Overview:
World Optometry Day is celebrated on March 23 as a symbol of the celebration of optometry as a profession and optometrists.
Its history dates to 1986, when Dr. J. Bert Holmes, former president of the American Optometric Association, took ownership of the International Association of Optometry and Vision Sciences and transformed it into a dynamic organization committed to improving the standards of optometry and vision science care worldwide.
After that year, Dr. Holmes proposed celebrating World Optometry Day as a means of raising the profile of optometry education worldwide by establishing the first Wednesday in March as International Optometry Day.
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) celebrates World Optometry Week (March 21-25) and World Optometry Day (March 23) each year. The World Council of Optometry encourages support for our colleagues and raises awareness of the clinical role of optometry and the health aspects of optometry around the world.
Objectives:
- Raising awareness of the importance of the optometry profession around the world.
- Reminding people of optometry services.
- Reminding community of the role of clinical optometry globally and locally.
Facts:
The celebration of World Optometry Day began in 1986, by the International Association of Optometry and Vision Science to celebrate the profession of optometry around the world, as the profession of optometry is currently practiced at different levels in the world, with some countries still lacking the profession. Given the history and development of optometry, the reason behind the rapid growth of the professional and medical culture achieved by optometry is that it was simply the right solution to meet a large and growing need in the field of primary eye health care.
Official Date:
Globally: March 23, 2025.
Locally: Ramadan 23, 1446 AH.
References: