SOE – About the Society
SOE is the abbreviation for Societas Ophthalmologica Europæa and is the European Society of Ophthalmology with representatives from 44 European National Ophthalmological Societies.
Created in 1956 the first Council was made up of representatives from 19 different European countries. The first Congress of SOE was held in Athens in 1960 and was attended by 750 ophthalmologists. The Congress has grown since and it is anticipated that there will be more than 2000 ophthalmologists at the 2027 Congress.
While the original aims remain relevant, today’s Society’s mission is to become the central point of European Ophthalmology primarily through education as well as fostering closer collaboration with Subspecialty Societies and Supranational Organisations within Europe and beyond.
EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (EULDP) 2025–2027
The EuLDP Program seeks to highlight the importance of understanding the organisation of ophthalmology outside of Europe as well as offering informal networking with counterparts in the US and Latin America.
General aims of the program are to provide a basic leadership training programme adapted for ophthalmology. To enhance advocacy issues in a European perspective, to promote ophthalmology and the SOE in general, to identify future leaders in European ophthalmology and provide them with an informal network of peers and to create a forum to enhance collaboration with the AAO and PAAO.
The nineth EuLDP class of 2025/27 commenced during SOE 2025 Congress. The class includes 18 participants from 18 countries. A three-day working module will be held in April 2026 at Jesus College, Cambridge UK. A further working module will be held in conjunction with the leadership development programmes of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in San Francisco in January 2027. Graduation of the class will be at the SOE 2025 Congress in Athens. Details of past EuLDP participant’s projects and the programme can be found on the following SOE webpage .
EDUCATIONAL GRANTS FOR OPHTHALMOLOGISTS-IN-TRAINING
SOE offers Educational Travel Grants for European ophthalmologists-in-training. These grants help such young doctors not just financially, but they open the doors to sub-specialist departments in all the major European centres. SOE also offers Teacher Grants for European Ophthalmologists.
Applications for 2026 grants open from May until September 2026. Please note that only online applications will be considered. Please visit the Society website at www.soevision.org for further information.
HELMHOLTZ MEDAL
Founded in 1968 this gold medal is awarded every four years to the European ophthalmologist who has done most for the Society and for ophthalmology. The Medal is named after the great 19th century scientist Hermann von Helmholtz. The Helmholtz Medal has previously been awarded to:
J. François, Belgium
R. Kloti, Switzerland
J. Charamis, Greece
M. Radnot, Hungary
B.Streiff, Switzerland
F. Fankhauser, Switzerland
H. Henkes, The Netherlands
G. Scuderi, Italy
N. Ehlers, Denmark
L.Missotten, Belgium
J.Cunha-Vaz, Portugal
G. van Rij, The Netherlands
Z. Gregor, United Kingdom
Matteo Piovella, Italy
CHARAMIS MEDAL
The Charamis Medal is given by the Hellenic Ophthalmological Society. It is awarded by the SOE Board every four years to a European ophthalmologist for the greatest achievement in the field of ophthalmic surgery. The Charamis Medal has previously been awarded to:
J. François, Belgium
R. Kloti, Switzerland
C.D. Binkhorst , The Netherlands
J.D. Scott, United Kingdom
G. Meyer-Schwickerath, Germany
G.O.H. Naumann, Germany
G.P. Theodossiadis, Greece
R. Zivojnovic, The Netherlands
Y. Pouliquen, France
R. Collin, United Kingdom
I. Pallikaris, Greece
K. Barton, UK
Lucio Buratto, Italy
Professor Claus Eckardt, Germany
HENKES MEDAL
The Henkes Medal for Leadership in Ophthalmology, which is given by the Professor Dr Harold Henkes Foundation, was presented for the first time at SOE 2013 to Professor Luc Missotten, Belgium. The Henkes Medal will also be awarded every four years to an ophthalmologist for the greatest achievements in the field of leadership in ophthalmology.
2013 L Missotten, Belgium
2017 B. Philipson, Sweden
2023 Stefan Seregard, Sweden
2025 Wagih Aclimandos, UK
SOE LECTURES
At the 2005 SOE Board meeting, it was agreed that each National Ophthalmic Society would select the most promising clinician/researcher under the age of 45 to give the SOE Lecture at a prominent point of their annual Congress. The SOE Lecturers are awarded a diploma and voucher for the forthcoming SOE Congress. The voucher entitles the participant to a complimentary registration to the forthcoming SOE Congress and is awarded by the Society.
CONTACT
Further information is available from:
SOE Secretariat
Email: secretariat@soevision.org
Website: www.soevision.org