Graduate access to the world's top ophthalmologists

Article

This month 40 ophthalmology graduates from all over the globe will converge on Lugano, Switzerland at the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO) to embark on a brand new post-graduate degree which will give them access to world leaders and experts in a variety of ophthalmic fields.

This month 40 ophthalmology graduates from all over the globe will converge on Lugano, Switzerland at the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO) to embark on a brand new post-graduate degree which will give them access to world leaders and experts in a variety of ophthalmic fields.

"The Diploma of Specialist Superior in Ophthamology (DiSSO) will begin with vitreo retina," explained ESASO's executive director, Dr Giuseppe Guarnaccia. "It is probably the most difficult subspecialty to learn with the highest demand in many countries. Likewise, the latest advances widen the treatment options and increase the need for well-trained specialists. ESASO offers theoretical tuition as well as practical training. A detailed programme has been devised for the first few years with an expert team of recognized clinical and teaching experience. The teaching principle in ESASO classes will be a dynamic combination of in-depth exposition of topics with direct, hands-on training where the lecturer shows students how to tackle doubts and problems."

The School's Scientific Council, headed up by its president Professor Borja Corcóstegui (Director of Institut Microcirurgia Ocular, Spain), comprises Bill Aylward (medical director at Moorfields Eye Hospital, UK), Vito De Molfetta (Top surgery consultant at S Gerardo Hospital, Italy), Alain Gaudric (director Lariboisiere Hospital, France), Anselm Kampik (director of Munich University's Ophthalmology department, Germany) and Thomas Wolfensberger (dirctor of Vitreoretinal Department Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Switzerland). The programme they have helped put together will be undertaken by a 27-strong faculty of ophthalmic experts.

OTEurope will be looking at the aims of the School in more detail in its next issue and following the progress of some of the students as they work towards achieving their DiSSO with the help of experts around Europe.

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
Christine Curcio, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, shares histology update and revised nomenclature for OCT with Sheryl Stevenson of the Eye Care Network and Ophthalmology Times
SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, FARVO, shares key points from his retina presentation at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium
Robert Sergott, MD, describes fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) and the International SPECTRALIS Symposium – And Beyond (ISS) in Heidelberg, Germany.
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, spoke with Ophthalmology Times Europe about his presentation. It's titled "An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma" at the International SPECTRALIS Sympsoium. In conversation with Hattie Hayes, Ophthalmology Times Europe
Anat Loewenstein, MD, describes her presentation on remote imaging for age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium, in conversation with Hattie Hayes of Ophthalmology Times Europe
Tyson Brunstetter, OD, PhD, a US Navy Aerospace Optometrist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, shares key takeaways from his keynote at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS)
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, shares his presentation, titled An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma, at this year's International SPECTRALIS Symposium
At the Retina World Congress, Siegfried Priglinger, MD, speaks about ensuring the best outcomes for preschool-aged patients
At the 2025 ASCRS meeting, Robert Ang, MD said small aperture IOLs can benefit all patients, especially those with complex corneas or who have undergone previous corneal refractive surgery
Viha Vig, MBChB graduate student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, discusses her poster presentation on the relationship between mitochondiral disease, Alzheimer disease, and other types of dementia.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.