The Ophthalmology Foundation works with the International Ophthalmological Fellowship Foundation (IOFF e.V.). to provide young ophthalmologists from underserved and low-resource countries the opportunity for advanced training at leading ophthalmology host centers around the globe. Fellows commit to returning home with the promise that they will invest their training into their local communities to preserve vision and prevent blindness.
Impactful Fellowship Programs
The International Ophthalmological Fellowship Foundation team has a distinguished record of providing impactful fellowships to young ophthalmologists around the world:
Fellowships Awarded
Host Centers
Subspecialties
The primary fellowship opportunities are 3-month programs, mainly classified as observerships, covering twenty ophthalmology subspecialties. Applicants can apply for a maximum of $6,000 USD (5,000 €), for programs in a network that has grown to more than ninety prestigious eye institutes.
In collaboration with the Retina Research Foundation (RRF), the IOFF-RRF Helmerich International Fellowship is awarded to two candidates in all subspecialties per year with a duration of one year. The award is $35,000 USD.
Candidates can now apply for a 6-month fellowship in retinoblastoma, sponsored by the Eye Cancer Foundation. The award is $7,000 USD.
The IOFF-Subspecialty Fellowships do not support training in refractive surgery or aesthetic surgery. Detailed information, including how to apply for the IOFF-Subspecialty Fellowships, the IOFF-ECF Retinoblastoma Fellowships. and the IOFF-RRF Helmerich Fellowships is available on www.ioff.org.
Impact of Fellowships
In 2020 the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) confirmed in a peer-reviewed publication that fellowships have significantly impacted the knowledge, skills, and careers of young ophthalmologists from low-resource and underserved countries. The Ophthalmology Foundation is grateful to have Ms. Cordula Gabel-Obermaier, who ran the ICO Fellowships Program for 11 years, now collaborate with the Ophthalmology Foundation to continue this impactful work.