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 (703) 788 5761.
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
1-(703) 788 5761.
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