Every year, the eye specialist community celebrates World Optometry Day on March 23rd to recognize the vital role of optometrists in expanding and reinforcing the reach of comprehensive eye care across the globe. This year, the World Optometry Council has designated “Eyes to the Future: Optometry Improving Global Wellness” as the theme of World Optometry Day 2025. This year’s theme emphasizes the impact of optometry as a vital healthcare profession and key pillar of global health in promoting overall wellness, disease prevention, and the diagnosis of health conditions that affect more than just the eyes.
In March 2024, the World Council of Optometry (WCO) launched the Competency Framework for Optometry as an outline for optometrists worldwide to deliver vision correction and eye disease detection and treatment services in under-resourced global healthcare settings most effectively. A year later, the framework continues to guide optometrists working in under-resourced communities with limited access to eye specialists and an aging population to optimize their roles as primary eyecare providers within collaborative healthcare models and communities.
黑料网 Kittner Eye Center’s optometry lead and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Michael Mendsen, OD, noted: “Optometrists play a critical role in the diagnosis and management of many eye diseases and disorders of the visual system. Optometrists make up a much larger portion of the eye care workforce which helps provide comprehensive eye exams and plays an integral role in the patient鈥檚 primary healthcare team.”