World Council of Optometry

19 September 2011

The World Council of Optometry has today announced its next world conference entitled “Advancing Optometry Worldwide”. This new event will take place in Chicago (USA) next year alongside the American Optometric Association’s “Optometry’s Meeting” and will run from Sunday 24 June to Tuesday 26 June 2012.

The three day event, to be held at the Blackstone Renaissance Marriott Hotel, will bring together optical professionals from all over the world and will be a driving force for the advancement of optometry worldwide by providing high-quality lectures, interactive workshops and excellent networking opportunities. 

Commenting on the plans for the event, Dr Susan Cooper, Chair of the Programme Steering Committee for the Conference said “This new style event for WCO will feature an exciting mixed programme of lectures from world-class speakers alongside sessions for delegates to share their knowledge and question leaders in optometry from across the world. For the first time, we will also offer a series of hands-on clinical workshops where delegates practice techniques and enhance their own skills.”

WCO represents 250,000 optometrists from 96 member organisations in 49 countries and is dedicated to the enhancement and development of global eyecare. The new format conference will build on WCO’s global expertise and explore the opportunities and priorities of eyecare worldwide, making this an event not to be missed.

Tone Garaas-Maurdalen, WCO President said “Supporting optometry wherever it is practised is at the heart of our work and this conference promises to not only offer opportunities for professional development to all delegates but also to address relevant, topical issues within the profession.”

The full conference programme will be available later this year, but in the meantime you can receive regular conference updates by emailing Chicago@worldoptometry.org or visiting www.worldoptometry.org.