Accreditation

OF International Ophthalmology Training Program Accreditation

Accreditation is a voluntary evaluation process that organizations undergo to maintain standards of quality agreed upon by members of an accrediting body. Accreditation ensures that programs meet and conform to the expectations of the ophthalmology profession.

Eligibility: For ophthalmology residency training programs; programs must be at least three years duration; and must have graduated at least one class of residents with surgical training before submitting the application.

Program accreditation is a process that requires standards of structure, process and achievement, self-assessment, and review by outside experts. The process of program accreditation typically comprises a three-step cycle. There are two levels of accreditation: Basic and Advanced. Basic accreditation standards represent the minimum requirements for training. The Advanced accreditation standards represent what the Ophthalmology Foundation hopes all programs aspire to.

  • First, the program completes a self-assessment of their educational process, resources, strengths and weaknesses.
  • Second, an external group reviews the self-assessment and conducts a site visit to verify the program’s report.
  • Third, an accrediting organization reviews the program’s self- assessment and the site visit report to assure accreditation standards are met.
  • This accreditation cycle is then repeated at regular intervals.

Why should my program get accredited by the Ophthalmology Foundation?

Currently, there are several other organizations that offer program accreditation regionally, and the ACGME-I has an international accreditation program. However, the ACGME-I accreditation program is very expensive, and standards are not obtainable by low resource countries.

Given that the Ophthalmology Foundation supports ophthalmic education internationally in order to improve global eye care and advance scientific ophthalmology, developing a program of international residency program accreditation delivers upon our mission and helps us meet the needs of underserved segments.

Accreditation Subcommittee

Chair: Dr. Karl Golnik

Members:
Dr. Ashok Grover
Dr. Marko Hawlina
Dr. Van Lansingh
Dr. Wanjiku Mathenge
Dr. Janos Nemeth
Dr. Gabriela Palis
Dr. Marie Louise Roed Rasmussen
Dr. Aishwarya Sriram

We recognize that there is extreme variability of residency training programs globally. Accreditation through the OF will focus upon evaluating and refining programs, protecting the resident’s education, and ultimately improving patient care.

The OF International Ophthalmology Training Program Accreditation is currently in the pilot phase to assess the long-term feasibility for this program. If you are interested in your residency training program receiving an international ophthalmology accreditation from the Ophthalmology Foundation in the future when our pilot program has been completed, please let us know by emailing us at info@ophthalmologyfoundation.org.

These Accreditation Guidelines below follow the organization suggested by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). They recommend nine primary areas each with sub-areas. Areas were defined as “broad components in the structure, process and outcome of postgraduate medical education and training” including:

  1. Mission and Outcomes
  2. Educational Program
  3. Assessment of Trainees
  4. Trainees
  5. Trainers
  1. Educational Resources
  2. Program Evaluation
  3. Governance and Administration
  4. Continuous Renewal.

Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital in New Delhi, India

“We are grateful to OF for assessing our training program and for this prestigious accreditation. The rigorous evaluation of quality standards of our training program has been a learning experience and has helped in improving our processes and protocols to enhance the learning environment for our participants. This recognition will definitely serve to align our training programs at par with the best global standards and will benefit both our learners and the academy by enhancing the international recognition of the education academy as well as attract more and higher caliber learners.” 
Awarded Advanced Accreditation in June 2024

Three women in medical coats holding a plaque from the Ophthalmology Foundation with a posted behind them that says Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital.

Instituto Mexicano de Oftalmología, IAP (IMO), Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

“We are proud to receive this accreditation from such a prestigious organization as OF. This accreditation helped us as an institution and myself as program director, to evaluate our program and identify the opportunity areas where we can improve (OF feedback is a great tool). We had renewed our commitment to give our best every day not only for residency training but at the end of the day for the most important people: our patients. This accreditation would not have been possible without the hard work of all the medical areas but also from administrator and every person who collaborates at IMO.” 
Awarded Advanced Accreditation in July 2024.

Group of young professionals in front of a blue wall holding an Ophthalmology Foundation accreditation plaque.
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