Overview

The Eye Surgery Education Council (ESEC) is an initiative established by the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), a professional society of ophthalmologists dedicated to raising the standards and skills of surgeons, who operate on the anterior (front) segment of the eye, through clinical education, and to work with patients, government, and the medical community to promote delivery of quality eye care.

History

Officially launched in June of 2002 at the ASCRS' Annual Symposium and Congress, the ESEC was created to help patients make informed decisions about undergoing laser eye surgery. In early 2003, the ESEC came under the administration of the ASCRS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission that includes public education on eye care issues, ophthalmic research, and supporting charitable eye care programs in the third world.

The ASCRS Foundation is currently building, equipping and training staff for the ASCRS Foundation Pediatric Eye Care Clinic in Addis Abba, Ethiopia. For more information on the clinic and its operations, please contact John Ciccone, ASCRS Communications Director at .

Mission

The mission of the ESEC is twofold -- to provide patients with accurate, accessible information about laser eye surgery, and cataract and glaucoma treatment and to promote active physician/patient discussion about patient eye care needs.

Projects

The ESEC has developed a Web site and other informational materials to help patients learn more about laser vision correction, the management of glaucoma, removing cataracts and restoring vision following cataract surgery, new technologies for treating age-related presbyopia, and the management and treatment of eye disease in children. In the future, the council's outreach will grow to fit the needs of the public and to address changes in eye surgery technology.

Management

All ESEC activity is supervised by a medical advisory board of prominent independent ophthalmologists, and draws upon a nationwide bureau of medical experts to spearhead its educational initiatives.
This program is funded by the ASCRS Foundation, which has received unrestricted educational, research, and charitable eye care project grants from Advanced Medical Optics Inc.; Alcon Laboratories, Inc.; Allergan Inc.; Bausch & Lomb, Inc.; BD Ophthalmic Systems; Carl Zeiss Meditec; IntraLase Corp.; Katena Products, Inc.; Marco Ophthalmics; Moria, Inc.; Nidek Co., LTD; Refractec Inc.; Rhein Medical; TLC Laser Eye Centers, Inc.; Vision Fee Plan, A Division of Capital One Financial Corporation; and VISX, Inc.

For More Information

For more information about laser eye surgery, cataracts and glaucoma and their treatment interested consumers should call .