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The World Council of Optometry (WCO) fulfils its mission through educational development, humanitarian outreach and legislative change.
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1 Educational Development
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The World Conference on Optometric Education (WCOE), a springboard for educational advancement and initiatives, is an international forum that allows optometric educators from around the world to openly discuss and debate curricular issues, practice modes and teaching methods. Their efforts unveil timely opportunities for mutual cooperation in pedagogical design, research and implementation.
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The Fifth Session of the WCOE was held in Milan, Italy from May 2-5, 2006. It addressed the challenges and opportunities that globalization poses for optometric education in a period of dramatically changing technology and professional development. The program attracted 250 attendees from approximately 50 countries. In addition to providing participants with invaluable lecture presentations from an esteemed group of speakers, WCO granted travel stipends to educators in need of financial assistance.
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The WCO assists with Faculty Development by working with academia, governmental groups, volunteers and researchers to develop and/or enhance the teaching capacity of new or existing schools of optometry. Emphasis is placed upon optimizing outcomes according to public health needs. Programs can incorporate other non-governmental organizations, like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – Chair of Visual Health and Development, Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity and Special Olympics.
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2 Humanitarian Outreach
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The Fellowship Program builds human networks of optometric educators, practitioners and public health specialists who donate their time and expertise to various nations worldwide, especially developing countries. The program matches a volunteer fellow’s expertise with the eye care needs of a host country. Fellowships can last from one month to two years. Fellows are involved in curricular review and development; faculty development; clinical studies; teaching; humanitarian outreach; and consultation on public policy formation. Since its inception in November 2000, the WCO has sent 32 fellows to more than 20 countries to assist with 26 programs.
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The Public Health Toolkit: Developing Optometry’s Leadership in Eye and Vision Care Solutions will increase optometrists’ awareness, capacity and participation in VISION 2020: The Right to Sight activities. Sponsored by VISTAKON, it provides a roadmap to identifying key priorities, leverage points, gaps and constraints, technical considerations and operational strategies for the improvement of eye and vision care. It provides optometrists with a hands-on guide to developing effective, efficient and equitable health care interventions in their respective countries.
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Optometry Giving Sight is a collaborative venture between the World Optometry Foundation, (WCO’s charitable foundation), International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and International Centre for Eyecare Education to raise funds for sustainable projects that address uncorrected refractive error and low vision. The Global Board identifies Priority Projects that adhere to agreed selection criteria and project accountability processes. The 2006 – 2007 Priority Projects are: Giving Sight to Blind Children, Vision for a Country: The National Refractive Error Program for South Africa and Vision Care Service Development in Sri Lanka.
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3 Legislative Change
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The WCO formally adopted a Case Statement for Optometry entitled World Optometry – Enhancing Vision, Protecting Health. It is a comprehensive statement on the profession of optometry, its scope of practice and professional responsibilities within the global health care landscape. The purpose of this historic document is to provide health professionals, government agencies and the general public with an overview of the practice activities of the optometrist and how they relate to the global needs of the public.
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The Global Competency-Based Model of Scope of Practice in Optometry provides a rational framework for addressing the challenges of increased practitioner mobility across international borders and the need to promote greater harmonization in optometric education around the world. In addition, the model responds to the challenges of the World Trade Organization and its General Agreement on Trade in Services whose intention is to allow for mobility of professional services across international boundaries through Mutual Recognition Agreements that would be negotiated between states (countries).
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The World Conference on Optometric Globalization (WCOG) addresses critical issues stemming from heightened trade and mobility of health services, goods, knowledge and practitioners across national boundaries. The first session held in Orlando, Florida in June 2004, attracted approximately 250 leaders from regulatory agencies, nongovernmental organizations, public health advocacy groups, ophthalmic industry and professional associations.
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The Second Session of WCOG will run in April 2008 in London in coordination with the European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) and the College of Optometrists (UK). It will chart a strategic direction for the profession and address the human resource, economic, interdisciplinary and educational dimensions that link globalization and public health. The program will feature introductory presentations that will define the strategic dimensions of each issue. The introductory comments will be followed by targeted presentations designed to develop understanding of the issues. A panel discussion with audience participation will close each session.
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The WCO assists optometric groups in gaining governmental recognition so they may raise their standard of care and professional status in their respective health care communities. For example, WCO recently delivered an electronic media presentation before the Parliament of Buenos Aires, Argentina relative to legislation that would recognize the profession.
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