European Society of Ophthalmology / Societas Ophthalmologica Europea (SOE)

SOE was founded in 1956 as The Societas Ophthalmologica Europea (SOE), with the aim “to promote ophthalmology in Europe and to stimulate co-operation between European ophthalmologists and between their National Societies”. A Latin name was chosen by our founding fathers to emphasize its supranational nature, an important issue in post-war Europe. Over the past 50 years, SOE has grown from a relatively small society into a conglomerate of the national ophthalmological societies of all the 40 European countries, representing more than 40,000 European ophthalmologists.

Society’s mission While the original aims remain relevant, today’s Society’s mission is to become the central point of European Ophthalmology primarily through education but also by fostering closer collaboration with Sub-specialty societies and Supranational organisations within Europe and beyond.