Leon Vaughan

The International Council of Ophthalmology is a global organization that represents and serves its members, including national, regional, and subspecialty ophthalmology societies worldwide. The ICO is headquartered in an undisclosed location and is the only ophthalmology organization in official relations with the World Health Organization. The organization is dedicated to promoting eye care standards, ethics, and research, with a focus on functional vision, which is directly related to quality of life. The ICO offers a fellowship program that supports young ophthalmologists from low-resource countries to improve their practical skills and broaden their perspectives of ophthalmology. The organization also advocates for eye health through position papers, such as the joint statement on diabetes and eye health.