At the IAPB “2030 IN SIGHT LIVE” global conference in Mexico City, Megan Webber, Co-Founder, KnowTheGlow, had the pleasure of meeting Sandra Block and Cindy Tromans, the current and incoming president of the World Council of Optometry. The trio reconnected in a recent call to discuss the potential avenues for collaboration between KnowTheGlow and WCO in their ongoing and upcoming campaigns. The World Council of Optometry (WCO) is a prominent global organization focused on advancing the practice of optometry and improving eye health worldwide. Under the leadership of Sandra Block and the forthcoming guidance of Cindy Tromans, the WCO is actively involved in various initiatives, including advocating for children’s vision health and developing international optometric standards. Currently, the WCO is organizing the 5th World Congress of Optometry in partnership with the American Optometric Association, which is to be held in Minneapolis in June 2025. The organization also engages in additional advocacy efforts, including World Sight Day campaigns and educational webinars, to address critical vision health issues globally. The organization also distributes a regular newsletter to all of its members. An article on KnowTheGlow and their ongoing global efforts is hoped to appear in the next WCO newsletter.
Sandra Block is a distinguished optometrist with a rich background in both clinical practice and public health. She currently serves as the President of the World Council of Optometry (WCO) and is also a Professor Emeritus at the Illinois College of Optometry. With a Master’s in Public Health and extensive involvement with the Special Olympics and the Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program, Block has dedicated over 25 years to enhancing vision care. Her advocacy work also includes h the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health, which empowers individuals with visual impairments to advocate for children’s vision care.
Cindy Tromans, the WCO President-Elect, brings a wealth of experience from her roles in European and UK optometry organizations. She is the former President of the European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) and has served on the Legislation, Regulation and Standards Committee at the WCO. Tromans is also an optometrist at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and a former President and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the College of Optometrists UK. Her experience and leadership are set to guide the WCO through its next phase as she prepares to assume the presidency. The KTG team is excited to continue to feature information about their amazing work and to look for ways to be additive to the WCO’s efforts to spread awareness about the glow and to advocate for quality eye care across the globe.
