Dr. Sandra Block, WCO President

Sandra S. Block, OD, DOS, h.c., M. Ed., MPH, FAAO, Dipl AAO, FCOVD, DAAO, FNAP, FARVO is a Professor Emeritus at Illinois College of Optometry. She received her O.D. degree (1981) and followed by a Pediatric Residency (1982) at the Illinois College of Optometry where she was a faculty member until her retirement in 2020. She completed her Master of Education at National Louis University and her Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois, School of Public Health. She was just presented with an honorary Doctor of Ocular Sciences degree from ICO. She is a Diplomate in Public Health and Environmental Vision at the American Academy of Optometry, a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academy of Practice, a Silver Fellow of ARVO, and a Fellow of the European Academy of Optometry and Optics. She previously sat on the Prevent Blindness Board of Trustees and was recently appointed as an Emeritus Board member. She was co-chair of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health and is currently the treasurer of the VISION 2020 USA Board of Directors.

She served as a consultant to the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program from 1995-2022 and was instrumental in developing the vision program used globally.  Her interests lie in primary care for children and persons with disabilities, as well as diagnosis and treatment of visually related learning problems as well as public health issues facing the equity and quality of eye care delivery.

Dr. Block has authored numerous publications and conducted presentations worldwide. In November 2021, she was elected as the WCO President-Elect and she has been involved with WCO’s work with the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.  Prior to November of 2021, Dr. Block served on WCO’s Board of Directors as the Public Health Committee Chair.  She is currently serving as President of WCO.