International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium (IEOC) Symposium.

The research article is a summary of the first International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium (IEOC) Symposium, where leading clinicians and researchers gathered to discuss the challenges in the field of equine ophthalmology. Plans for the development of an IEOC membership organisation and website were discussed, along with plans for future meetings and symposia.

Symposium Overview

• The first IEOC symposium was aimed at bringing leading equine ophthalmology clinicians and researchers together to address existing challenges in the field.
• Round-table discussions were a key highlight of the symposium and notes from these discussions were preserved for future reference.
• The information gleaned from these discussions will be compiled and distributed amongst attendees as a means of facilitating collaboration.

IEOC Organizational Plans

• The group discussed and supported the formation of an IEOC membership organisation. This move is seen as pivotal in furthering the advancement of the science of equine ophthalmology.
• Alongside the formation of the IEOC organization, there was talk about creating a dedicated website. This will not only be helpful in bringing more visibility to the field but also in making relevant information easily accessible to all.

Future Meetings

• At the close of the symposium, plans for subsequent IEOC activities were revealed. To present outcomes of the collaborations that were established during the first meeting, a mini-symposium is slated to be held at the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists Annual Meeting in Chicago Illinois on 6th November 2009.
• Additionally, the second annual IEOC symposium is scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria, on the 4th and 5th of June 2010.

In conclusion, the first IEOC symposium was a successful gathering of key players in the equine ophthalmology field who collectively made significant strides towards fostering collaboration and planning towards the growth and greater visibility of their field.