Please visit the ICO website for further information on applying to the National Specialist Training Programmes in Ophthalmology. Applicants are advised to ensure that they have familiarised themselves with the application and guidance documentation available on the ICO website in advance of applying.
Applications open: Friday 25th October 2024
Applications close: Friday 24th January 2025 at 4pm
It is also strongly advised that applicants start the application process early in order to give themselves sufficient time to complete the form.
The Irish College of Ophthalmologists is responsible for postgraduate specialist medical education and training in the specialty of Ophthalmology. The ICO is the Medical Council accredited body to deliver the National Training Programme in Medical Ophthalmology and in conjunction with the RCSI, Surgical Ophthalmology. The ICO provides the governance, structure and standards for postgraduate education, training and assessment.
The ICO is committed to the ongoing development and evolution of the training pathways to ensure we are producing specialists who can meet the current and future eye care needs in our population.
Our trainees are supported and guided, through the specialist-training pathway, to ensure the highest standards of essential clinical and non-clinical skills.
A Career as an Eye Doctor
The specialty of ophthalmology offers a unique opportunity for a range of sub-specialisations including paediatrics, neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma, oculoplastics/orbit, vitreo-retinal, cornea & anterior segment, refraction, ocular oncology, trauma, and medical retina.
Ophthalmology is a fast-paced and exciting career choice in medicine, and a specialty which has experienced rapid advances in new treatments and technologies over the past two decades. A significant proportion of sight threatening conditions which previously had a poor prognosis for patients are now largely preventable with early diagnosis and treatment, making ophthalmology an extremely rewarding area of medicine for doctors to care for their patients in.
The advent of new therapies which are enabling greater prevention and management of eye diseases in tandem with evolving patient demographics have increased the demand for the skills and competencies of ophthalmologists. Ophthalmic practice is an innovative specialty and frequently adapts and implements new and emerging technologies such as imaging techniques, laser, the use of intraocular lenses and stents.
Consultant ophthalmologists lead and work as part of the Integrated Eye Care team (IECT). Other eye health professionals working as part of the IECT include ophthalmic nurses, orthoptists, optometrists and ophthalmic technicians.
Given the frequency of ocular involvement in many systemic diseases, ophthalmologists often work in close collaboration with other specialists including diabetologists, rheumatologists, neurologists, ENT and maxillo-facial surgeons as well as paediatricians, general practitioners and geneticists.
Ophthalmologists also work closely with public health specialists to support the early detection and prevention of avoidable sight loss through the National Screening programme for children’s vision and for diabetic retinopathy.
There has been significant investment in the specialty in recent years and this will continue with the national roll out of the Integrated Eye Care Team and the appointment of new Consultant Medical Ophthalmologists.
The Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) is the accredited postgraduate training body responsible for the delivery of Specialist Training in Ophthalmology. The ICO is recognised for this purpose by the Irish Medical Council (IMC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The specialty of ophthalmology in Ireland includes two career structures:
Please visit the ICO website for further information on the National Specialist Training Programmes in Ophthalmology.
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