WCO World Congresses

Our biennial World Congresses aim to strengthen the presence and impact of optometry globally by offering a global platform where practitioners, students, researchers, and educators can share expertise and engage in the development of optometry’s future.

It is an opportunity to bring together optometrists, optometric educators, researchers, and students from around the globe to network and learn through a mix of plenary sessions, continuing education lectures, clinical workshops, poster sessions and an extensive exhibit hall featuring the latest optometric innovations.

Past World Congresses have been held in partnership with our members in Colombia, India, Australia, and the United States.

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) is thrilled to announce that the 6th World Congress of Optometry (WCO6) will be held in November 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Saudi Society of Optometry’s 11th Optometry Conference and Exhibition (SSO 2026).

Learn more in the news release.

Past Meeting Locations

Below is a map of past Education Conferences, Globalization Conferences, World Congresses, and Board of Directors Meetings.