Recognition of optometry and optometrists worldwide in eyecare continues to be a challenge that leading optometry professionals are bringing awareness to by educating the decisionmakers, government officials, and legislators who impact the 1.2 billion people living around the globe with preventable blindness. Hope for recognition of optometry and optometrists in vision care exists on a global level with the upcoming United Nations (UN) 2024 Summit of The Future on September 22-23, 2024, in New York City.
While it has not happened yet, the UN is making progress toward recognizing vision care and specifically optometry as its own entity. This would allow for the creation of legislated public health programs, like the existing InfantSEE program managed by Optometry Cares, to provide funding to support the optometry sector in the same way ophthalmology sector is currently being funded and supported.
Worldwide recognition for eyecare and optometry is a slow process. However, optometry professionals and leaders believe that the “Vision for Everyone Resolution” passed unanimously by the UN General Assembly in 2021 provides a framework for future recognition of optometry as its own entity. Some of this needed recognition could come at the UN 2024 Summit of The Future. At the summit, the UN’s 2030 Agenda known as the “Pact of the Future” includes the initiative that supports eyecare and optometry. But optometry is siloed within the non-communicable diseases category and optometry is not yet recognized as its own category.
According to optometry leaders, one reason the optometry sector is not recognized as its own entity is that some countries strictly recognize ophthalmology as a solution for the preventable treatment of blindness. “We as optometrists are not recognized everywhere in the world, I am slowly chipping away at educating legislators and government officials to recognize the value that they’re missing out on in their own country to the detriment of their citizens if they don’t include optometry in the solution to this problem,” says Dr. Scott Mundle. Trustee of the World Optometry Foundation (WOF).
Optometry professionals stress that optometry is collaborative with ophthalmology and not competitive in the fight to treat preventable blindness. “Optometry doesn’t take work or business away from ophthalmology. There are not enough of them [ophthalmologists] to provide the care that … people need.”
The optometry sector should be strengthened and further recognized by all countries when the UN General Assembly convenes at the UN 2024 Summit of the Future. The UN 2030 Agenda, which includes the initiative for eyecare, if ratified will bring additional recognition to the optometry sector that optometry leaders and professionals are seeking.
Sources: United Nations, InfantSEE. Eye Care Business Canada
