Sibel Demirel

ESASO

General ophthalmology is a well-recognised medical specialisation in all European countries, but Master's degree programmes to provide further training and education are not yet fully developed. Consequently, ophthalmology graduates wishing to specialise need to find an institution or hospital that can offer them facilities for research or on-the- job training. Others may want to pursue a fellowship programme, but these are usually only available to US graduates. ESASO was founded in 2008 to address both this challenge and the specific further education needs of training and practising clinicians, drawing on the skills of colleagues worldwide and the support of various universities. It seeks to facilitate the dissemination of new and effective ophthalmological learning and expertise through a dynamic combination of in-depth exposition of topics and direct face-to- face training, where experts show students how to deal with practical situations and problems. The School is based within the ESASO Training Centre (ETC), Lugano Campus, Switzerland. In 2010, ESASO opened its Campus in Asia, the continent where more than half of the world's blind people live and one where postgraduate training is practically non-existent. ESASO offers theoretical tuition as well as practical training, and has devised a detailed programme for the first few years featuring an expert team with recognised clinical and teaching experience. The theoretical curriculum and surgical practices can be completed at the same university and those students who finish their education will receive their degree from that university. The School's activities cover all subspecialties such as medical and surgical retina, cornea and refractive, cataract, glaucoma, uveitis, oculoplastics, pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.