Optometry’s far-reaching impact and its vital role in shaping the future of eye care was the focus of World Optometry Week (WOW) 2025 (March 17-23) and World Optometry Day (March 23), organised by the World Council of Optometry (WCO).
‘WOW provides a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of eye care, recognise optometrists’ contributions to advancing eye care as a human right, and emphasise optometry’s role in global health,’ said WCO president, Sandra Block.
Under the theme ‘Eyes to the future: optometry improving global wellness’, WOW sought to address key healthcare challenges raised in the 2019 World Report on Vision, including the growing global population, aging demographics and rising urbanisation.
‘By expanding optometry’s role as a primary eye care provider within collaborative care models, we as optometrists are uniquely positioned to address these challenges,’ Block added.
Global support
WOW was celebrated across the globe through a range of events, forums, presentations and discussions. The United Optometrist Forum, a WCO affiliate member, invited attendees to experience a ‘virtual 3D immersive metaverse platform’ at the Myopia Conclave in Dubai on March 23, featuring experts, professionals and thought leaders in optometry.
A World Optometry Day quiz competition was organised by the Optometry Confederation of India competition for optometry students from March 23-26, in collaboration with Zeiss Vision Care India.
The Asia Pacific Council of Optometry and Global Optometry Public Health Alliance also hosted a webinar on the role of optometry in Specs 2030, in collaboration with the Vision Care Association (Lebanon), Somali Optometry Association and the Pakistan Optometric Society.
Optometrists, from the UK to Australia, helped to spread awareness about WOW in local activities and on their social media channels in videos and posts, featuring the #worldoptometryweek tag, posters, logos and other resources.
Professor Irene Ctori (pictured right), vice-president of the College of Optometrists, commented that WOW provided an opportunity to pause and reflect on the progress made in optometry, with around 18,000 optometrists delivering essential eye care services across the UK, in both primary and secondary care.
‘We can hold a mirror up to WOW’s key focus on global challenges as we look ahead to the future in the UK too. While we have a highly developed eye care model here in the UK, there are still significant challenges in the system. Ophthalmology is one of the largest contributors to national health services’ backlogs, and this is only set to increase with the UK’s ageing and growing population,’ she said.
Untapped resource
Citing the success of enhanced services in Wales and Scotland, Ctori said optometrists were in a unique position to address some of the UK’s most pressing challenges and reduce pressures on hospital eye services, with the necessary clinical skills to provide enhanced primary care.
However, she added that a large enough optometry workforce was required to deliver specialised services and urged the UK government to effectively support optometry training and workforce development to ensure optometrists could provide enhanced care as well as continuing to deliver essential eye examinations.
‘The College of Optometrists is committed to championing optometrists and leading the call for more optometry services to be commissioned in primary care at this critical time for eye care, both in the UK and globally. Optometrists’ expertise can make a difference to providing equitable, accessible, quality eye care for patients across the UK,’ she added.
Specsavers’ head of clinical performance Russell Peake, agreed that WOW was a time to recognise the vital care provided by optometrists and to highlight the importance of community optometry in addressing healthcare challenges.
‘Early detection of glaucoma, for example, is crucial in preventing sight loss – and community optometry plays a key role in this effort. Expanding NHS-commissioned community glaucoma services would also further improve patient access to care and relieve pressure on NHS hospitals.
‘Specsavers is committed to continuing to advocate for the crucial role of community optometry within the healthcare system and supporting the development of clinicians and their teams to enhance patient care.’
In support of expanding the role of optometry, Jag Singh, optometrist and head of clinical proposition at Newmedica, said the ophthalmology provider was ‘passionate’ about the professional development of optometrists working across its surgical centres.
‘The core skills of optometrists means they are well placed to take on many of the roles and responsibilities previously reserved for consultant ophthalmologists. Most of our optometrists are involved in the delivery of a range of ophthalmology sub-specialities including cataract, wet age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.
‘The consultant ophthalmologist partners at each of our surgical centres play a key role in training and mentoring optometrists, helping to ensure that they have the relevant skill set, training and support to be able to deliver high-quality patient care.’
