Industry News
WCO Launches Pediatric Resource in Commemoration of World Children’s Day 2023
In observance of World Children's Day 2023, the World Council of Optometry (WCO) is underscoring the significance of children's rights, with a specific emphasis on the right to accessible eye care. To mark this occasion, WCO has announced the official launch of its Pediatric Resource—a clinical tool designed to assist optometrists in delivering high-quality and accessible eye care to children globally.
Accessible via the WCO website (https://worldcouncilofoptometry.info/pediatric-resource/), the Pediatric Resource is now available to the public. It provides optometrists with a comprehensive set of clinical information, assessment tools, and references, empowering them to better serve children and their families in ensuring optimal eye care.
WCO expresses gratitude to the dedicated members of the Public Health Committee, both past and present, for their invaluable contributions to the development of this resource. Their expertise has played a pivotal role in creating a tool that addresses the unique challenges of pediatric eye care.
World Children's Day serves as an annual platform for advocacy on behalf of children's rights. Dr. Sandra S. Block, President of WCO, encourages collective efforts to protect and support children, fostering their growth into successful adults. She emphasizes the organization's commitment to incorporating vision development into the broader framework of a child's overall growth and development.
Dr. Block stated, "The experts who volunteer for our organization have worked hard to put together this excellent resource for optometrists to better assess, diagnose, and treat vision and eye health problems in the children they serve."
The Pediatric Resource is positioned as a valuable tool for those seeking insights into guidelines and equipment tailored for working with children. Priya Morjaria, Chair of WCO's Public Health Committee, notes its complementarity to the existing IAPB School Eye Health Guidelines. Morjaria invites both members and non-members to access the resource, anticipating that it will evolve over time based on user feedback.
Morjaria said, "We hope that both members and non-members will access it. The resource will evolve over time, and it is our hope that those who use it may share any further additions or feedback with us at [email protected]."
Optometrists are encouraged to explore the Pediatric Resource on WCO's website, embracing this valuable resource in their mission to provide comprehensive eye care for the youngest members of our global community.
