General ophthalmology is a well-recognised medical specialisation in all European countries, but Master’s degree programmes to provide further training and education are not yet fully developed. Consequently, ophthalmology graduates wishing to specialise need to find an institution or hospital that can offer them facilities for research or on-the-job training.

ESASO was founded, as a non-profit organization, in 2008 to address this challenge and the specific further education needs of training and practising clinicians, drawing on the skills of colleagues worldwide and the support of various universities. It seeks to facilitate the dissemination of new and effective ophthalmological learning and expertise through a dynamic combination of in-depth exposition of topics and direct face-to-face training, where experts show students how to deal with practical situations and problems.

The School is based within the ESASO Training Centre (ETC), Lugano Campus, Switzerland.
ESASO offers theoretical tuition as well as practical training.
ESASO provides face-to-face and online education (with CME accreditation) in Lugano, on international campuses and abroad, wherever training is needed.

The School’s activities cover all subspecialties such as medical and surgical retina, cornea and refractive, cataract, glaucoma, uveitis, oculoplastic, pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.