Ensuring Safe Eye Care Internationally

Improving the quality of eye care for patients is a major focus for Professor Richard L. Abbott, MD, Co-Director of the UCSF Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service.

In Sydney, Australia this summer, Dr. Abbott was appointed to the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO), and named Chair of the Committee for Eye Care Guidelines, which establishes international standards for professional eye care.

Dr. Abbott is the ninth U.S. citizen to be honored by the ICO in the 75-year history of the council, which is the executive body of the International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies. The Federation's mission is to provide a framework for preventing avoidable blindness.

Dr. Abbott has been a leader in practice guideline development, and serves as Physician Director for Quality of Care for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Richard Abbott (center) with (left)
Dr. Ronald Smith, Chairman Doheney Eye Institute, USC,
and (right) Dr. Rubens Belfort, PhD, President Pan
American Association of Ophthalmology.