Connecting Ophthalmologists from Around the World to Achieve Eye Health for Everyone
Connecting Ophthalmologists from Around the World to Achieve Eye Health for Everyone
The ICO Fellowship Program supports promising young ophthalmologists, primarily from low-resource countries, to improve their practical skills and broaden their perspectives of ophthalmology. Fellows are expected to bring the acquired knowledge and skills back to their home countries and take part in programs to preserve vision and prevent blindness. To date, more than 1,200 ICO Fellowships have been granted to ophthalmologists from 84 countries.
The ICO Examinations are the only worldwide medical-specialty examinations. They are independent and free of any outside influence and can be taken in the candidate’s own country. The questions are prepared by an international group of examiners and set at the same standard as the highest board and qualifying examinations anywhere. Each year, the ICO offers examinations throughout the world to help Ophthalmologists evaluate their knowledge in the Basic Science and Clinical Sciences related to Ophthalmology. More than 40,000 candidates have taken the ICO Examinations which are currently offered at 137 test centers in more than 80 countries.
The ICO programmes are designed and conducted to support ophthalmologists at every stage of their careers so that they may be best equipped to deliver high-quality eye care to preserve and restore vision for the people of the world.
Those studying ophthalmology as well as those engaged in ophthalmology teaching find a broad range of resources including curricula, learning, and teaching guides, and clinical guidelines for general ophthalmologists and subspecialists.
ICO resources are applicable across various socio-economic settings, leadership, and society development programs to support and harmonize the standards of education, eye care delivery, health promotion, advocacy, and allocation of resources to eye health around the world.
The ICO engages with leaders of ophthalmologic societies and other ophthalmic educators to rethink and redefine how ophthalmology is taught. The goal is to develop more effective teaching programs and materials and, ultimately, to improve eye care around the world.
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