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The European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO) was founded in 2008 to offer master’s programmes to European ophthalmologists and provide them with specific continuing training to develop their careers and personal networks. This unique institution is supported by various prestigious universities and hospitals. Through its teaching model, it seeks to impart ophthalmic knowledge effectively with a combination of didactical classes and practice where internationally recognised surgeons show participants how to deal with practical situations and real problems. EuroTimes spoke with the president of the ESASO Foundation, Giuseppe Guarnaccia, MC, Italy.

How is an ophthalmologist’s training structured at ESASO?

ESASO’s training programme consists of various modules covering all ophthalmic specialities: retina, cornea and refractive surgery, glaucoma, oculoplastics, strabismus and paediatric ophthalmology. At the end of the training, the participants receive their Diploma Specialist Superior in Ophthalmology (DiSSO). Participants can also apply for a master’s programme, the Fellowship, at one of ESASO’s collaborating centres.

What does it mean for Fellows to be selected for the ESASO Fellowship’s programme?

Firstly, not only is it an opportunity for the participants to learn at a leading ophthalmology centre, but ESASO also funds the Fellowships to cover the costs of their year-long studies. Secondly, it is a strong career indicator to leverage themselves on an international level and among competing colleagues. Thirdly, the expansion of the personal professional network is key to advancement.

Which are the ophthalmology centres that collaborate on ESASO’s Fellowships?

In cornea and refractive surgery, we have the support of the University of Barcelona. In retina, our graduates can choose to study a master’s at IMO (Spain), The San Raffaele University Hospital in Milan (Italy), the Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU) in Munich (Germany), the University Clinic at Vienna General Hospital (Austria), the Tel Aviv Medical Center (TLVMC) & Sackler Faculty of Medicine in Israel, or the Institute of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, UMDNJ-New Jersey, USA. Recently we have introduced a Clinical Product Development Fellowship that will be available at various institutions and will take two years. Last but not least ESASO offers a Visiting Fellowship, a four-week hands-on training in cataract surgery at the L V Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India.

ESASO certainly seems to be getting itself an international reputation. Is the programme accredited yet?

ESASO works closely with a number of high-level ophthalmic institutions, and is supported by Europe’s major ophthalmological societies: the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, EURETINA, the European Glaucoma Society and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Further, ESASO is in the process to gain accreditation for its training programme from the Bologna convention. We expect to have further information by the end of the year.

What are ESASO’s plans for the future?

Our objective and aim is to build our own high-quality laboratory, wet lab and robotics department among other things. We are working towards achieving this goal within the next two years.