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Objective
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The objective of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight is to effectively reduce the level of avoidable blindness in the world by the year 2020. Collaborative cooperation and promotion of the importance of good vision hallmarks this initiative.
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The World Council of Optometry joined the VISION 2020 Task Force with Official Relations in 2003. The mission of the World Council of Optometry as written in its constitution is to facilitate the enhancement and development of eye and vision care world-wide. The World Council of Optometry, being the world-wide organization for the professionals working in the field of optometry, their associations and institutions, can facilitate the expansion of eye care providers, improve quality and access to eye and vision care, inform and educate the public regarding the importance of eye and vision care. Optometry’s responsiveness to the changing demographics and epidemiology of ocular and visual conditions complements the goals of the original VISION 2020 initiative. The WCO is poised to support programs that target societies in need and to cooperate with other organizations concerned with the promotion of eye and vision care and the prevention of blindness. While contributing to all aspects of VISION 2020, Optometry will seek to make a major contribution to the alleviation of blindness and impaired vision due to Refractive Error and Low Vision.
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Current Status of the VISION 2020: The Right to Sight Initiative
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New paradigms develop as this initiative advances. Optometrists and country or regional representatives are encouraged to keep current by visiting the official website at www.v2020.org and to visit regional websites, such as www.v2020la.org for Latin America.
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The Declaration to Eliminate Avoidable Blindness was resolved by the World Health Assembly laid out the following timeline for UN Member States:
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This resolution urged member states to set up the VISION 2020 National Plan and Committee to include non-governmental organizations and the private sector with input by representatives from consumers or patient groups. The plan should include effective information systems with standardized indicators and monitoring and evaluation designed into the plan.
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Steps to be followed in the Development of a Public Health Strategy for National Associations
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Situational Analysis
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This involves an audit of the following:
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Current status of Vision 2020
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National committee(existing or not)
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Status of National Plan
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Optometry’s involvement
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Are Refractive Error and Low Vision Programs included?
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Challenges for optometry in relation to the committee
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Refractive Error and Low Vision status in the country
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Prevalence of Refractive Error, Low Vision and Uncorrected Refractive Error
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Survey of availability and accessibility to services, materials and instrumentation: if not already done a rapid assessment should be conducted
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Status of Human Resources, Infrastructure and Service Delivery
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Define key needs based on survey
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Define possible roles for Optometry
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Define Training Needs
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will current optometric training meet country’s needs
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new approaches to training that need to be adopted
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Public Health/CEH training necessary
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Development of a National Plan
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Workshop to be held with key optometric stakeholders to define a plan to enhance optometry’s role in relation to vision 2020
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Establish priorities and targets
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Consult broader optometric community
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Modify according to input
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Consult vision 2020 stakeholders
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Modify according to input
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Implementation of Plan
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Establish framework for implementation with achievable goals and objectives (SMART= Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound)
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Determine key contributors and tasks i.e. NGOs, institutions etc.
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Set regular meetings to assess progress
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Monitoring and Evaluation
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Monitor the process and procedures
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Determine whether key priorities are met
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Determine barriers to successful implementation
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Suggest appropriate changes
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Modification of Plan
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Based on outcome of monitoring and evaluation.
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| Priority |
Indicator |
Objectives |
Current Situation |
Tasks/ Challenges |
Monitoring |
| Current Status of Vision 2020 committee and Plans |
National Committee |
Seek involvement of Optometry Associations in National Prevention of Blindness Committees |
Does a National committee exist?
Are Optometrists represented and by whom?
Are Optometrists actively contributing?
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How do we improve optometric involvement?
Develop an appropriate strategy to improve optometry’s involvement in the National Committee.
Approach key stakeholders e.g. government to garner support for optometric involvement.
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Is there an increase in involvement by Optometry at the planning and implementation level?
Number of optometrists participating and contributing to plans and policy documents
What influence has been exerted at the policy level?
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Status of National Plan |
Make recommendations on additions or inclusions on the role of optometry in the National Plan |
If a national plan exists, did optometry have an input?
Are optometric services defined and included in the strategy for blindness prevention?
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How do we include/expand optometric services within the national plan?
Review/write up the refractive error and low vision component of the National Plan.
Ensure that optometry co-management (where the skills exist) is a critical component of ocular disease management.
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Have timelines for inclusion been met?
Have meetings been held, documents drawn up and changes or recommendations made to existing documents?
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Optometry’s involvement |
Ensure that optometry reps are present on the National Prevention of Blindness or VISION 2020 boards. |
Determine the number of representatives, their influence and contribution. |
How do we increase involvement/contribution?
Develop a strategy to increase optometry’s involvement.
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Number of reps in attendance at meetings and their contribution to the leadership of VISION 2020.
Number of key objectives of the National Prevention of Blindness Program that optometry directly contributes to.
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Refractive Error Plans |
Develop and recommend a strategy/plan for refractive error for the country. |
Need to enhance current strategy.
If no plan exists, write up an appropriate plan to be incorporated into the National Plan.
Consult widely to achieve this.
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Develop and recommend a strategy/plan for refractive error for the country. |
Monitor the expansion of services and the contribution of optometrists: include the no. of refractions, optometrists employed in the public sector and the access created for affordable spectacles. |
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Low Vision Plans |
Develop and recommend a strategy/plan for low vision for the country |
Do we need to enhance current strategy?
Suggest changes needed in order to make the plans relevant and appropriate.
Develop and ensure a plan is adopted if it does not exist.
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Develop and recommend a strategy/plan for low vision for the country. |
Monitor the expansion of services and the contribution of optometrists: include no. of refractions, no. of low vision centers and no. of patients seen, no. of optometrists employed providing low vision services and accessibility of affordable low vision aids. |
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Plans for ocular disease causing visual impairment and blindness, |
Develop and recommend a strategy/plan for optometry’s role in the co-management of ocular disease |
How do we enhance the current strategy? |
Develop and recommend a strategy/plan for optometry’s role in the co-management of ocular disease. |
Monitor the expansion of services and the contribution of optometrists.
Include the no. of optometrists employed in a co-management role, expansion of the scope of optometrists and the no. of patients managed for ocular disease.
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| Priority |
Indicator |
Objectives |
Current Situation |
Tasks/ Challenges |
Monitoring |
| Refractive Errors (RE) |
Survey of Services
Epidemiological Data
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Develop a comprehensive understanding of the situation regarding refractive errors. |
Do current survey results exist? If so,
Is there an appropriate literature review that can be done or can projections be made from existing data?
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Conduct a situational analysis and rapid assessment of RE.
Conduct a literature review and make projections from current data.
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Was a situational analysis conducted?
Was a rapid assessment done?
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Status of Human Resources |
Conduct a human resource audit to understand the current resources and future needs. |
How many optometrists are there?
What is their distribution?
What role are they playing in public health issues?
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Determine how optometry can meet the challenges of providing adequate human resources.
Develop the appropriate training initiatives?
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Has a human resource audit been conducted?
How many new personnel have been produced?
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Status of Infrastructure |
Conduct an infrastructure audit |
Where are refractive services provided?
By whom?
What cadres currently exist?
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Determine the infrastructure that is needed to meet the challenges e.g. Instruments, clinics etc. |
Has a full count of existing facilities taken place?
Have plans been developed to address infrastructure needs?
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Status of Service Delivery |
Determine the number of patients seen and the service delivery challenges that exist. |
Which clinics exist?
The no. of patients they see?
What is the backlog in patient numbers?
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Set a target for the no. of refractions.
Determine how targets can be met.
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Comprehensive information on no. of clinics and the no. of patients seen.
Calculation of Refraction Provision Rate and Spectacle Provision Rate.
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| Low Vision |
Survey of Services
Epidemiological data: noting prevalence and most affected communities and sub-groups.
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Determine the status of low vision in the country. |
Are there current survey results?
Does a low vision survey need to be done
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Conduct a situational analysis.
Conduct a rapid assessment of low vision, if possible.
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Has a situational analysis been conducted?
Has a Low Vision rapid assessment been conducted?
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Status of Human Resources. |
Determine if adequate human resources exist. If not, what are the human resource needs? |
What is the no. of optometrists?
What is their distribution?
What role do they play in LV?
What are the training resources available?
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What can be done to ensure that optometry meets the challenges of providing adequate human resources?
Develop appropriate training initiatives.
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Has a situational analysis been conducted?
Has there been a collation of data on the current human resources and the needs?
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Status of Infrastructure |
Determine the resources (clinics and equipment) that exist for low vision services. |
Where is LV provided and by whom?
What cadres currently exist?
What equipment or clinic facility challenges exist?
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Mobilize the necessary resources.
Develop a plan for the mobilization of resources.
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Is there an audit of facilities available?
Have the needs been determined?
Was a plan developed for the mobilization of resources?
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Status of Service Delivery |
Determine the current level of service provision. |
Which clinics exist?
What is the no. of patients seen at clinics?
What is the backlog in terms of patient numbers and waiting periods?
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Set target for number of LV patients to be seen.
Determine a strategy to meet the targets.
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Has data on patient numbers, clinic numbers and future targets been compiled?
Has a plan been developed to meet the targets numbers set?
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