Eye Care Standards, Ethics & Research

Functional vision defines how a person performs in vision-related activities, more than how the eye functions (visual function). Functional vision is directly related to quality of life and is the basis for the ICO’s International Standards for Eye Care and Vision.

The ICO believes these principles should be emphasized in ophthalmic training, ophthalmic practice and in health care policy decisions:

Ophthalmic care extends beyond the treatment of eye disease to promoting the well being of the patient
Treatment decisions should consider patient needs and match the clinician’s expectations with those of the patient
Studies of ophthalmic outcomes should include appropriate tools to evaluate visual functioning
Ophthalmologists should follow a set of moral principles and standards to guide behavior within their professional domain.

The International Council of Ophthalmology adheres to a set of moral principles and standards to guide the behavior of ophthalmologists within their professional domain.

Ethical Code for Ophthalmologists: Ethical Principles and Professional Standards

Each of the nine groups of standards includes a general principle from which the related values evolve. They reflect the ideals to which ophthalmologists should aspire as members of a specialist branch of the medical profession, and as socially responsible members of their respective professional societies.

The standards taken together are intended to represent comprehensive guidelines to which practitioners might refer when confronted with professional or ethical dilemmas, and act as a benchmark by which to judge ophthalmologists’ behavior in professional matters.

Nine Groups of Ethical Standards:

1. Patient Care Standards
2. Professional Practice Standards
3. Professional Community Standards
4. Standards for Working with Other Health Care Professionals
5. Research Standards
6. Social Standards
7. Commercial Standards
8. Teaching and Mentorship Standards
9. Standards Governing the Relationship to the Medical Industry

Download the Ethical Code for Ophthalmologists

These standards have been published in English, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.

English

Ethical Code for Ophthalmologists: Ethical Prnciples and Professional Standards (PDF-200KB)

Russian

Этические стандарты для офтальмологов: этические принципы и профессиональные стандарты (PDF-200KB)

Russian translation of the Ethical Code for Ophthalmologists: Ethical Principles and Professional Standards was made possible by Dr. Anton Vurdaft and Dr. Sergey Branchevski.

Spanish

Lineamientos Éticos Para Oftalmólogos: Principios Éticos Y Estándares Profesionales (PDF-200KB)

Spanish translation of the Ethical Code for Ophthalmologists: Ethical Principles and Professional Standards was made possible by Dr. Pamela Gonzalez and Dr. Gabriella Palis.

Turkish

Göz Hekimleri için Meslek Etiği Rehberi: Etik İlkeler ve Mesleki İlkeler (PDF-400KB)

Turkish translation of the Ethical Code for Ophthalmologists: Ethical Principles and Professional Standards was made possible by Dr. Zeynep Kayaarasi Ozturker. They were reviewed by Dr. Pinar Aydin and Dr. Kardican Keskinbora for accuracy.

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