MEACO Subspecialty Societies' Development

On the 27^th of March 2009, during the 10^th MEACO congress in Bahrain, the council launched five subspecialty societies. These are the Middle East Africa Cataract and refractive Surgery Society (MEACRS), Middle East Africa Glaucoma Society (MEAGS), Middle East Africa Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus society (MEAPOSS), Middle East Africa Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (MEASOPRS) and Middle East Africa Vitreo retinal Society (MEAVRS).

We are proud to announce that from the launch of the subspecialty societies to date we have had a very positive response with many registered founding members across the five subspecialty societies. As expected, the cataract and refractive surgery society (MEACRS) was the most popular, followed by the Vitreo retinal society (MEAVRS). All members who register from henceforth shall be called Members.

At the launch, there were 5 independent subspecialty sessions where all those interested or practising the subspecialty met and had a chance to discuss how they wanted their society to be structured and how they saw its mission and future activities. There were healthy discussions which gave the MEACO executive board many viewpoints on some essential elements of the society’s e.g. Executive positions, Eligibility to be on the subspecialty society boards etc. From information provided by the founding members during the launch, we noted the following:

• Membership of the societies is made up of anyone who is interested in the subspecialty whether he is trained, practicing or neither.
• Interestingly, members not formally trained constitute only 6% in the Vitreo retinal society, 13% in the pediatric and oculoplasty societies, 20 % in Corneal and refractive surgery society and 40% in the Glaucoma society

MEACO Executive Board Decisions