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Optometrists in India organize, strive for recognition
CHICAGO – The Indian Optometry Federation now leads optometrists in India, a country with more than 100 associations and programs lasting between 2 and 4 years.
The federation’s president, Rajesh Wadhwa, addressed attendees here at the World Council of Optometry conference.
“India is the second most populous country; 23% of the world’s blind are in India,” making the need for optometrists obvious, he said.
However, until recently, optometrists were disorganized, with more than 100 associations, 7,500 optometrists with 3- and 4-year degrees and 36,000 with 2-year diplomas.
“For good representation of optometry, we needed a single peak body that would provide a common platform and united voice for optometry in India,” Dr. Wadhwa said.
“There were two primary criteria: to bring together a wide array of optometry associations and to ultimately translate this endeavor into providing cost-effective community eye health,” he continued. “We wanted optometry to progress and freely give the community the eye care it needed.
“We signed the Delhi Declaration, with two goals: to assist in the development and provision of accessible, affordable and excellent vision care services to all people of India regardless of their geographical location or socioeconomic status, and the development of competent human resources in optometry to meet the current and future eye care needs and reduce the burden of vision impairment and blindness in India,” Dr. Wadhwa said.
The Indian Optometric Foundation was formed in 2011, with members from all areas of the country.
“We tread forward in the spirit of good relations with industry, member associations, educational institutions, nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders in optometry,” he said. “We have established an office and staff, monthly newsletters, advocacy. We are members of Vision 2020.
“We want people in India to know who is an optometrist and we want them to have better eye care,” he added.
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry has standardized the 4-year program and trains teachers with help from the International Centre for Eyecare Education. “By 2020 we hope to say no optometrist will have less than 4 years of training,” Dr. Wadhwa said.
“And we have the India Vision Institute and Optometry Council of India,” he said. “On these four pillars will stand Indian optometry.”
Dr. Wadhwa said the next steps are advocacy within the profession and to nongovernmental organizations and government.
“The profession will grow once the recognition from government comes,” he added.