The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS)

What The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) does

The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) is a UK-registered charity (no. 1066532) and private company limited by guarantee (no. 03153785), founded in the early 1990s and headquartered in London with operational support through MCI UK Ltd in Havant and an EU representative office in Brussels. It is a professional society serving ophthalmic surgeons specialising in cataract and refractive surgery across Europe and internationally, organised around a Council of Management, an Education Committee chaired by Oliver Findl, multiple Special Interest Groups (YO's, YOFS, ESONT, Digital Health), and a federation of affiliated national societies.

ESCRS operates a multi-product platform spanning continuing medical education, clinical research infrastructure, clinical decision tools, and peer-reviewed publishing. Education products include the iLearn platform (built on D2L Brightspace, 22 courses and ~50 hours of CME-accredited content), the ESCRS ON Demand archive of more than 10 years of congress presentations, an annual flagship Congress rotating across European cities (Copenhagen 2025, London 2026, through the 48th Congress in 2030), a Winter Meeting, masterclasses (Complex Cataract, Interventional Glaucoma, Corneal and Lens-Based Refractive Surgery, Basic Phaco Skills School), the ESCRS Moving Simulator, the FEBOS-CR advanced diploma co-developed with the European Board of Ophthalmology, and the Vision to Venture business program. Clinical research infrastructure comprises the EUREQUO, ECCTR, and EuReCCA outcomes registries plus multi-centre studies such as PREMED (1,127 patients across 12 EU surgical centres). Decision and content assets include the ESCRS IOL Calculator (with a 2025 Toric Calculator comparing Barrett, EVO, Hoffer QST, and Kane), EuroTimes magazine, and co-publication of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (JCRS) with ASCRS and Wolters Kluwer.

ESCRS monetises through a diversified, subscription- and event-led model: annual membership dues, tiered congress and Winter Meeting registration (member versus non-member pricing), journal and EuroTimes subscriptions, iLearn course fees (€179 for members, €289-€399 for non-members), Vision to Venture tickets (€500-€700), administration of research funding and fellowships (Peter Barry, Emanuel Rosen, Pioneer, Clinical, Digital, Systematic Review, SURE), and tax-deductible charitable donations recently extended to Germany and Spain. Commercial activities are routed through a wholly-owned subsidiary, ESCRS Trading Limited (company no. 07521602). Distribution combines direct member acquisition via the members.escrs.org portal, the affiliated national societies network, and large in-person events, with day-to-day operations managed by MCI UK Ltd.

Name

The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS)

Legal name

The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons

Website

https://escrs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ESCRS is a UK-registered charitable professional society serving ophthalmic surgeons specialising in cataract and refractive surgery across Europe and internationally. It delivers CME-accredited education, clinical outcomes registries, flagship congresses, peer-reviewed publications, and clinical decision tools to its membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Medical Society Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)

Keywords

• Medical professional society
• Ophthalmology education
• Cataract refractive surgery
• CME accredited courses
• Clinical outcomes registries

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to congress registration discounts, educational resources, journal subscriptions, and member benefits.
2. Event Registration: Revenue from Annual Congress and Winter Meeting registrations, with reduced fees for members.
3. Journal Subscriptions: Subscriptions to Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (JCRS) and EuroTimes publication.
4. Educational Course Fees: Fees for non-member course access through ESCRS iLearn and shop platform, with pricing for various courses and educational materials.
5. Event Tickets: Vision to Venture business program tickets at €500-€700 with discounted rates for trainees and young ophthalmologists.
6. Research Funding Administration: Funding and administering clinical research projects including Clinical Research Awards, Pioneer Awards, and various research studies.
7. Charitable Donations: Tax-deductible donations in Germany and Spain supporting humanitarian eye care initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ESCRS is a non-profit professional society delivering continuing education, clinical research infrastructure, and peer community for ophthalmic surgeons specialising in cataract and refractive surgery. Core deliverables include the Annual Congress and Winter Meeting, the ESCRS iLearn online CME platform (22 courses, ~50 hours of content), ESCRS ON Demand (10+ years of congress recordings), the ESCRS IOL Calculator with multi-formula Toric comparison, three outcomes registries (EUREQUO, ECCTR, EuReCCA), fellowships and research grants, and publications including the EuroTimes magazine and the joint Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (JCRS).

Product overview

The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) operates a comprehensive platform of educational, research, and professional development products and services for ophthalmologists. The core offerings include ESCRS iLearn (online learning with CME-accredited courses), ESCRS ON Demand (video library of past congress presentations), and the ESCRS IOL Calculator (with enhanced Toric Calculator comparing Barrett, EVO, Hoffer QST, and Kane calculators). ESCRS delivers flagship events including the Annual Congress and Winter Meeting, supplemented by Masterclasses, Vision to Venture business programs, and the FEBOS-CR certification exam. The society publishes EuroTimes magazine and supports the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (JCRS), operates registries (EUREQUO, ECCTR, EuReCCA) for quality tracking, and offers research funding through fellowships and awards. Membership provides access to these digital resources and professional community features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EuroTimes: Publication providing news and insight to ophthalmologists
• ESCRS iLearn
• EUREQUO
• Vision to Venture
• FEBOS-CR

Products and services

• ESCRS iLearn Free online learning platform for ESCRS members offering 22 CME-accredited courses with nearly 50 hours of content covering visual optics, cataract surgery, refractive surgery and cornea topics, including clinical images, surgical videos, quizzes, and final assessments. Built on D2L Brightspace LMS.
• ESCRS ON Demand Free online library of presentations, ePosters and videos from ESCRS Congresses and Winter Meetings spanning over 10 years. Members can view slides and hear speakers lecture on demand.
• ESCRS IOL Calculator Online calculator for intraocular lens power calculations. Features an enhanced Toric Calculator that compares results from Barrett, EVO, Hoffer QST, and Kane toric IOL calculators, providing recommended power, cylinder, and axis values.
• ESCRS Eye Journal Club Podcast series featuring expert discussions on published ophthalmic research papers, hosted by ESCRS experts with guest specialists reviewing and discussing relevant literature.
• ESCRS Congress Annual flagship congress bringing together eye surgeons worldwide for education, research presentation, and networking. The location rotates annually across major European cities (Copenhagen 2025, London 2026, 45th Congress 2027, 46th Congress 2028, through 48th Congress 2030).
• ESCRS Winter Meeting Annual winter educational meeting providing condensed congress-style education and networking for ophthalmologists, complementing the larger flagship annual congress.
• Vision to Venture Business and financial planning program for ophthalmologists turning clinical ambition into commercially viable, investable strategies. Weekend-based format delivered with expert business leaders.
• FEBOS-CR Exam Advanced Fellowship of the European Board of Ophthalmology in Cataract & Refractive Surgery (FEBOS-CR) diploma examination, developed jointly by the EBO and ESCRS to certify specialist competency in cataract and refractive surgery.
• EuroTimes Magazine Monthly publication (sub-brand of ESCRS) providing news, research updates, and clinical articles to ophthalmologists in print and digital formats.
• Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (JCRS) Peer-reviewed research journal on cataract and refractive surgery, jointly stewarded by ESCRS and ASCRS and published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
• Video Journal of Cataract, Refractive and Glaucoma Surgery (VJCRGS) Quarterly video publication featuring innovative techniques, challenging cases, complication management, and award-winning videos for anterior segment surgeons.
• EUREQUO Registry European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgeries, enabling benchmarking and quality improvement across member institutions by tracking surgical outcomes and quality metrics.
• ECCTR Registry European Cornea and Cell Transplant Registry for tracking outcomes in corneal and cell transplant procedures across European institutions.
• EuReCCA Registry European Registry for Cataract and Complications Analytics for tracking and analysing cataract surgery outcomes and complications at scale across European centres.
• ESCRS Humanitarian Service Award Award program launched in 2025 to honour global impact in eye care and recognize humanitarian contributions in ophthalmology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.5% CME incidence with combination NSAID/corticosteroid prophylaxis in non-diabetic patients vs 5.1% with steroids alone (PREMED Study)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint administration of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (JCRS), the official journal of both societies. ESCRS and ASCRS act as independent controllers for shared personal data related to journal access and contributions.
• Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.coreOthersPublisher of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (JCRS). Handles journal publishing, distribution, and potentially print/digital delivery services.
• MCI UK LtdcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerManagement company handling ESCRS operational functions including event management, administrative support, and contact centre operations at Building 4000, Langstone Park, UK.
• MCI Benelux SAcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEU representative appointed under Article 27 GDPR at Avenue des Arts 47, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. Handles EU data protection compliance and member inquiries for European Union residents.
• ESCRS Trading LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholly-owned subsidiary of ESCRS (private limited company under no. 07521602) handling commercial activities including events, exhibitions, and commercial arrangements. Processes personal information in connection with ESCRS activities.
• D2L (Desire2Learn) / BrightspacecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform provider for ESCRS iLearn online learning management system. Brightspace platform delivers 22 courses with nearly 50 hours of CME-accredited content.
• European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of the FEBOS-CR (Fellowship of the European Board of Ophthalmology - Cataract & Refractive) advanced diploma examination.
• Video Journal of Cataract, Refractive and Glaucoma Surgery (VJCRGS)minorOthersQuarterly educational video resource featuring innovative techniques, challenging cases, and complication management for anterior segment surgeons.
• Affiliated National SocietiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean and non-European national ophthalmological societies affiliated with ESCRS, promoting membership and educational activities within their countries.
• EuroTimescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly ophthalmology publication providing news, research updates, and clinical articles to ESCRS members. Available in print and digital formats through ISSUU platform.
• Audit Bureau of Circulation LimitedminorOthersThird party for verifying aggregated statistics about circulation and usage of EuroTimes publication and potentially JCRS.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ESOPRS): ESOPRS is a European subspecialty society for oculoplastic surgeons with annual congresses and educational offerings — operating on the same membership-society model as ESCRS but serving a narrower ophthalmic subspecialty.
• European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA): EURETINA is a fellow European ophthalmic subspecialty society running annual congresses, fellowships, and educational programs for retina specialists — directly comparable in operating model to ESCRS but focused on the retina subspecialty.
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS): ASCRS is the U.S. counterpart professional society for cataract and refractive surgeons; it directly co-publishes JCRS with ESCRS and runs an analogous annual meeting and member education program, making it the closest functional peer.

Broad incumbents

• European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE): SOE is the pan-European umbrella ophthalmology society with a broader remit (all subspecialties). ESCRS operates as a more focused subspecialty society within the same European clinical community.
• American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO): AAO is the largest U.S. ophthalmic professional society with a comprehensive (all subspecialties) membership model. It competes for member attention, congress attendance, and industry sponsorship with ESCRS in the global ophthalmology education market.
• International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO): ICO is a global umbrella body for ophthalmology that develops worldwide standards, examinations, and education programs. It overlaps with ESCRS in the international education and credentialing space, particularly for non-European markets.

Regional players

• Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO): APAO is the regional ophthalmology society for the Asia-Pacific region, running its own congress and fellowship programs. It represents a comparable membership-society model in a different geography and is a potential partner or competitor for global members and sponsors.
• Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth): RCOphth is the UK professional and certifying body for ophthalmologists, providing training standards, examinations, and member services in the UK — a regional incumbent whose remit overlaps ESCRS's education and certification activities for British surgeons.
• Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft (DOG): DOG is the German national ophthalmology society with its own congress, journals, and education programs. As a major European national affiliate and partner of ESCRS, it represents a comparable society model in ESCRS's largest single national market.
• Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO): PAAO is the regional ophthalmology society for the Americas, running regional congresses and educational programs. It mirrors ESCRS's professional society model in a different geography and competes for global industry sponsorship.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ESCRSofficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/ESCRS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/escrs
• Instagraminstagram.com/escrs

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS)