The ICO is building a World Alliance for Sight, working with ophthalmologic societies and others to enhance ophthalmic education and improve access to the highest quality eye care in order to preserve and restore vision for the people of the world.
History
The ICO was established in 1857 in Brussels when 150 ophthalmologists from 24 countries met in the first International Congress of Ophthalmology. The Advisory Board was created in 1927 in Scheveningen, Holland. Member societies were added in 1933 in Madrid, Spain. Prior to July 2008, International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies was the official name of the organization, with the ICO serving as the executive body. But over the years the "ICO" became better known than IFOS, leading to considerable confusion and a proposal to adopt a single name. The names for the separate parts of the group are now combined under one name, the International Council of Ophthalmology. As a founding member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, the ICO participates in the IAPB’s initiative, supports and enables ICO member education programs and runs their own ICO initiatives sponsored by the .
Commitments
• Enhancing ophthalmic education, particularly training of ophthalmologists and other eye care personnel to meet public needs in developing countries • Stimulating and supporting communication and collaboration among ophthalmologic societies and ophthalmologists globally and their involvement in initiatives to preserve vision • Defining and disseminating standards and guidelines in order to enhance eye care • Stimulating research to eradicate preventable blindness • Raising awareness worldwide of the economic, social and personal impact of vision loss and advocating for increased funding and other support for preservation and restoration of vision.
Programs
• , which is held every two years in a different region of the world. The council presents the Gonin Medal every four years at the WOC. • • • • • • , the International Ophthalmology Strategic Plan to Preserve and Restore Vision • Advocacy for preservation of vision • Various ophthalmic education initiatives
The International Ophthalmology Strategic Plan to Preserve and Restore Vision, , stems from planning sessions organized by the International Council of Ophthalmology and the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis in 1999 and 2000. With a mission to preserve and restore vision, Vision for the Future encourages activities to enhance Ophthalmic Education and Training, Ophthalmology Continuing Education, Eye Care Guidelines and Recommendations, Advocacy for the Preservation and Restoration of Vision, and Research in Ophthalmology and Vision. Vision for the Future envisions partnerships with the Global Initiative for the /VISION 2020 and other global, national and institutional programs sponsored by organizations and entities committed to the elimination of avoidable blindness.
