ICO Leader Letter:
WHO Endorses ICO's Research Agenda for Blindness Prevention

February 2005, Volume 2, Number 2

In This Issue:

1. ICO Provides Leadership for Preservation of Vision (Fritz Naumann, MD)

2. WHO Endorses ICO Research Agenda for Blindness Prevention (Al Sommer, MD)

3. WHO Recommends Standards for Definition of Vision Loss and Visual Functioning (Jean-Jacques DeLaey, MD)

4. IAPB Reports on Help for South Asia Tsunami Survivors (Bruce Spivey, MD)

5. March 31 Deadline To Apply for IFOS/ICO Fellowships (Balder Gloor, MD)

6. Medscape Offers Continuing Education for Ophthalmologists (Mark Tso, MD)

7. 2006 World Ophthalmology Congress in São Paulo

8. Future ICO and IFOS Meetings

9. Coming in the March ICO Leader Letter

10. More News

11. Request for other News and Resources

12. Forward the ICO Leader Letter to your Colleagues

13. Comments, Change of Address, Privacy Policy, Subscribe and Unsubscribe

1. ICO Provides Leadership for Preservation of Vision

Dear Colleagues:

Fritz Naumann, MD

In this Leader Letter, we report on two areas where the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) itself has provided such leadership.

First, in 2003, the ICO's Research Committee defined a "Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention" that suggested opportunities for operational and epidemiologic research that would benefit underserved populations of poor countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally and officially endorsed our Research Agenda, as Al Sommer reports below.

Earlier, in 2002, the ICO adopted a resolution developed by Gus Colenbrander and the Advisory Committee to the ICO proposing a new standardized classification of visual loss. Prompted in part by that resolution, WHO has recommended modifying the classification of visual impairment and reporting codes for blindness and low vision, as reported below by Jean-Jacques Delay.

Thanks to all who contributed to these visionary initiatives. Over time, I believe they will make a significant contribution to achieving our goal of preservation and restoration of vision.

- Fritz Naumann, MD, ICO President

2. WHO Endorses ICO Research Agenda for Blindness Prevention

Al Sommer, MD

Among the recommendations in the report:

• To endorse all the themes of the ICO research agenda, including important or emerging conditions in developing countries, such as refractive error and diabetes-related eye disease.
  
  
• To conduct continuing epidemiological and operations research to refine estimates of the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness ...

In the "Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention" (www.icoph.org/research/agenda.html), the ICO's Research Committee suggested opportunities for operational and epidemiologic research related to the seven ocular diseases and conditions that cause the greatest vision disability in the largest number of individuals around the world.

The Research Committee is delighted that WHO has endorsed the Agenda. We believe that the proposed research can make a major contribution to the WHO-led Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness, VISION 2020: The Right to Sight.

It is now critical that appropriate groups begin to answer the research issues raised and solve the obstacles still standing in the way of international control of visual impairment and blindness.

You can download the WHO report at www.icoph.org/pdf/WHOResearchRep.pdf and the ICO Research Agenda at www.icoph.org/pdf/ResearchAgenda.pdf.

- Al Sommer, MD, ICO Research Coordinator

3. WHO Recommends Standards for Definition of Vision Loss and Visual Functioning

Jean-Jacques DeLaey, MD

The report on "Development of Standards for Characterization of Vision Loss And Visual Functioning" is based on another WHO consultation in September 2003.

Among the participants was ICO Standards Committee Member August Colenbrander, MD, who prepared the ICO's 2002 resolution on "Visual Standards - Aspects and Ranges of Vision Loss" (www.icoph.org/standards/visionres.html).

In line with the ICO report and with the finding that the most common cause that of vision loss is undercorrected refractive error, WHO recommends reporting vision loss based on the presenting, binocular acuity (a measure of how the person functions), rather than on the best-corrected acuity of the better eye (a measure of how the eyes function).

Going beyond visual acuity alone, the WHO report also recommends greater focus on development cross-cultural methods for assessing visual functioning and vision-related quality of life, particularly patient-reported assessments.

The participants suggested that a new Visual Functioning Questionnaire with 20 questions, VFQ-20, which is included in the report, be tested and validated for international use.

You can download the WHO report at: whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2003/WHO_PBL_03.91.pdf.

- Jean-Jacques DeLaey, MD, ICO Standards Coordinator

4. IAPB Reports on Help for South Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Survivors

Bruce Spivey, MD

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has issued its first monthly report on the efforts of Non-Governmental Development Organizations (NGOs) involved with eye care to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Southern Asia on December 26.

The report is included in the February IAPB/VISION 2020: The Right to Sight E-Newsletter, which is available at: www.v2020.org/newsletter/february_05/newsletter_feb05.asp.

IAPB will issue a new report each month. You can sign up to receive the IAPB/VISION 2020 E-Newsletter at: www.v2020.org/contact_us/index.asp.

For the latest WHO situation reports and other information on relief efforts, see: www.who.int/hac/crises/international/asia_tsunami/en/.

- Bruce Spivey, MD, ICO Secretary General

5. March 31 Deadline To Apply for IFOS/ICO Fellowships

Balder Gloor, MD

As a result of good prospects for donations to support the IFOS/ICO Fellowship program, we were able to award 23 Fellowships in fall 2004, in response to 40 applications.

We have now provided 130 Fellowships since the program was established in 2001 to help young ophthalmologists, especially those from developing nations, improve their practical skills and broaden their perspectives of ophthalmology.

Now available from 55 ophthalmology departments and programs in 23 countries, the IFOS/ICO Fellowships generally last three months. Fellows are expected to bring the acquired knowledge and skills back to their country of origin and take part in programs to preserve and restore vision in their country.

For more information, see www.icoph.org/fellow or contact me at b.gloor@access.unizh.ch.

- Balder Gloor, MD, ICO Fellowship Coordinator and Treasurer

6. Medscape Offers Educational Resources for Ophthalmologists

Mark Tso, MD

One useful source of ophthalmic education available at no cost to ophthalmologists with access to the Internet is Medscape.

The Medscape home page for ophthalmology (www.medscape.com/ophthalmologyhome) offers clinical news, resource centers, a journal scan, interactive case studies, continuing medical education (CME) activities and access to MEDLINE.

Currently, the ophthalmology section features a CME activity on the highlights from the 2004 Joint Meeting American Academy of Ophthalmology and European Society of Ophthalmology in five clinical areas: cataract and refractive surgery, cornea, glaucoma, pediatric ophthalmology and retina. See: www.medscape.com/viewprogram/3616_index.

To access these resources, you need to complete a two-page registration form the first time you use Medscape.

- Mark Tso, MD, ICO Vice President and Education Coordinator

7. 2006 World Ophthalmology Congress in São Paulo

The XXX World Ophthalmology Congress (formerly the International Congress of Ophthalmology) is scheduled February 20 - 24, 2006 in São Paulo, Brazil, the week before Carnival.

For more information, visit the Congress Web site at www.ophthalmology2006.com.br or send e-mail to: info@ophthalmology2006.com.br.

8. Future ICO and IFOS Meetings

ICO Symposium on "Innovations in Managing Cataract Blindness Worldwide," March 29, 2005, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

International Council of Ophthalmology, May 11, 2005, Florence, Italy

General Assembly of the International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies, February 20, 2006, São Paulo, Brazil

9. Coming in the March ICO Leader Letter:

Countries with Minimal Ophthalmic Presence

10. More News

For more news of the ICO and international ophthalmology and resources for ophthalmologic leaders, see the ICO's Eye Site at www.icoph.org.

11. Request for Other News and Resources

Do you have other news of international ophthalmology or know resources (particularly on the Web) that would be valuable to society leaders? Please let us know at leader@icoph.org.

12. Forward the ICO Leader Letter to your Colleagues:

If there are other ophthalmologic leaders you think might be interested in seeing this ICO Leader Letter, please forward this issue to them by clicking on this link.

13. Comments, Change of Address, Privacy Policy, Subscribe and Unsubscribe

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