The World Council of Optometry (WCO) plans to canvas optometrists across the globe to obtain a snapshot of their education status, local legislative factors, scope and practice restrictions.

WCO managing director Susan Cooper said she hopes the survey’s results will be used to inform development of the profession internationally to meet future healthcare needs. “The countries being surveyed will go beyond the members of WCO, although we will survey members first. Every country in the world would be a lofty goal, but we will be going as wide as we can. The results will be made public for anyone’s use.”

The survey will be conducted both live and virtually through Zoom and should begin soon, said the WCO, with the goal of releasing the results in late 2022 or early 2023.