Irish College of Ophthalmologists

Motto| "Eye doctors of Ireland, protecting your vision"
Type| Private
Established| 1991
Students| 195
Address|

121 St. Stephen's Green

Dublin

Ireland

Campus| Urban
Dean
President
CEO| Yvonne Delaney
Alison Blake
Siobhán Kelly
Affiliations| RCSI
Website| http://www.eyedoctors.ie

The Irish College of Ophthalmologists or ICO is the recognised body for ophthalmology training in Ireland. Founded in 1991, it represents over 200 ophthalmologists in Ireland.[1] Its current president is Dr Patricia Quinlan.[2] Yvonne Delaney serves as Dean.

## Contents

* 1 Governance
* 2 Education
* 3 Training scheme
* 3.1 Basic Surgical Training
* 3.2 Higher Surgical Training
* 4 Research
* 4.1 Recipients of the ICO/Bayer Clinical Fellowship Bursary
* 4.2 Recipients of the ICO/Novartis Research Award
* 4.3 Recipients of the ICO/Pfizer Research Fellowship
* 5 Notable members
* 6 Presidents
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## Governance

The ICO is overseen by its Council which is elected every 3 years by College members. The College also appoints a Clinical Lead for National Clinical Programme in Ophthalmology, a Dean of Postgraduate Education, and a Programme Director for Surgical Training. The business of the College is assisted by: a Manpower, Education and Training Committee; a Medical Ophthalmology Committee; an Ethics Committee; and a Scientific and Continuing Professional Development Committee.[citation needed]

## Education

The ICO oversees postgraduate medical and surgical ophthalmology training in Ireland. The ICO is a recognised training body of the Medical Council of Ireland.[3] Its remit includes approval of hospital training posts.[4] As part of its international activities, the College is twinned with the New England Ophthalmological Society.[5] In 2011, the ICO introduced an online Professional Competency Scheme, to comply with new legislation and Irish Medical Council regulations.[6][7] The ICO also collaborates with the Health Service Executive[8] and engages in outreach and education for patients and the general public.[citation needed]

## Training scheme

The ICO supervise and co-ordinate the two strands of the ophthalmology training programme in Ireland: Basic Surgical Training (BST) and Higher Surgical Training (HST). Completion of a pre-registration intern year is required before applying for ophthalmology training.[citation needed]

### Basic Surgical Training

The BST programme involves rotating through various sub-specialities. Trainees work as Senior House Officers over a minimum of three years at hospital sites in one of three combinations:

* 1\. South Dublin Scheme: Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH) and Sligo University Hospital
* 2\. North Dublin Scheme: Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, University Hospital Galway, and University Hospital Waterford
* 3\. Munster Scheme: Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick and Cork University Hospital

Formal training includes use of surgical simulators, continuous assessment and a mandatory human factors course.[9] During the BST, trainees sit examinations at RVEEH to gain Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the MRCSI (Ophth) qualification.[10] At the end of the BST, successful trainees receive the Certificate of Completion of Basic Surgical Training (CCBST), with which they may apply for the competitive HST programme.

### Higher Surgical Training

The HST scheme is a pre-requisite for obtaining a post as a hospital consultant. HST lasts four-and-a-half years and covers seven core sub-specialities:[citation needed]

* oculoplastic, adnexal, and lacrimal surgery
* cornea and external diseases
* cataract and refractive surgery
* glaucoma
* retina, vitreous, uvea, and ocular oncology
* neuro-ophthalmology
* paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus

Trainees are assessed every 6 months and in their final year must complete a fellowship exam, the FRCSI (Ophth). This exit exam comprises a one-hour viva voce and a written test. Successful candidates also receive the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST).

## Research

The ICO holds an annual conference[11] where members and guests present research abstract, talks and posters. From 2000 to 2011, the annual ICO/Pfizer Research Fellowship was presented at the conference. The award sponsored trainee doctors to undertake research in ophthalmology.[12] From 2013, the ICO partnered with Novartis to sponsor the ICO/Novartis Research Award.[13] In 2017, the ICO introduced a Clinical Fellowship Bursary, in conjunction with Bayer.[14]

### Recipients of the ICO/Bayer Clinical Fellowship Bursary

* 2017 – Caroline Baily[15]

### Recipients of the ICO/Novartis Research Award

* 2016 – Sinéad Connolly and Reinold Goetz[16] (ex aequo)
* 2015 – Ghaleb Farouki and Khalid Kamel (ex aequo)
* 2014 – Maedbh Rhatigan,
* 2013 – Micheal O'Rourke

### Recipients of the ICO/Pfizer Research Fellowship

* 2011 – Conor Malone
* 2010 – Fergus Doyle and We Fong Siah (ex aequo)
* 2009 – Catherine Cleary
* 2008 – Kevin Kennelly
* 2007 – Jeremy O'Connor
* 2006 – unknown
* 2005 – Noel Horgan
* 2004 – Tom Flynn[17]
* 2003 – unknown
* 2002 – unknown
* 2001 – unknown
* 2000 – unknown

## Notable members

* Kate Coleman [1] , founder of charity Right to Sight [2]
* Fatima Hamroush, Libya's first female Health Minister[18]

## Presidents

Name | Year elected | End of term

|
|

Alison Blake | 2017 | 2019
William Power | 2015 | 2017
Marie Hickey-Dwyer | 2013 | 2015
Patricia Logan | 2011 | 2013

## References

1. ↑ "About Us | Eye Doctors: Irish College of Ophthalmologists". http://www.eyedoctors.ie/about/.
2. ↑ http://www.medicalindependent.ie/99240/irish_college_of_ophthalmologists_ico_annual_conference [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
3. ↑ "Medical Council". http://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Registration/First-Time-Applicants/Specialist-Registration/Category-E/Postgraduate-Training-Bodies/.
4. ↑ "Ophthalmology - Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital". http://rveeh.ie/rveeh/education/Ophthalmology.html.
5. ↑ "New England Ophthalmological Society | About NEOS Meetings". http://www.neos-eyes.org/meetings/30.
6. ↑ "Medical Council announces PC schemes enrolment fees". 30 March 2011. http://www.imt.ie/news/2011/03/medical-council-announces-pc-schemes-enrolment-fees.html.
7. ↑ "Professional Competence schemes at the RCSI". http://www.imn.ie/view/32-clinical-news/3961-professional-competence-schemes-at-the-rcsi.
8. ↑ "Screening people with diabetes - NCBI". http://www.ncbi.ie/about-ncbi/ncbi-publications/cost-of-sight-loss-report-2011/full-report/cost-effectiveness-analysis/screening-people-with-diabet.
9. ↑ "Forum of Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies: Specialities". http://www.irishmedicaltraining.ie/Specialties/Pages/Ophthalmology.aspx.
10. ↑ "RCSI – Homepage". http://www.rcsi.ie/index.jsp?p=240&n=753.
11. ↑ "Irish College of Ophthalmologists Annual Conference - The Medical Independent". http://www.medicalindependent.ie/event.aspx?title=irish_college_of_ophthalmologists_annual_conference.
12. ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.eyedoctors.ie/press-clipping/Irish Medical Times 20.05.11.jpg.
13. ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.eyedoctors.ie/press-releases/010213 ICO_Novartis Research Award 2013 Final web.pdf.
14. ↑ http://www.medicalindependent.ie/99240/irish_college_of_ophthalmologists_ico_annual_conference [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
15. ↑ http://www.medicalindependent.ie/99240/irish_college_of_ophthalmologists_ico_annual_conference [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
16. ↑ http://www.medicalindependent.ie/99240/irish_college_of_ophthalmologists_ico_annual_conference [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
17. ↑ "Tom Flynn | Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust". http://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/consultant/tom-flynn.
18. ↑ "Dr Fatima Hamroush | Eye Doctor: Irish College of Ophthalmologists". Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120426010619/http://www.eyedoctors.ie/visitors/ophtalmologist.asp?memberid=97. Retrieved 4 September 2012.

## External links

* ICO Website

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