As the global eye health community marked World Sight Day on October 9, 2025, incoming World Council of Optometry (WCO) President Dr. Cindy Tromans called on optometrists worldwide to reaffirm their commitment to comprehensive and equitable eye care.

In her statement, Dr. Tromans emphasized the importance of this year’s International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) #LoveYourEyes campaign, which urges individuals everywhere to prioritize their own eye health while advocating for accessible, available, and affordable eye care. Dr. Tromans explained that nearly everyone will experience an eye health issue in their lifetime, but more than one billion people still lack access to the care they need.

She encouraged optometrists, as primary eye care providers, to go beyond correcting refractive errors. Comprehensive eye exams can detect serious and often asymptomatic conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, she said. “Optometry must be fully integrated into people-centered eye care systems that strengthen referral pathways, leverage team-based delivery, and align with global efforts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations to ensure universal access to eye care,” she wrote.

To achieve these aims, she also called for greater collaboration, innovation, and advocacy, including partnerships with other health professionals, adoption of new technologies, and continued emphasis on education, training, and quality standards.

This year, she described, the IAPB is transforming personal pledges to #LoveYourEyes into global advocacy through a year-long petition that calls on decision-makers to invest in eye health systems and services. Dr. Tromans encouraged all WCO members to sign the petition and help hold leaders accountable.

“Together, we are making the case for eye care that is accessible, affordable, and available for everyone, everywhere,” she said. OM