WCO Releases Key Takeaways from 2025 Educators’ Forum

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) has released the official Key Takeaways document from its 2025 Educators’ Forum in partnership with the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). The Forum, held June 27 during WCO’s 5th World Congress of Optometry, was supported by EssilorLuxottica, a 2025 World Congress Sponsor.

“Education is at the heart of advancing our profession and ensuring that quality vision and eye care are accessible to all,” shared Olga Prenat, Head of Medical and Professional Affairs at EssilorLuxottica. “The Educators’ Forum highlights the power of global collaboration to strengthen curriculum, support educators, and prepare future eye care professionals, optometrists, to meet evolving standards and patient needs. We are honoured to support the World Council of Optometry in driving this important mission.”

The Educators’ Forum Key Takeaways document spotlights global perspectives in optometric education and provides strategic direction for educators, institutions, and policymakers working to strengthen optometry’s role in global health.

Highlights include:

Advancing a Global Standard: The new WCO Competency Framework for Optometry introduces five competency domains to establish a global benchmark for outcomes from optometry education, aligning with the World Health Organization (WHO) Eye Care Competency Framework.
Addressing Barriers to Progress: Strategies to overcome challenges such as professional opposition, limited training opportunities, and the lack of legislative recognition of optometry.
Leveraging Technology: The use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) and telehealth can expand access to optometry education and care, especially in underserved regions, but must be ethically integrated and professionally supervised to mitigate risks.
Preparing Future Graduates: Emphasis on curricula that balance innovation with essential clinical skills and human-centered competencies such as empathy, trust-building, and clinical judgment that technology cannot replace.
Strategic Outlook: Strong global standards, collaboration, and future-focused, outcome-driven curricula will reinforce optometry’s role in health systems and advance both WCO’s and WHO’s vision of accessible, equitable eye care for all.

EssilorLuxottica’s sponsorship was highlighted at the event by Dr. Nicolas Gilberg, who introduced the company’s Leonardo Online Learning Management System—a platform available in more than 150 markets that provides accredited, evidence-based professional training. In addition, the company is partnering with WCO on the Global Standard of Care for Presbyopia and the Aging Eye and supports scholarships through collaborations with ASCO and other organizations.

“The 2025 Educators’ Forum demonstrated the power of collaboration in shaping optometry’s future. Through the commitment and support of sponsors such as EssilorLuxottica, WCO can continue to advance education, elevate standards, and support optometrists in meeting global eye care needs,” shared WCO Past President Prof. Peter Hendicott. “This Key Takeaways document reflects this shared commitment to preparing future optometrists to meet global health challenges.”

The Key Takeaways document is now available to the global optometry community on the WCO Resources page, presenting a pathway for optometrists to strengthen curricula, overcome systemic barriers, and ensure that optometry remains central to equitable, accessible eye care delivery. Download the document here.