The Indian Optometric Association represents approximately 12,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians. Optometrists serve patients in nearly 6,500 communities across the country, and in 3,500 of those communities are the only eye doctors. Doctors of optometry provide two-thirds of all primary eye care in the India.
Vision Mission
Our vision is to provide world class optometry services making high quality eye and vision care accessible to all eye, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system. people across India. In order to achieve our vision, our mission is to establish Optometry as an Independent profession in India whilst facilitating the development of optometry around all over India and support optometrists in promoting eye health and vision care as a human right through advocacy, education, policy development and humanitarian outreach.
IOA Objectives
Our objectives, as defined in our Constitution, is the worldwide/India improvement and conservation of human vision. These include:
1- Enhancement and development of primary eye and vision care by optometrists.
2- Promotion of high standards of education and practice by optometrists including by the promotion of international co-ordination of optometrists.
3- Provision of support to aid programs directed at the provision of eye and vision care to societies in need.
4- Promotion of the advancement of the science of optometry.
5- To adopt the definition of optometry and optometrist of WCO/WHO.
6- Advocacy for optometry council as Statuary regulatory body under Indian parliament Act instead of any other Act like Company Act etc.
7- Up gradation of optometry education from diploma in optometry to Bachelor in optometry four years, Master and PhD courses .
8- Unification of optometrist designation and one nomenclature of degree as Bachelor in optometry as per guideline of University Grant commission .
9- Reduce the number of blind persons from 80% avoidable blindness ( due to refractive errors and back lock refractive errors from 24% to 0% in India by the optometry services .
10- Implement the guidelines under Master plan 2014 -2019 of WCO and WHO to reduce the burden of refractive errors which is more than 43% and become the first cause of avoidable blindness worldwide.