Our Work

The World Council works on behalf of our members to further the development of optometry globally. We all recognize that a wide variation in the scope of practice and levels of education of optometrists exists around the world, but through our work with WCO members, we understand that all regions are working diligently to move the professional scope of optometry forward in their jurisdictions.     

We have a common goal to serve the eye care needs of the public by working towards making quality eye health and vision care accessible to all.   

This work is accomplished through our volunteer committee structure and is geared towards supporting this goal and our members in their work. The activities below have been produced by the WCO committees and office. To view members of each committee, please click here.

Some of our activities and programs over the past year: 

• Global Optometry Survey, a multi-year project, is modeled after and conducted by the author of the European Blue Book of Optometry. It will provide a snapshot of optometry around the world, including information on scope of practice, competency levels, demographics, optometric education requirements, and regulatory information.
• Clinical Toolkits on Pediatrics and Legislation, Regulation and Standards are complete. Future plans, pending funding, are to develop toolkits on diabetes, glaucoma, and vision rehabilitation. These electronic libraries of resources ensure that the global optometric community has easy access to the information they need to develop health care policies and serve their patients well.
• Grant Program – a membership benefit – is funded by the World Optometry Foundation and offers two types of grants: General Grants and Education Mentor Grants. Both support the vision and mission of WCO by funding projects and initiatives which lead toward the advancement of the role of optometry and its participation in eye and vision care within health care systems.
• Leadership Course (OPAL) is offered to 18-25 participants annually with representation from all 6 WCO regions. The goals and expectations are for graduates to acquire leadership and advocacy tools to enable them to effect change at both policy and practice levels in their countries.
• Cooperation with IAPB initiatives, including Advocacy to Action Lecture and Workshop Series and World Sight Day.
  • Participated in the following International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) work groups: 
    • Diabetic Retinopathy, Low Vision, Human Resources, Refractive Error, School Eye Health, Gender Equity 
• CE Webinars are conducted quarterly on topics such as Dry Eye and Myopia Management. Thousands of attendees from across the globe have participated in 90-minute seminars in just the last two years, taught by leaders in both research and clinical practice.
• Infographics are in development to provide resources to educate patients about vision and eye health care issues. The goal is to develop a bank of easily translatable graphics and flyers on numerous topics that members can use in their offices. They will be fully downloadable and used for doctor and patient education, and each is translated into several languages.
• Dry Eye Disease. WCO has partnered with Alcon to form a global, evidence-based dry eye disease education initiative designed to raise optometrists’ understanding of dry eye etiology and prevalence, diagnosis, and practical management.
• Myopia Management. WCO has partnered with CooperVision to raise awareness globally and provide resources to enable optometrists to apply a standard of care to management of myopia.
  • Presented the Resolution Standard of Care for Myopia Management by Optometrists, signed by the full Board of Directors 
  • Developed and launched the Myopia Management microsite including Myopia Moment infographics on Mitigation, Measurement and Management for use by practitioners around the globe

This webpage will be updated on a periodic basis so be sure to check back to see what we’ve been doing!