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World Council of Optometry Conference to Address Vision and Ageing, Diabetes and the Eye in Neurological Disease
CHICAGO—The
World Council of Optometry (WCO) will hold its next international conference here at the Renaissance Blackstone Hotel, June 24 to 26, just prior to the American Optometric Association’s
Optometry’s Meeting in the same city. The
“Advancing Optometry Worldwide” conference will feature lectures on vision and ageing, diabetes and the eye in neurological disease.
Among the speakers will be W. Lee Ball, OD, FAAO, associate director of medical affairs for Vistakon, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.; Peter Kehoe, OD, past president of the American Optometric Association; Clive Miller, CEO of Optometry Giving Sight; and Professor Kovin Naidoo, African chair of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and global programs director of the International Centre for Eyecare Education. Included with the registration fee is an opportunity to attend clinical workshops or a lecture by Leonard Messner, OD, on the eye in neurological disease at the Illinois College of Optometry.
Ball, a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, will make a presentation about managing diabetes. He explained, “Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate, and increases in diabetes prevalence is not just an American phenomenon…it’s worldwide. If trends continue as they have in the past 10 years, the countries with the greatest number of people with diabetes will be India, China, the U.S., Pakistan, Indonesia and Mexico. Optometrists play an important role in diabetes prevention in addition to safeguarding vision. Thanks to this event, we have an opportunity to come together and share best practices on ways to reduce the complications and co-morbidities associated with this disease.”
The 150 organizations within WCO’s network represent over 300,000 optometrists across six world regions—Africa, America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
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