Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The research focused on the recommendations of the International Council of Ophthalmology, specifically regarding the duration of ophthalmology education, areas of clinical exposure, essential skills, and adherence to these standards internationally. METHODOLOGY: A thorough search was conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and ERIC databases up to April 2024 to identify studies related to International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) principles in undergraduate medical education. Two independent reviewers assessed citations for inclusion criteria, gathered data, and evaluated the risk of bias using the ROBIN-I tool, PROSPERO CRD42024517718. FINDINGS: From 537 unique references, only eight research articles qualified for inclusion. The primary educational aim in most studies was to meet the ICO requirements. Typically, medical students spend at least two weeks focusing on ophthalmology. These courses offer extensive exposure to ophthalmic patients across diverse clinical environments, such as ophthalmology clinics, emergency departments, and surgical theaters. Instructional methods include theoretical lectures, small group discussions, self-directed learning, and hands-on clinical experiences. The study found that the adoption of ICO recommendations varied from 20% to 36%. CONCLUSIONS: This research evaluates how undergraduate ophthalmology education in medical schools correlates with ICO guidelines, indicating that implementation remains limited. Enhanced promotion of these standards in educational institutions is essential, alongside further studies.