VT Growing Throughout Asia
By Thomas C. Headline, COVT
For the first time since the pandemic, Tom Headline was invited to present VT 101 to the optometrists in the Philippines and Malaysia!
The event kicked off with Tom presenting at the Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists (IPAO) Mid-Year Convention. IPAO is the only accredited and government recognized optometric association in the Philippines. This convention had over 500 participants in a combination of over 400 in person delegates and over 100 online.
Next, Tom conducted VT 101 under the auspices of the Vision Science Institute (VSI) the only accredited VT Education provider in the Philippines under the leadership of Dr. Charlie Ho and Dr. Maia Uy. We had over 20 delegates in a hybrid format of the course. Since the inception of the VT courses in 2015, the optometric colleges in the Philippines have incorporated VT education as part of the students’ curriculum. The students are also able to perform internships and VSI is one of the approved rotation sites. This year, Drs. Ho and Uy expect over 400 interns to rotate through their facility! This is truly an exciting development and demonstrates the true dedication and passion Drs. Ho and Uy have for VT!
After this, Drs. Ho, Uy and Tom traveled to Malaysia to meet with the Board Officers of the Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO) and faculty of the UCSI College of Optometry in preparation for the inaugural VT 101 in Malaysia. This course was attended by 42 delegates (and there is a waiting list for next year already). The delegates were composed of hospital-based optometrists, private practice optometrists, AMO Board Officers, and faculty of the UCSI School of Optometry. Everyone who attended is eagerly looking forward to the VT102 and VT103 courses!
Dr. Ho is the current president of the Asia Optometric Congress (AOC) which is a federation of the government recognized optometric associations within Asia. The AOC member countries include:
- Cambodia through the Optometrist Society of Cambodia
- China through China Optometric and Optical Association
- Hong Kong through Hong Kong Association of Professional Practising Optometrists (HKAPPO)
- India through India Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (India ASCO)
- Indonesia through Indonesian Optometrist Association (IROPIN)
- Korea through Korean Optometric Association
- Laos PDR through Laos Ophthalmological Society
- Malaysia through Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO)
- Myanmar through Ophthalmology Society of Myranmar
- Philippines through Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists (IPAO)
- Singapore through Singapore Optometry Association
- Thailand through Association of Thai Optometrists
- Vietnam through Optometry Vietnam
Under his leadership, the AOC has launched certification programs for Asian optometrists in Myopia Management, Specialty Contact Lens Fitting and he is working to establish a certification process for Vision Therapy and Behavioral Optometry in the region.
All of his hard work and dedication will result in Vision Therapy being available to the patients who desperately need it throughout Asia.
