The Institute of Community Ophthalmology (ICO)  is housed at Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex (CEITC) campus because of the availability of necessary infrastructure and logistic services and supports particularly the clinical facilities. A separate Governing Body headed by Vice chancellor, Chittagong Medical University is at the helm.

The Institute of Community Ophthalmology (ICO), academic wing of Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex (CEITC) was established under University of Chittagong in 1991. It was awarded affiliation with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in 2011. ICO conducts MS (Ophthalmology) course under BSMMU, Dhaka from the session March, 2019, 2 years course leading to Diploma in Community Ophthalmology (DCO) under the BSMMU and a 4 years degree, Bachelor of Science in Optometry (B. Optom) Course under University of Chittagong from  the year 2010.

Now, Institute is conducting Bachelor of Science in Optometry Course under Chittagong Medical University from the 9^th Batch in the year 2018.

CEITC facilitates ICO to provide adequate quality eye care training for both the Doctors and Optometrists. From this point of view a research centre has been established named “Dr. Ahmadur Rahman Research Centre” with modern research facilities. It may be mentioned that the ophthalmologists and other professionals have published 159 scientific research papers in national and international journals, since the establishment of the centre. The centre stimulates interest of research among the Doctors. Every year Institute of Community Ophthalmology publishes its Scientific Journal “Ophthalmic Horizon” through the Research Centre. The latest edition was published OPHTHALMIC HORIZON, Volume: 15, Issue: I, March, 2020 (Download link horizone-vol-15-issue-1-march-2020_compressed ). In this scientific journal the major articles are contributed by the Ophthalmologists, social scientists, optometrists and other enthusiastic researchers.

The Institute of Community Ophthalmology (ICO) has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Malaysian University namely Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) where the graduate optometrist can have their postgraduate degrees. Along with regular faculty members, the foreign faculties and part time faculty members covers substantial numbers of lectures.

The Institute of Community Ophthalmology is the brain child of a group of visionary, aware of Community Ophthalmic problems in Bangladesh created with the idea to impart training to doctors in Community oriented Ophthalmology along side clinical Ophthalmology to meet the demand of the country.This led to the establishment of Institute of Community Ophthalmology (ICO) in 1981, initially as an affiliated institution, eventually became a constituent part of University of Chittagong.

The institute is headed by a full time director, native and foreign trained optometrists who looks, after the day to day academic and clinical activities. There are full time and part-time faculties. Prof. F.A. Billson, Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Sydney University is closely associated with the doctors training program since 1979 and assisted with the creation of the Institute of Community Ophthalmology. The Institution is also fortunate to have a group of part-time faculties of International repute of which Prof.R.Pararajasegaram (Switzerland) and Prof. Rogers Pierson (USA) are mention-able.