balder Gloor, MD, Fellowship Coordinator.
The Policies for the Fellowships have been modified to reflect this preference.
For more information, see the Assessments section of the ICO Web site or contact Rosemary Bell, Examination Secretary, 2 Wort’s Causeway, Cambridge CB1 8RN UK, assess@icoph.org.
New ICOFoundation Seeks To Preserve and Protect Vision
Information on the devasting impact of vision loss around the world and how the International Council of Ophthalmology Foundation (ICOFoundation) wants to help has been added to the ICO Web site.
The ICOFoundation was formed in 2002 to advance scientific ophthalmology, to support ophthalmic education and to advocate quality eye care.
The ICOFoundation pages include information on:
ICO Committee Proposes Agenda for Research To Prevent Blindness
The Research Committee of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) has defined a Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention.
The report "creates an unprecedented opportunity for the entire ophthalmic community to advance the research agenda to preserve and restore vision," said ICO Secretary General, Bruce E. Spivey, MD.
Chaired by ICO Research Coordinator Alfred Sommer, MD, the Committee met in October, 2002, and outlined opportunities for research in seven clinical areas (see the Contents of the Report).
WHO Renews Official Relationship with IFOS
The World Health Organization (WHO) has renewed official relations with the International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies (IFOS).
In a February 17, 2003 letter, Nadia Younes, WHO Executive Director of External Relations and Governing Bodies, wrote, "In making its decision, the Board commended the efforts of your organization in support of the work of WHO."
"I would also like to thank your members [IFOS societies] for their continuing interest in working with the WHO," she said. "I hope that the activities planned for the next three years between you and Dr. S. Resnikoff in the Prevention of Blindness and Deafness team...will be as fruitful."
Dr. Resnikoff is a member of the Advisory Committee to the ICO.
Continuing Medical Education Requirements Approved
Recommended requirements for continuing medical education (CME), adopted by the ICO in January 2003, are now available on the ICO Web site.
The requirements cover defining the objectives of courses, evaluation, relationships with industry and conflicts of interest. They reaffirm and expand on requirements adopted by the ICO in Amsterdam in June 1998.
The Council hopes that the requirements will be useful to ophthalmological societies developing or evaluating continuing education programs for their members.
Mark Your Calendars for 2006 International Congress in São Paulo
 The ICO has asked the leaders of ophthalmological societies throughout the world to inform their members about the XXX International Congress of Ophthalmology, February 19 - 24, 2006 in São Paulo, Brazil, the week before Carnival.
There's a preliminary Congress Web site at: http://www.ophthalmology2006.com.br, and you can contact organizers at info@ophthalmology2006.com.br.
International Clinical Disease Severity Scales Adopted for Diabetic Retinopathy And Diabetic Macular Edema
An international task force has adopted grading scales for evaluating the severity of different levels of diabetic retinopathy and macular edema disease.
The scales were developed to increase consistency of grading diabetic retinopathy and macular edema internationally.
They are also intended to facilitate communication among retina subspecialists, general ophthalmologists, endocrinologists/ diabetologists and primary care physicians.
The scales were defined through a consensus development process, including an invitational workshop during the International Congress of Ophthalmology in Sydney in April 2002.
Development of the scales was led by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and announced at the Academy meeting in October 2002. The Academy adopted the scales in February 2003, and the ICO will consider them in the future.
Highlights of 2003 Council Meeting in New Delhi
Meeting on January 14, 2003 in New Delhi, the ICO:
See below for more details.
Meeting with All India Ophthalmological Society
The Council met in conjunction with 61st Annual Conference of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS), which attracted more than 3500 ophthalmologists from India and other countries.
During opening ceremonies for the Conference, Dr. A. K. Walia, the Honorable Minister for Health and Enviroment of India, welcomed the ICO and said he appreciated its presence at the AIOS meeting.
ICO President Fritz Naumann, MD, thanked the minister and AOIS for its warm reception and recognized the major contribution that Indian ophthalmologists have made to the ICO and to preservation of vision around the world.
Dr. Naumann stressed that all ophthalmologists at the meeting, in addition to 150,000 around the world, belong to the International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies (IFOS) through their participation in its member societies.
"International ophthalmology has an address," he said, "icoph.org: the Web site of the ICO."
Ophthalmologists Meet with the President of India on Prevention of Blindness
The Council, Advisory Committee to the ICO and members of Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis were invited for a half-hour meeting on January 15 with the President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Presidential residence, to discuss "Blindness is a Priority."
A retired nuclear scientist, the President reported that one million Indians lose their vision every year, and asked how international ophthalmology could help him meet is goal of cutting that number in half by 2010.
ICO President Naumann, International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) President Hannah Faal, MD, and other ophthalmologists reported on efforts to achieve similar goals around the world, including Vision 2020: The Right to Sight and ophthalmology's Vision for the Future.
The ophthalmologists mentioned that several Indian eye institutes, such as Aravind and L.V. Prasad, serve as models for programs to preserve vision around the world.
Update on Vision 2020
IAPB President and Council member Dr. Faal reported at the Council meeting on progress of the Vision 2020: The Right To Sight program, which is led by the IAPB, World Health Organization (WHO) and various Non-Governmental Development Organizations (NGOs).
Representatives of the ICO/IFOS and other organizations involved with Vision 2020 met in Geneva in February to refine plans for the program, which has a goal of eradicating preventable blindness around the world by the year 2020.
Foundation To Coordinate Development Efforts
Bradley R. Straatsma, MD, JD, outlined initial plans for the International Council of Ophthalmology Foundation, of which he is the President. The ICOFoundation was formed to coordinate fund raising efforts of the Council.
Dr. Straatsma reported that the ICOFoundation would initially focus on obtaining support for:
The ICOFoundation has been incorporated in the United States, but related foundations may be formed in other countries as well in order to make tax-deductible contributions possible.
ICOFoundation Board Named
Individuals who have agreed to serve on the Board of Directors of the ICOFoundation include:
Bradley R. Straatsma, MD, JD, President
Gottfried O. H. Naumann, MD, Vice President
Bruce E. Spivey, MD, Secretary-Treasurer
Rubens Belfort, MD, PhD
Akef El Maghraby, MD
David E. Pyott
Timothy R. G. Sear
Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD
Alfred Sommer, MD
Yasuo Tano, MD
Council Approves 2003 – 2004 Budget
The ICO approved a budget covering 2003 and 2004 with close to 800,000 CHF in expenditures for each year, including the Basic and Clinical Science Assessments, which are self-supporting.
Increased funding was approved for the IFOS/ICO International Fellowship and the ICO Web site.
Council Officers, members and the Advisory Committee pay for their own airfare and accommodations for Council meetings and other travel in behalf of the ICO. They receive no remuneration for their service to the ICO and IFOS.
Survey on the Use of ICO Clinical Guidelines
P. N. Nagpal, MD, reported to the Council on a survey conducted by ICO Guidelines Coordinator Richard L. Abbott, MD, to assess how societies and ophthalmologists use the International Clinical Guidelines developed by the ICO.
Eighteen Guidelines are now available on the ICO Web site and four new ones are in draft form.
Societies Urged To Distribute IFOS/ICO Newsletter
Dr. Nagpal also distributed the fifth IFOS/ICO Newsletter, of which he is the editor. (The Newsletter will be available on the Web site soon.)
The Council encouraged national societies to seek grants to cover the cost of printing and distributing the newsletter to all ophthalmologists in their countries, particularly where many do not have Internet access.
Physician Charter for Professionalism
The Council approved a document "Medical Professionalism in the New Millenium: A Physician Charter" (also available as a PDF file).
Developed by various internal medicine organizations, the Charter is part of an initiative to reaffirm the medical profession's civic commitment.
Advisory Committee Supports Assessments and Fellowships
Meeting the day before the Council, the newly reorganized Advisory Committee to the ICO expressed strong support for both the International Basic and Clinical Assessments and the IFOS/ICO International Fellowships.
Chaired by H. Dunbar Hoskins, Jr., MD, the Advisory Committee recommended, and the Council agreed, that individuals who have passed the Basic and Clinical Science Assessments should be given preference in consideration for IFOS/ICO International Fellowships.
The Council appointed an ad hoc committee to study what more could be done to make it possible for ophthalmologists who cannot afford the fees to take the Assessments.
Greater Visibility for Basic and Clinical Assessments
The Advisory Committee also recommended that the ICO do more to increase visibility of the Assessments and understanding of their goals among ophthalmology residency programs directors, national examining boards and ophthalmologists around the world.
The Committee emphasized how valuable the Assessments could be as an integral part of ophthalmology residency training.
Assessments Available in Russian
Assessments Coordinator Peter Watson reported to the Council that the Assessments would be offered in Russian for the first time this year, in addition to English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
In 2002, 688 candidates from 44 countries took the Assessments at 62 centers around the world.
The 2004 Assessments are scheduled on April 1, 2004. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2004.
Subspecialists On Advisory Committee
Recognizing the critical role that subspecialists and subspecialty organizations play within ophthalmology internationally and to support unity within the profession, the Advisory Committee has been reorganized to include individuals representative of all of the subspecialties of ophthalmology.
See the listing of new Committee members.
Council Defines Communications Plans
Strategic Planning and Communications Consultant Bill Felch, who is also the Web master for the ICO Web site, led a mini-planning session of the Council and Advisory Committee to define a communications plan for the ICO.
Participants agreed that the highest priority audiences for ICO communications should be:
- Ophthalmologic societies, particularly IFOS members and national societies
- Ophthalmologists, including IFOS society members, those in developing countries, residents and all others
- The World Health Organization (WHO), Government leaders and other national officials and ministers of health
- The International Association for the Prevention of Blindness and Non-Governmental Development Agencies
- Medical Colleges, Teaching institutions and universities.
New Web Site and E-mail Newsletter
The Council also reviewed a draft Web Site and Internet Plan and preliminary prototypes for a newly designed ICO Web site and an e-mail newsletter to be sent to ophthalmologic society leaders around the world.
More than 30 society leaders had responded to a questionnaire sent out by the ICO in December requesting their ideas on how the ICO could use its Web site and the Internet more effectively. There was broad support for communications via an e-mail newsletter in addition to the Web site and other means.
The new Web site will be launched this Spring, followed by the e-mail newsletter to ophthalmologic society leaders. Both will focus on providing information and resources of value to society leaders and ophthalmologists, in addition to news of the ICO and international ophthalmology.
Vision Requirements for Driving
August Colenbrander, MD, reported that the ICO Committee on Standards, chaired by Jean-Jacques DeLaey, MD, is drafting proposed international vision requirements for driving. The Committee is gathering data on current requirements in different countries.
WHO to Consider ICO Standards for Visual Loss
The World Health Organization (WHO) will give official consideration this year to the ICO's resolution on "Visual Standards - Aspects and Ranges of Vision Loss," according to WHO Representative and Advisory Committee member Ramachandra Pararajasegaram, MD.
WHO Redefining Relationships
Advisory Committee Member Serge Resnikoff, MD, PhD, who heads the WHO's Prevention of Blindess and Deafness efforts, reported to the Council on WHO's process of redefining how it relates to other organizations.
He said he did not anticipate significant changes in how WHO works with IFOS/ICO.
IFOS To Meet October 23, 2004
The next meeting of the International Federation of Ophthalmologic Societies (IFOS), for which the Council is the executive body, has been scheduled October 23, 2004 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, just prior to the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting there.
The Council is studying whether to recommend expanding IFOS to include additional ophthalmological societies, each with voting rights. If it does, it will make a formal recommendation to IFOS prior to the meeting in 2004.
In the future, IFOS will meet every two years.
XXXI International Congress will be June 6 - 10, 2010 in Berlin
 The Council approved the recommendation of the German Society of Ophthalmology to schedule the 31st International Congress of Ophthalmology from June 6 - 10, 2010 in Berlin.
International Congresses in Brazil in 2006 and Hong Kong in 2008
The Council also received updates on the:
Council Defines Congress Policies
The Council clarified its policies for future International Congresses of Ophthalmology, beyond 2010.
It will:
- Sponsor Congresses every two years in conjunction with a supranational society or a national society recommended by a supranational
- Rotate locations in the following order: Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa
- Seek a minimum financial commitment from a sponsoring society, with a goal of splitting any net proceeds from the Congress equally with the sponsoring society
- Negotiate details for the Congress prior to awarding the Congress site.
See new policies for details.
Council Considers Additional Awards
The Council also expressed its gratitude to several organizations that have proposed that additional named medals be awarded at International Congress of Ophthalmology.
A Committee was appointed to recommend how the Council could most appropriately manage awards in addition to those already covered in its Regulations.
Information on Ophthalmology Societies and Residencies Online
The International Council of Ophthalmology's database of information on national ophthalmologic societies has been expanded to include international societies and residency programs around the world.
The database can be accessed at http://www.icoph.org/soc/ifos.cfm.
Society Leaders Asked To Review Listings
Leaders of ophthalmologic societies are asked to review and update the information listed for their society at http://www.icoph.org/soc/update.cfm.
If your society is not listed, please add it at http://www.icoph.org/soc/addsociety.cfm.
ICO Minutes, IFOS Statutes and Regulations
Minutes from the ICO meeting on April 20, 2002 and the International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies meeting on April 22, 2002 in Sydney, Australia are online.
Also available are revised IFOS Statutes and Regulations for the:
ICO Proposes Standards for Measurement of Vision Loss
World Meeting of Ophthalmologists in Sydney
 More than 4,300 ophthalmologists from nearly 100 countries participated in the XXIX International Congress of Ophthalmology, April 21 - 25, 2002 in Sydney, Australia.
Highlights of the Congress, included:
- four days of stimulating scientific sessions, with 90 courses and 1200 posters,
- a variety of symposia and presentations on Vision 2020: The Right To Sight, international ophthalmology's Vision for the Future and other initiatives for the preservation of vision around the world, and
- performances by the Australian Ballet and stars of Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House.
Ophthalmologists Urged to Participate In Vision 2020
Ophthalmologists and ophthalmologic societies can play a leading role in the Global Initiative to Eliminate Avoidable Blindess by the Year 2020, Vision 2020 - The Right to Sight and make a critical contribution to preservation of vision around the world.
That was one message from representatives of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the World Health Organization at various symposia at the International Congress in Sydney.
One example cited was the involvement of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and Centre for Eye Research Australia in the formation of Vision 2020 Australia, which was launched in 2000 and has 45 partners involved in:
- Raising public awareness of the importance of vision as a human right,
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which have 10 times the amount of blindness of other Australians,
- Increasing awareness of eye care.
How To Play A Role in Vision 2020
If you are interested in participating in Vision 2020 , the best resource is the Web site at www.v2020.org, according to IAPB and WHO leaders.
Or contact ophthalmologic societies or International Non-Governmental Development Organizations (INGDOs) who are active in your country.
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 International Congress President Peter Hardy Smith, MD (left); IAPB President Hannah Faal, MD; and ICO President Fritz Naumann, MD, following signing in Sydney of the Declaration of Support for Vision 2020: The Right to Sight.
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IFOS Approves Dues Increase
Meeting in Sydney, the International Federation of Ophthalmologic Societies (IFOS) approved a modification of its Statutes to allow a subscription (dues) of up to CHF 5 per member of the affiliated society per year.
IFOS approved a subscription rate of CHF 3 per member per year until the next General Assembly.
Ophthalmologic societies in developing countries have the option to pay 1 % of the societies' subscription rate per member per year.
New Council Function and Structure
IFOS also approved changes in the Council's organizational structure and function, including adding to the Council up to eight directors or coordinators of major ICO programs, such as the IFOS/ICO International Fellowships and the Basic and Clinical Assessments.
Representatives of 10 subspecialty areas within ophthalmology have been added to the Advisory Committee to the ICO.
Grants Support Ophthalmologists from Developing Countries in Sydney
More than 55 ophthalmologists from developing countries were able to attend the International Congress of Ophthalmology in Sydney with the help of travel grants.
The Congress allocated AUD 50,000 to support 50 participants, the International Ophthalmic Industry Society (IOIS) added AUD 5,000, and the Singapore National Eye Center also contributed.
Profits To Support Research and Education
All profits realized from the International Congress by the host Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists will be used to create a foundation for research, education and humanitarian purposes.
Medals Awarded at International Congress
At the opening ceremony of the International Congress of Ophthalmology in Sydney, the following medals selected by the ICO were awarded:
- Jules Gonin Medal to Professor Fritz Naumann
- Jules Francois Medal to Professor Bradley Straatsma.
- Duke-Elder Medal to Professor Peter Watson.
The Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis premier medal, the Bernardo Streiff Medal, was awarded to Professor Bruce Spivey.
Awards for ICO International Assessments
Also at the opening ceremonies in Sydney, ICO Prizes were awarded to individuals who achieved the highest marks on the International Basic and Clinical Science Assessments in 2001:
- Dr. Islam Hamdi from Egypt for the Basic Science Assessment (accepted by his father)
- Dr. Ramin Salouti from Iran for the Clinical Sciences Assessment.
IFOS/ICO Newsletters Online
 The fourth IFOS/ICO Newsletter is available in Portable Document Format (700K).
To read it, you will need Acrobat Reader, which is a free download.
Also available are the first IFOS/ICO Newsletter, published in 1999, the second, from 2000, and the third, from 2001.
Donations to IFOS/ICO International Fellowship
Novartis Ophthalmic has donated CHF 29,000 and the Bruppacher Foundation in Zurich has donated CHF 50,000 to help make IFOS/ICO Fellowships available to ophthalmologists from developing countries.
An additional 70,000 CHF has been contributed to the Fellowships from private individuals .
Atlas of Ophthalmology on the Web
A database with photographs related to more than 1000 ophthalmic diagnoses is now available online to ophthalmologists worldwide.
The Atlas of Ophthalmology - Multimedia Online Database Ophthalmology (MODO) is edited by Robert Machemer, MD (Durham, USA) and Georg Michelson, MD (Erlangen, Germany).
Comprehensive Listing of Ophthalmology Journals
The ICO has revised and expanded the list of ophthalmic journals on our Web site to include many not listed before. The list now includes many journals published by organizations represented in the International Federation of Ophthalmologic Societies (IFOS).
We believe this is the most comprehensive list of ophthalmology journals now available on the Web. Please let us know of any journals not listed.
Lists of National and International Society Web Sites
We've also updated and expanded our listings and links to the Web sites of:
Supranational and International Ophthalmic and Subspecialty Organizations
International Federation of Ophthalmologic Society (IFOS) Organizations
Other National, Regional and Local Ophthalmologic and Subspecialty Organizations
Again, please let us know any international, national or regional ophthalmologic society Web sites that are missing from these lists.
Search the Eye Site
You can now search the entire ICO Eye Site. Type one or more in the words in the small horizontal box below the list of the major sections of the site on the right hand side of every page and click the "Search" button.
An advanced search function is also available.
Feedback Sought on ICO Web Site
Ophthalmologists and other visitors to the ICO Web site are encouraged to comment on the draft Web and Internet Plan and contribute your ideas on how the ICO could better use the Internet and Web, either by e-mail or by completing the Web site evaluation.
What Do Society Leaders Need?
To help the ICO better support ophthalmologic societies, society leaders are asked to complete an IFOS society leader needs assessment.
The assessment is designed to evaluate what the ICO can do to help leaders and support the development of national and supranational ophthalmologic societies around the world.
What Are Ophthalmologists?
Ophthalmologists are physicians who specialize in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system and in the prevention of eye disease and injury.
An ophthalmologist is a medically trained specialist who can deliver total eye care (i.e., vision services, eye examinations, medical eye care and surgical eye care), diagnose general diseases of the body and treat ocular manifestations of systemic diseases.
Can't Find What You're Looking For?
Tips on how to navigate the ICO Web site and find information you want are available by clicking on the ICO logo in the upper right of every page.
There's also a Web site map that lists the primary sections of the Web site and the pages within each section. You can click on any section or page to go there.
More News of the ICO and International Ophthalmology
Also see previously reported news of the ICO and International Ophthalmology
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An interim International Congress June 29 to July 3, 2008 in Hong Kong.
