On the 27 March 2009, during the 10^th MEACO congress in Bahrain, the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology launched five subspecialty societies. These are the Middle East Africa Cataract and Refractive Surgery Society (MEACRS), Middle East Africa Glaucoma Society (MEAGS), Middle East Africa Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Society (MEAPOSS), Middle East Africa Oculoplastic Society (MEAOPS) and Middle East Africa Vitreo-Retinal Society (MEAVRS).
Since the launch of the subspecialty societies, MEACO have had a very positive response with many registered founding members across the five subspecialty societies.