ECOO convenes in Slovenia
Delegates network at ECOO meeting
ABDO joined fellow members of the European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) in Ljubjlana, Slovenia, last month for the organisation’s spring meetings and general assembly.
Hosted by Slovenian member, Društvo očesnih optikov Slovenije, the event attracted more than 50 delegates from 22 member countries, who received information and updates on a number of major ECOO projects.
ECOO president, Gabriëlle Janssen, stated that the key milestone of her presidency would be the update of the ECOO Blue Book, which contains data on the number and size of the profession in each country, the status, and scope of practice of the profession, its role in public health, and the education and training provided. She stated that the revised Blue Book would align with the World Health Organisation’s report on vision and the new World Council of Optometry competency framework – and that the revised Blue Book would be published this autumn.
Matjaž Mihelčič, ECOO’s immediate past president, provided an update on the Horizon I-Screen project – a European initiative to develop AI-driven pathways for early detection of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). He informed delegates that all 22 participating optical and optometric sites across Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Spain, the UK and France were now fully operational and actively uploading retinal images.
Matjaž said: “By enabling opticians and optometrists to contribute to primary care through AI-based disease detection, I-Screen supports an important shift towards care-sharing between primary and specialist care.”
Representing ABDO at the event was CEO, Alistair Bridge. He said: “The European Council of Optometry and Optics provides a unique forum to discuss and debate issues that affect eyecare practitioners across Europe. At the last meeting, topics included developments in technology, such as smart eyewear, how to promote the importance of well-fitting spectacles and how opticians can contribute to the healthy ageing of our societies. These discussions will help to shape ABDO’s advice and guidance, and future priorities.”