Welcome to the SOE web site

SOE is short for Societas Ophthalmologica Europæa and is the European Society of Ophthalmology with representatives from 37 National Ophthalmological Societies in Europe. After the second World War discussions were started to create a European Society of Ophthalmology.

The final decision to create SOE was made on 26th April, 1956. The first Council was created by 19 representatives from different European countries. Professor Bailliart from France was the first President and Professor Jules François, Belgium, was elected Secretary General.

The First Congress of SOE was held in Athens in 1960. Professor John Charamis was the President of the Congress and 750 ophthalmologists attended.

The 2nd Congress in Vienna in 1964.
The 3rd Congress in Amsterdam in 1968.
The 4th Congress in Budapest in 1972.
The 5th Congress in Hamburg in 1976.
The 6th Congress in Brighton in 1980.
The 7th Congress in Helsinki in 1984.
The 8th Congress in Lissabon in 1988.
The 9th Congress in Brussels in 1992.
The 10th Congress in Milan in 1995.
The 11th Congress in Budapest in 1997.
The 12th Congress in Stockholm in 1999.
The 13th Congress in Istanbul in 2001.
The 14th Congress in Madrid in June 2003.
The 15th Congress in Berlin, September 2005.
The 16th Congress in Vienna in June 2007.

The European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE).

The first 50 years and beyond.

Zdenek J. Gregor, FRCS, FRCOphth.
President of SOE

Click here to read

The 17th Congress will be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands,
June 13-16, 2009: www.soe2009.org