(PRESS RELEASE) LOUIS —With days to go until the start of the World Council of Optometry’s (WCO) first-ever Latin America-based virtual event series, “Myopia Management: From Theory to Practice,” more than 2,500 professionals have already registered to attend. The conference, held in partnership with CooperVision, a global leader in addressing myopia, will take place over February 20, 22, 27, and 29. No cost registration remains open by visiting here.
Those participating in the multi-day series—conducted entirely in Spanish–will hear from leading eye care professionals in the region who have successfully integrated myopia management into their clinical practices. The speakers will share practical recommendations for mitigating, measuring, and managing myopia and answer questions during live Q&A sessions.
WCO president Dr. Sandra Block said, “I am thrilled at the response so far to our landmark virtual event. There is still much work to be done before myopia management becomes a standard of care among optometrists in Latin America—vital progress for children’s eye health. Those attending will come away with invaluable insights into how to manage myopia and slow its progression through early identification and intervention. Now is the time to secure your spot to join this gathering of industry leaders of today, and those who will lead the way in future decades.”
The updated list of speakers includes:
- Sandra S. Block, OD, MEd, MPH, FAAO, Dipl AAO, FCOVD, FNAP, ARVO, from the U.S.
- Carlos Chacón, OD, MSc, from Ecuador
- Edgar Dávila-García, OD, FSLS, FIACLE, NCLE-AC, from Puerto Rico
- Elise Kramer, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, from the U.S.
- Angel Macedo, Mg. Optom, Lic T.M., from Peru
- Andrea Monteleone, OD, MEd, from Argentina
- Leonardo Orjuela, OD, from Colombia
- Héctor Hugo Páez, OD, from Colombia
- David Pinero, PhD, from Spain
- Ricardo Pintor, OD, FIACLE, from Mexico
- Nikolas Rosse, TMOC, from Chile
- Alejandro Tapia, OD, from Colombia
- Ariolfo Vazquez, OD, FSLS, FIACLE, from Ecuador
- Jorge Giovanni Vargas Velasco, OD, PhD(c), MSc, FIACLE, from Colombia
“Myopia Management: From Theory to Practice” has been further developed through WCO’s collaboration with local professional organizations: Group Manejo the la Miopia LATAM, Asociación Latinoamericana de Optometría y Óptica (ALDOO), Colegio Federación Colombiana de Optómetras (FEDOPTO), Colegio de Optometras de Puerto Rico.
The virtual event will be divided into four 90-minute, Spanish-language sessions over February 20, 22, 27, and 29, starting at 6 p.m. in Central America, 7 p.m. in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and 9 p.m. in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. Registration is required but is free for those who wish to attend. Learn more about the full slate of speakers and register here.
The WCO myopia management standard of care resolution was introduced in April 2021, defining an evidence-based standard of care comprised of the three main pillars of mitigation, measurement, and management. Visit the World Council of Optometry myopia management online resource featuring the standard of care pledge signup page, resolution, and practical tools and information for optometrists at https://myopia.worldcouncilofoptometry.info/.