About ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with vision health and the treatment of serious eye diseases.

About the COS

About

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) is a national, recognized authority on eye and vision care in Canada. As eye physicians and surgeons, we are committed to assuring the provision of optimal medical and surgical eye care for all Canadians by promoting excellence in ophthalmology and by providing services to support our members in practice.
Our membership includes over 900 ophthalmologists and 200 ophthalmology residents.

Mission

The mission of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) is to strive toward the provision of optimal medical and surgical eye care for all Canadians by promoting excellence in ophthalmology and providing services to support its members in practice.
COS advances vision health by improving Canadian eye care standards through the work of its Board of Directors, Councils and Committees, as well as ties with national and international eye care organizations.

Values

Vision and Leadership
Integrity and Respect
Lifelong Learning

What Are The 3 O's of
Eye Care?

What’s the difference between optician, optometrist, and ophthalmologist?

An eye doctor sitting at his desk with an eye chart in front of him, providing specialized care for eye health.

Find an
ophthalmologist

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat all eye diseases, perform eye surgery and prescribe medicine to correct vision problems. If you have been referred to an ophthalmologist by your family doctor, optometrist or other health care practitioner, you can locate one using this tool – available at the COS website

A man in a lab coat examining samples under a microscope for eye diseases.