Enhancing and developing eye and vision care worldwide An introduction to our work

2 What is WCO? An international optometric association of over 90 member organisations, representing over 150,000 optometrists, across six world regions. World Council of Optometry

3 Our Vision WCO envisions a world where high quality eye health and vision care is accessible to all people. 3

4 Our Mission To facilitate the development of optometry around the world and support optometrists in promoting eye health and vision care as a human right through advocacy, education, policy development and humanitarian outreach. 4 2

5 WCO’s Concept of Optometry Optometry is a healthcare profession that is autonomous, educated, and regulated (licensed/registered), and optometrists are the primary healthcare practitioners of the eye and visual system who provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refraction and dispensing, detection/diagnosis and management of disease in the eye, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system. 5 2

6 WCO minimum competencies for optometrists For WCO the minimum competencies required for individuals to call themselves an optometrist are the broad competencies of dispensing, refracting, prescribing and the detection of disease/abnormality. 6

7 What are the issues? Over 285 million people worldwide live with visual impairment due to eye diseases or uncorrected refractive errors. 39 million blind 80% of visual impairment including blindness is avoidable 9 in 10 blind people live in low income countries 517 million affected by functional presbyopia ( H olden, B et al, 2008) Source: WHO,

Source: Global estimates of visual impairment: 2010 © Pascolini, D. and Mariotti, S., 2011 Global causes of visual impairment (including blindness)

9 Our objectives The enhancement and development of primary eye and vision care by optometrists The promotion of high standards of education and practice whilst promoting international co-ordination of optometrists The provision of support to aid programmes directed at the provision of eye and vision care to societies in need The promotion of the advancement of the science of optometry 9

10 Organisational structure 10 Governing Board Education Committee Legislation, Registration and Standards Committee Public Health and Development Committee Fellowship Committee Membership Committee Executive Committee Advocacy Committee Secretariat

11 An overview of our work Education Maintaining and developing current standards of optometric education through guidelines developed by the Education committee: “Curricular Support Elements for an Optometry Programme” Updated list of schools of optometry: optometry/index.cfm 11

12 An overview of our work 12 Policy and legislation Stand alone refraction position paper Global Competencies based model Conferences Under the guidance of the Legislation, Regulation and Standards Committee

A containable problem 13 2 Scope of Practice Questionnaire 13 Understanding how optometry and optics are developing in the world:

14 An overview of our work 14 Public Health Global Public Health survey Supporting the development of human resources in Africa and Asia Leading WCO’s Advocacy Committee Under the guidance of the Public Health Committee

15 An overview of our work 15 Advocacy Supporting the recognition and regulation of optometry across the world as a Board member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) 22 WCO members supported the Brazilian Council of Optometry and Optics on their lobbying efforts

16 An overview of our work 16 Channelling resources into charity work The World Optometry Foundation (WOF) was established by WCO to finance projects that support our mission. WOF is a founding partner of Optometry Giving Sight (OGS), the only global fundraising initiative targeted at preventing blindness due to uncorrected refractive errors.

17 WCO’s strategic partners World Health Organization (WHO) WCO is the only global optometric body in official relationship with WHO. International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) WCO is represented at the Global Board of IAPB and in various of its committees. Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) 17

18 WCO membership benefits Access to a worldwide optometric network Opportunity to participate in WCO committees Be part of a global movement to support the development of optometry Contribute to setting and maintaining world standards of education and practice 18 2

19 WCO membership benefits Support the implementation of the WHO Global Plan of Action Access to high quality conferences and events Contribute to the development of WCO’s advocacy agenda Promote your activities through WCO communications Access to the WCO Fellowship programme fund 19 2

For more information write to: