The Pan American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO), Arlington, Tex,was founded in 1939 by 2 Americans (Harry Gradle of Chicago, Ill, and ConradBerens of New York, NY) and a Brazilian (Moacyr Alvaro). The association'smission is: to provide continuing education for ophthalmologists, organizeprevention of blindness programs, and promote scientific and cultural exchangeamong ophthalmologists of the world.
Across the years, the member countries have increased: North America(2), Central America/Mexico (7), the Caribbean (4), South America (10), andEurope (2). As a result of recent changes in the bylaws, the following LatinAmerican subspecialty societies have joined the organization: Pan-AmericanAssociation of Eye Banks, Asociación Latino Americana de Cirugíade Catarata y Segmento Anterior; Consejo Latinoamericano de Estrabismo; ClubLatino Americano de Neuro Oftalmologia; Club Latino de Ecografia; Ibero-AmericanCornea Society, Seville, Spain; Pan American Retina/Vitreous Society; PanAmerican Society of Contact Lens and Refraction; Pan American Society of OcularOncology; Pan American Society of Oculoplastics; Pan American Pathology Society;Pan American Trauma Society, Pittsburgh, Pa; Pan American Research Society;SOPLA; and SPEIO. Currently, there are 1650 active members and 12 000associate members.