World Council of Optometry

About us

WCO is a unifying voice and catalyst for international projects and services that meet the needs of the optometric profession and public. WCO is the first and only optometric organisation in official relations with the World Health Organization. We also maintain the highest level of membership in the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

WCO defines optometry as follows:

“Optometry is a healthcare profession that is autonomous, educated, and regulated (licensed/registered), and optometrists are the primary healthcare practitioners of the eye and visual system who provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refraction and dispensing, detection/diagnosis and management of disease in the eye, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system.”

WCO is the worldwide organisation for the professionals working in the field of optometry, their associations and institutions.