Programs: Research in Ophthalmology and Vision

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• Research in Ophthalmology and Vision
  
  
• Applied Research in China
  
  
• More on Programs Supported by the ICOFoundation

Research in Ophthalmology and Vision

The ICO Research Committee with Dr. Alfred Sommer(United States) as chair, reassessed the committee report entitled "A Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention" The committee’s plan for applied vision research has been officially endorsed by the Blindness and Disabilities Prevention Program of the World Health Organization and is presented in its entirety on the Internet (www.icoph.org/research).

In 2009, the Research Committee produced a new tool to assist beginning ophthalmic researchers, “Clinical Research: A Primer for Ophthalmologists.” Written by Dr. Sommer, this primer provides rudimentary guidance regarding the essential components of clinical research and is available on the Internet at www.icoph.org/pdf/PrimerClinicalResearch.pdf. As a further aid to researchers, “Regulation and Ethical Considerations Related to Research, Particularly When Investigations Involve Human Subjects” by Dr. Nancy Kass (United States) is available at http://icoph.org/resources/resources_detail/55/Regulations-and-Ethical-Considerations-Related-to-Research.html.

Applied Research in China

In 2007, the ICO and ICOFoundation commenced support for applied research with establishment of the Peking University Eli Lilly Diabetic Eye Disease Center at Peking University Eye Center, Beijing, China. The faculty of Peking University, ICOFoundation representatives and Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology, India, consultants developed a strategic plan for awareness creation, community outreach, delivery of quality diabetic retinopathy services, formation of academic training programs and development of performance metrics to monitor programs.

Implementation in 2007–2009 addressed each of these strategies and included creation of educational materials (posters, pamphlets and media presentations); urban outreach to adult diabetics and rural outreach to adults through screening camps. Building on programmatic experience, the Peking University Eli Lilly Diabetic Eye Disease Center is working to reach a larger segment of the rural population of China by establishing a Network of Provincial Eye Hospitals and by developing a broad pattern of community referral.

The goal of applied research directed by the Peking University Eli Lilly Diabetic Eye Disease Center is to establish a model program for use to decrease avoidable visual impairment and blindness due to diabetic eye disease in the vast rural population of China.

More on ICOFoundation programs:

• Ophthalmic Education and Training
  
  
• Ophthalmic Knowledge Examination
  
  
• Ophthalmic Fellowship Training
  
  
• Eye and Vision Care Guidelines
  
  
• Advocacy for Preservation and Restoration of Vision

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Also see: Programs Supported by the ICOFoundation