ST. LOUIS—The World Council of Optometry (WCO), in partnership with CooperVision, a leader in addressing myopia, is hosting its first Latin America-based virtual event, “Myopia Management: From Theory to Practice,” on Feb. 20, 22, 27, and 29, 2024. The multi-day webinar is the result of a collaboration with local 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 and will feature insights from Latin American industry experts on how to get started with myopia management and adopt it as a standard of care in the region.

The myopia management standard of care resolution was introduced in April 2021, defining an evidence-based standard of care comprising the three main pillars of mitigation, measurement and management.

WCO president Dr. Sandra Block said, “Myopia is growing in prevalence around the world at an alarming rate, including in Latin America. We invite optometrists and other eyecare professionals in the region to attend this virtual event to better understand how to address myopia as a disease effectively and the importance of early intervention to manage childhood myopia. The World Council of Optometry is thankful for CooperVision’s partnership in this critical mission to increase myopia awareness and treatment.”

The virtual event will explore the myopia epidemic and how to address it from the perspective of leading eyecare professionals in the region, who will share how the latest research can be successfully integrated into clinical practice. It will be divided into four 90-minute sessions over four days on Feb. 20, 22, 27, and 29, starting at 6:00 p.m. in Central America, 7:00 p.m. in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and 9:00 p.m. in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile.

Registration is required but is free for those who wish to attend. The event will open up for registration later this month.