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?
Turkish Ophthalmological Association (TOA; Turkish: Türk Oftalmoloji Derneği – TOD) founded in 1928, is one of the oldest and most prominent medical specialty associations in Türkiye. Functioning as a non-profit scientific and professional organization, TOA is the only association for ophthalmologists and dedicated to advancing the field of eye care, improving ophthalmic education, supporting research, and safeguarding public visual health nationwide. In terms of professional advocacy, TOA is the only one society representing Turkish ophthalmologists nationally and internationally while upholding ethical standards in clinical practice.
Membership and Reach
Approximately how many members, trainees, or affiliated ophthalmologists are currently involved with your organization, and how has this grown in recent years?
As Turkish Ophthalmological Association is the only national organization presenting ophthalmologists, there are about 5000 members, additionally, more than 500 international members. There is a gradual increase in the number of membership parallel to the increase in population and in number of specialists in Türkiye.
Key Achievements
Looking back over the past five to six years, what achievements are you most proud of as an organization?
In the last decade, Turkish Ophthalmologist Association purchased Education Centers in İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Adana, Konya and Bursa and the didactic courses and practice courses are organized in these centers for small groups. Also cataract, vitreoretinal and indirect ophthalmoscopy simulators that are located in these centers have a great role in training of residents and young specialists especially in the era of Covid. Recently premature retinopathy simulators are also provided and these simulators are very helpful in training of residents.
International courses on ROP, corneal transplantation and oculoplastic surgery with cadaver also increased the level of education and training not only in our country but also in the adjacent countries. Role of TOA has increased tremendously in the last decade due to changes in health strategies and conditions.
Reputation and Impact
Your organization is widely recognized within the ophthalmology community. What factors have contributed to its reputation, growth, and success?
As Turkish Ophthalmological Association is the organization representing ophthalmologists, there are about 5000 members. Additionally, there are more than 600 international members and 325 honorary members. As TOA is the only national society for ophthalmologist it is well known with high standards in education and very well established institutional infrastructure.
TOA has a very strong and well defined institutional infrastructure supporting the mission and to address the diverse fields within eye health, TOA covers several subspecialty subsocieties under one framework. Apart from subspecialty subsocieties, there are 8 local branches that are geographically established.
Through its clinical guidelines, continuous medical training, peer-reviewed publications, and international collaboration, the Turkish Ophthalmological Association remains the cornerstone of modern eye care excellence in Türkiye.
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?
Throughout the year, congresses, courses and live surgery symposia are organized in different cities so that residents and specialists from different part of the country are able to attend and share their studies and experiences. Webinars and zoom meetings mostly replaced physical meetings during COVID and after wards webinars became part of educational program. Online examination all through Türkiye is performed once a year. Cataract, vitreoretinal surgery, indirect ophthalmoscopy and premature retinopathy simulators are intergrated part of training and it is free to the residents in their first case. Forum page in the official website of TOA is a network for sharing events, recent changes, critics and social and professional announcements.
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?
TOA aims to increase the level of ophthalmology education and training by standardizing and elevating medical training through resident education, continuous professional development and examinations. TOA Certification Board (TOCB) conducts specialty exams aligned with international standards to ensure high clinical competency across Türkiye and also the members are encouraged to take European and international exams. For standardization of training and education, accreditation process of ophthalmology residency programs is conducted by TOCB as well as curriculum improvements
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 Certification Board (TOCB) and the subspecialty subsocieties update curriculum frequently and TOA works together with Ministry of Health and other specialty societies to have the improvements and updates.
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?
Beyond national borders, TOA collaborates closely with global medical societies, including the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE), the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), Ophthalmology Foundation (OF) and the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO). Through these partnerships and initiatives like the Turkish Republics Ophthalmology Society (TROS), TOA bridges knowledge sharing across Europe, Central Asia, and the wider international medical community. TOA has national and international impact and has a role in the geographical area for education and leadership. Members are encouraged to have the international exams so that they can assess their knowledge and potential. OF fellowship program gives the opportunity of sharing experience and knowledge and networking to the young ophthalmologists.
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?
Webinars that are organized together and also educational programs will be beneficial to our members, especially for young ophthalmologists. Curriculum formation and training standards can be shared. Collaborations between specialty and subspecialty societies bring higher level of standards and improve current status.
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?
Accreditation of residency training centers is an important part of standardization of education. TOA aims to increase the level of ophthalmology education and training by standardizing and elevating medical training through resident education, continuous professional development and examinations. Throughout the year, congresses, courses and live surgery symposia are organized in different cities so that residents and specialists from different part of the country are able to attend and share their studies and experiences.
The Role of OF Examinations
How have the OF examinations supported trainees and ophthalmologists in your region, and what impact do you believe internationally recognized examinations have on educational standards and professional development?
Besides self assessment and motivation for studying, fellowship program is a great opportunity for knowing new places and colleagues, experiencing new techniques.
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?
The quotas in the national residency examinations were increased by ministry of health and increased number of residents in the unchanged resources of training centers results in a lower number of surgeries and less practical experience during residency. Decreased number of cataract surgeries during residency training is a major concern for residents and educators.
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?
International ophthalmology examinations can be a platform for young ophthalmologists to assess their knowledge and give the candidates opportunity of comparing themselves with their colleagues from other countries. High standards of ophthalmology education and training in Türkiye help the young ophthalmologist to pass these exams with high scores.
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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