Read more below from Prof. Huban Atilla on the achievements of Turkish Ophthalmological Association and partnership with the Ophthalmology Foundation from 31 July 2026:
Mission, Membership, and Role in Ophthalmology
For readers who may be unfamiliar with your organization, could you tell us about its mission, the countries or regions it serves, and its role in supporting ophthalmology education, training, and professional development?
The Turkish Ophthalmological Association (TOA; Türk Oftalmoloji Derneği – TOD), founded in 1928, is one of the oldest and most respected medical specialty associations in Türkiye. As a non-profit scientific and professional organization, TOA is dedicated to advancing eye care, improving ophthalmic education, supporting research, and safeguarding public visual health across the country.
As the only national professional association representing ophthalmologists in Türkiye, TOA plays a central role in advocating for the profession both nationally and internationally while promoting the highest ethical standards in clinical practice. Through resident education, continuing professional development, scientific meetings, examinations, and research initiatives, TOA works to strengthen ophthalmology education and improve patient care throughout the region.
Key Achievements
Looking back over the past five to six years, what achievements are you most proud of as an organization?
Over recent years, TOA has continued to expand its educational activities and strengthen ophthalmology training across Türkiye. The Association organizes an extensive program of congresses, live surgery symposia, scientific meetings, and practical courses throughout the year, ensuring ophthalmologists from every region have access to high-quality education.
TOA has also strengthened its six regional education centers, where regular didactic teaching, hands-on surgical training, and simulator-based education provide valuable practical experience, particularly for young ophthalmologists. In addition, the TOA Certification Board continues to standardize specialist training through internationally aligned examinations and the accreditation of ophthalmology residency programs.
Reputation and Impact
Your organization is widely recognized within the ophthalmology community. What factors have contributed to its reputation, growth, and success?
TOA’s reputation has been built over almost a century through its commitment to education, scientific excellence, and professional leadership. As Türkiye’s sole national ophthalmology association, it provides a unified voice for the profession while maintaining rigorous educational and ethical standards.
Its long-standing scientific journal, the Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology, together with nationally recognized certification programs, annual congresses, specialist courses, and strong international collaborations, have all contributed to its respected position within the global ophthalmology community.
Innovation and Digital Transformation
Many professional organizations have embraced digital transformation, including online education, virtual events, digital assessments, and simulation-based training. What impact has this had on your members and educational programs?
TOA has invested significantly in practical and simulation-based education through its regional education centers, where ophthalmologists can gain experience using cataract, vitreoretinal surgery, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and retinopathy of prematurity simulators.
By combining traditional teaching with modern simulation technologies and regular hands-on training, TOA continues to enhance clinical skills and provide accessible, high-quality educational opportunities for ophthalmologists across Türkiye.
Maintaining Educational Standards
Maintaining high educational and professional standards across different institutions and regions can be challenging. How does your organization ensure consistency and quality in training, education, and professional development?
Maintaining consistent educational standards is a key priority for TOA. Through the TOA Certification Board, specialist examinations are conducted in line with international standards to ensure high levels of clinical competency nationwide.
The Certification Board also oversees the accreditation of ophthalmology residency programs, helping to standardize training across institutions. Regular educational events, congresses, courses, and continuing professional development activities further ensure ophthalmologists have access to consistent, high-quality learning opportunities regardless of their location.
Curriculum Development and Quality Assurance
Curriculum development and quality assurance are increasingly important in medical education. How does your organization approach curriculum design, educational standards, and continuous improvement in ophthalmology training?
TOA continually works to enhance ophthalmology education by developing structured resident training programs, supporting lifelong learning, and promoting internationally benchmarked standards.
Quality assurance is maintained through residency program accreditation, nationally recognized examinations, continuous professional development, and regular review of educational activities. The Association’s commitment to scientific research and publication also supports ongoing improvements in ophthalmology education.
Partnership with the Ophthalmology Foundation
Could you describe your organization’s relationship with the Ophthalmology Foundation and what you see as the key benefits of this collaboration for trainees, educators, institutions, and patients?
TOA enjoys a strong collaborative relationship with the Ophthalmology Foundation alongside other leading international organizations, including the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE), the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), and the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO).
These partnerships promote international knowledge exchange, strengthen educational standards, encourage professional development, and create opportunities for collaboration that ultimately benefit trainees, educators, institutions, and, most importantly, patients.
Future collaboration
Looking ahead, how do you envision your organization and the Ophthalmology Foundation working together to further strengthen ophthalmology education, training standards, research, and professional development?
TOA looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the Ophthalmology Foundation through shared educational initiatives, scientific exchange, and the development of internationally recognized training opportunities.
Working together, both organizations can further strengthen educational standards, expand access to high-quality learning resources, support research collaboration, and contribute to the continued advancement of ophthalmology across Türkiye and the wider region.
Vision for the next 5–10 years
Finally, what is your vision for the future of ophthalmology education, training, and patient care in your region over the next five to ten years?
TOA’s vision is to continue raising standards in ophthalmology education through innovative training, internationally aligned certification, expanded educational opportunities, and ongoing professional development.
By strengthening collaboration with national and international organizations, investing in practical and simulation-based learning, and promoting evidence-based clinical practice, TOA aims to further improve patient care while developing the next generation of highly skilled ophthalmologists.
Challenges Facing Ophthalmology Trainees
What do you see as the biggest challenges currently facing ophthalmology trainees in your region, and how is your organization helping to address these challenges?
TOA recognizes the importance of ensuring equal access to high-quality education and practical training across the country. By delivering congresses, scientific meetings, hands-on surgical courses, simulator training, and continuous professional development throughout Türkiye, the Association helps provide ophthalmologists at every stage of their careers with opportunities to develop their knowledge and clinical skills.
The Value of Internationally Recognized Examinations
What role do internationally recognized ophthalmology examinations play in supporting training standards, career progression, professional development, and the delivery of high-quality patient care within your region?
Internationally recognized examinations help establish consistent educational standards and encourage continuous professional development. Through the TOA Certification Board, specialist examinations aligned with international standards ensure high levels of clinical competency, while encouraging members to participate in European and international examinations further supports career development and global recognition.
How Can Readers Get Involved?
If readers would like to learn more about your organization, educational activities, examination support or opportunities for collaboration, where should they go for further information?
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