Irish College of Ophthalmologists
Encyclopedia
The Irish College of Ophthalmologists or ICO is the recognised body for ophthalmology
training in the Republic of Ireland
. Founded in 1991, it represents over 200 ophthalmologists in Ireland and Europe. Its current president is Ms. Patricia Logan. Dr. Denise Curtin serves as Dean
.
(RCSI), the ICO oversees postgraduate medical and surgical ophthalmology training in the Republic of Ireland. The ICO is a recognised training body of the Irish Medical Council
. Its remit includes approval of hospital training posts. As part of its international activities, the College is twinned with the New England Ophthalmological Society. In 2011, the ICO introduced an online Professional Competency Scheme, to comply with new legislation and Irish Medical Council regulations. The ICO also collaborates with the Health Service Executive
and engages in outreach and education for patients and the general public.
over a minimum of three years at hospital sites in one of three combinations:
Formal training includes use of surgical simulators, continuous assessment and a mandatory human factors
course. During the BST, trainees sit examinations to gain Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the MRCSI (Ophth) qualification. 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.
. HST lasts four-and-a-half years and covers seven core sub-specialities:
Trainees are assessed every 6 months and in the 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 Fellowship. The award sponsors trainee doctors
to undertake research in ophthalmology.
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
training in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Founded in 1991, it represents over 200 ophthalmologists in Ireland and Europe. Its current president is Ms. Patricia Logan. Dr. Denise Curtin serves as Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
.
Education
In conjunction with the Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland...
(RCSI), the ICO oversees postgraduate medical and surgical ophthalmology training in the Republic of Ireland. The ICO is a recognised training body of the Irish Medical Council
Irish Medical Council
Comhairle na nDochtúirí Leighis - Medical Council is the regulator of the medical profession in the Republic of Ireland. It licenses medical practitioners to practise, and has the power to place restrictions on or revoke such licences, in cases of questions about a doctor's fitness to practise...
. Its remit includes approval of hospital training posts. As part of its international activities, the College is twinned with the New England Ophthalmological Society. In 2011, the ICO introduced an online Professional Competency Scheme, to comply with new legislation and Irish Medical Council regulations. The ICO also collaborates with the Health Service Executive
Health Service Executive
The Health Service Executive is responsible for the provision of healthcare providing health and personal social services for everyone living in Ireland, with public funds. The Executive was established by the Health Act, 2004 and came into official operation on January 1, 2005...
and engages in outreach and education for patients and the general public.
Training scheme
The ICO and RCSI 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.BST
The BST programme involves rotating through various sub-specialities. Trainees work as Senior House OfficerSenior house officer
A senior house officer is a junior doctor undergoing training within a certain speciality in the British National Health Service or in the Republic of Ireland. SHOs are supervised by consultants and registrars, who oversee their training and are their designated clinical supervisors...
over a minimum of three years at hospital sites in one of three combinations:
- 1: Royal Victoria Eye and Ear HospitalRoyal Victoria Eye and Ear HospitalThe Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital is a teaching hospital located in Dublin, Ireland. It provides specialist care in ophthalmology and ear, nose and throat disease.-History:...
and Sligo General HospitalSligo General HospitalSligo General Hospital is an acute hospital serving the inhabitants of County Sligo and County Leitrim in the Republic of Ireland. It is situated in the town of Sligo. It is one of several hospitals in the Irish College of Ophthalmologists surgical training schemes.-External links:*... - 2: Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, University College Hospital GalwayUniversity College Hospital GalwayUniversity College Hospital Galway or UCHG is the main acute hospital in Galway in the Republic of Ireland...
, and Waterford Regional HospitalWaterford Regional HospitalWaterford Regional Hospital is a public hospital located in Waterford, County Waterford, Ireland. It is managed by the Irish Government's Health Service Executive and provides acute-care hospital services, including a 24-hour emergency department, for the population of County Waterford and the... - 3: Mid-Western Regional Hospital, LimerickMid-Western Regional Hospital, LimerickThe Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick is a public hospital located in Dooradoyle, County Limerick, Ireland...
and Cork University HospitalCork University HospitalCork University Hospital , abbreviated as CUH, is the largest university teaching hospital in Ireland and is the only Level 1 trauma centre in the country due to the presence of over 40 different medical and surgical specialties on the campus. It is operated by the Health Service Executive...
Formal training includes use of surgical simulators, continuous assessment and a mandatory human factors
Human factors
Human factors science or human factors technologies is a multidisciplinary field incorporating contributions from psychology, engineering, industrial design, statistics, operations research and anthropometry...
course. During the BST, trainees sit examinations to gain Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the MRCSI (Ophth) qualification. 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.
HST
The HST scheme is a pre-requisite for obtaining a post as a hospital consultantConsultant (medicine)
In the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and parts of the Commonwealth, consultant is the title of a senior doctor who has completed all of his or her specialist training and been placed on the specialist register in their chosen specialty...
. HST lasts four-and-a-half years and covers seven core sub-specialities:
- oculoplasticOculoplasticsOculoplastics, or oculoplastic surgery, includes a wide variety of surgical procedures that deal with the orbit , eyelids, tear ducts, and the face...
, adnexalAccessory visual structuresAccessory visual structures is a term used to collectively refer to the adnexa of the eye.Included are the eyebrow, eyelids, and lacrimal apparatus.One source defines "ocular adnexa" as the orbit, conjunctiva, and eyelids....
, and lacrimalLacrimalThe term Lacrimal can refer to:*In typography:** A type of Stroke ending *In anatomy** Lacrimal apparatus** Lacrimal artery** Lacrimal bone...
surgery - corneaCorneaThe cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
and external diseases - cataractCataractA cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
and refractive surgeryRefractive surgeryRefractive eye surgery is any eye surgery used to improve the refractive state of the eye and decrease or eliminate dependency on glasses or contact lenses. This can include various methods of surgical remodeling of the cornea or cataract surgery. The most common methods today use excimer lasers to... - glaucomaGlaucomaGlaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
- retinaRetinaThe vertebrate retina is a light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina, which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Light striking the retina initiates a cascade of chemical and electrical...
, vitreousVitreous humourThe vitreous humour or vitreous humor is the clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina of the eyeball of humans and other vertebrates...
, uveaUveaThe uvea , also called the uveal layer, uveal coat, uveal tract, or vascular tunic, is the pigmented middle of the three concentric layers that make up an eye. The name is possibly a reference to its reddish-blue or almost black colour, wrinkled appearance and grape-like size and shape when...
, and ocular oncology - neuro-ophthalmologyNeuro-ophthalmologyNeuro-ophthalmology is the subspecialty of both neurology and ophthalmology concerning visual problems that are related to the nervous system ....
- paediatric ophthalmologyPediatric ophthalmologyPediatric ophthalmology is a sub-speciality of ophthalmology concerned with eye diseases, visual development, and vision care in children.-Training:...
and strabismusStrabismusStrabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other. It typically involves a lack of coordination between the extraocular muscles, which prevents bringing the gaze of each eye to the same point in space and preventing proper binocular vision, which may adversely...
Trainees are assessed every 6 months and in the final year must complete a fellowship exam, the FRCSI (Ophth). This exit exam comprises a one hour viva voce
Viva voce
Viva voce is a Latin phrase literally meaning "with living voice," but most often translated as "by word of mouth."It may also refer to:*Italian for "live voice."*Voice vote in a deliberative assembly...
and a written test. Successful candidates also receive the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST).
Research
The ICO holds an annual international conference where it presents the ICO/PfizerPfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
Research Fellowship. The award sponsors trainee doctors
Non-consultant hospital doctor
Non-consultant hospital doctor is a term used in Ireland to describe trainee doctors who have not yet reached the rank of specialist hospital consultant.NCHD grades are, in order:* intern * senior house officer...
to undertake research in ophthalmology.
Notable members
- Kate Coleman http://katecoleman.ie/, founder of charity Right to Sight http://www.righttosight.com/
- Fatima HamroushFatima HamroushFatima Hamroush, Fatima Hamroush, Fatima Hamroush, (Arabic (فاطمة الحمروش; MA, MB BS, DO, FRCSEd, is an ophthalmologist and Libyan politician. Born in the city of Benghazi, Libya on 14th February 1960, she moved to Ireland in 1996 and later became and Irish citizen.-Personal life:...
, LibyaLibyaLibya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
's first female Health Minister