Research for Global Blindness Prevention:

Introduction and News

Research news headlines:

• ICO emphasizes ethics of research
  
  
• WHO endorses ICO "Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention"
  
  
• Research Committee responds to WHO report
  
  
• Agenda proposes operational and epidemiologic research
  
  
• ICO seeks comments on Research Agenda
  
  
• Research Agenda available as PDF

(Also see more news of research)

ICO emphasizes ethics of research

The International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) is asking ophthalmologic societies and ophthalmic training programs to incorporate ethical considerations into their research programs and encourage others to do the same.

At its June 2008 meeting in Hong Kong, the ICO reviewed a report on "Regulations and Ethical Considerations Related to Research, Particularly When Investigations Involve Human Subjects" prepared by Professor Nancy Kass of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the U.S.

Dr. Kass's report, which recounts the history of regulation of research and offers links to many key documents, is now available on the ICO Web site and can also be downloaded as a PDF file - 100 KB.

"We encourage ophthalmologic societies to distribute the report widely and hope that the principles will be intergrated into all research programs," said ICO Director for Research Al Sommer, MD.

"We want to be sure our Members are aware of the importance of this perspective, as it is the right thing to do," Dr. Sommer said.

"On a more practical note, failure to adhere to ethical principles can preclude the publication of potentially important research discoveries."

WHO endorses ICO Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention

The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally endorsed the International Council of Ophthalmology's Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention.

Formal acceptance was recommended by participants in a WHO consultation on research priorities in Geneva in September 2003.

WHO has since issued a report on "Opportunities in Global Eye Research," which can be downloaded as a PDF file (168 KB) from the ICO Web site. (To read or print it, you will need Adobe Reader, which is a free download.)

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…

Research Committee responds to WHO report

"The Research Committee is delighted that WHO has endorsed the Agenda," commented ICO Research Director Al Sommer, MD.

"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," Dr. Sommer said.

"The ICO committee will follow developments with great interest. The Committee will plan to review results regularly and periodically update its recommendations."

Agenda proposes operational and epidemiologic research

The "Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention" was defined by the Research Committee of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO).

The Agenda suggests 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 (see the Contents on the right).

The Committee 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 Director Alfred Sommer, MD, the Committee met in October 2002.

ICO seeks comments on Research Agenda

The ICO is requesting comments on the report and research opportunities, priorities and progress.

Research Agenda available as PDF

The full Research Agenda can be downloaded from the ICO Web site as a PDF file (176 Kb). To read or print it, you will need Adobe Reader, which is a free download.

Next: More News of Research

Also see: Table of Contents of the Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention