The Italian Refractive Surgery Society

Earlier this year, Ophthalmology Times Europe caught up with two admirable people: the President of SICR, Roberto Pinelli and his friend and SICR colleague, Paolo Fazio. We spoke about refractive surgery practice, education and patient management and heard how both men plan to change the way that their industry is perceived and the way that it is practiced through their new society. Please go to page 19 to find out exactly what they are planning. Meanwhile, here's a snippet of information on the society to get you started.

Founded a couple of years ago, SICR is the brainchild of Roberto Pinelli, MD, Scientific Director of the Istituto Laser Microchirurgia Oculare (ILMO) in Brescia, Italy. His vision was to create a society that promoted excellence in refractive surgery education, practice and patient care.

The words of the society's mission statement sum up what they are hoping to achieve, perfectly: "Excellence involves more than rigorous training and a common culture of refractive surgery. Such criteria are not satisfactorily met with good surgery, but take into account a preoperative assessment of motivations and expectations, the need to care for the patient by means of an interdisciplinary approach and by applying knowledge which makes refractive surgery stand out as a discipline which is independent of general ophthalmology."

Although the majority of members are expected to be from Italy, the society is open to all ophthalmologists with an interest in, or experience in refractive surgery practice. With the backing of a strong team of international surgeons seated at its advisory board (see Table), the society hopes to realise its goals through intense teaching and training activities, an annual international meeting, consultation and dissemination of information through books, journal publications and the Internet.

SICR maintains its teaching is free from bias and encourages constructive criticism, interaction and free expression because it believes that this is the way to professional growth.

Not only does the society want to attract those who strictly practice refractive surgery, but it appreciates that several other cogs are necessary to keep the wheels of the industry turning. Namely, other professionals such as nurses, technicians, GPs, opticians, optometrists and orthoptists, who will be involved during diagnosis or postoperative follow-up of a refractive surgery patient. By including all of these professions in their educational outreach initiatives, SICR hopes that, ultimately, this breadth of education will lead to total customized care for the patient.

To read more about this society, please visit http:// http://www.sicr.it/

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