The Society

Founded in 1974, SBCPO – Brazilian Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOSS) certifies ophthalmologists who have completed advanced training in eyelid, orbit, tear duct system, periocular cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Brief History of Oculoplastic Surgery

Oculoplastic Surgery was established as a subspecialty of Ophthalmology as a consequence of the world wars. In 1920, the high number of facial injury cases required plastic surgeons to treat and develop a wide variety of eyelid and orbital techniques. Dr. Wheeler is considered the predecessor of oculoplastic surgery for having developed numerous techniques for surgical reconstruction of the ocular adnexa. His legacy has influenced countless disciples who became cornerstones of the specialty. Between 1938-45, with hospitals filled with varied patients, recovery cases were naturally delegated to specialists, with some ophthalmologists leading the orbito-palpebral area. The specialty was highly improved through new knowledgement in anatomy, physiology, pathology and surgical techniques.

Starting point in Brazil

Oculoplastics began to be established in Brazil in the 1960s. It was the first time residency service has included eyelids, lacrimal drainage system and orbital surgery as a curricular routine of the Specialization Course in Ophthalmology at Hospital São Geraldo (UFMG), considered one of the best references in the specialty. Later on, three pioneers – Dr. Evaldo Machado dos Santos, in Rio de Janeiro; Dr. Eloy Pereira, who began his professional career in Campo Grande; and Dr. Eduardo J. C. Soares, in Belo Horizonte – created the Brazilian Center for Oculoplastic Surgery in 1974. The goal was to gather ophthalmologists interested in acquiring and spreading knowledge for specialty development. In 1979, the Center was officially turned into a Society, electable to join the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology two years later.

Nowadays

In retrospect of all the effort (numerous lectures, courses, meetings, symposia, papers publication and, more recently, a book edition as the Official Theme of the 1997 Brazilian Meeting, written by all doctors who had devoted themselves to the specialty), we may state our purpose was achieved and rewarded by a growing interest in Oculoplastic Surgery. The Center has become an entity with hundreds of members. Today, highly trained oculoplastic surgeons are trained, many at the supervision of university services, which multiply the professionals qualified to practice the specialty. The advances of computerized technology and genetic bioengineering that come to us through videoconferences and satellite symposia, Internet and other sophisticated communication resources, allow us to foresee a promising future.