The World Council of Optometry (WCO) has appointed New Zealand optometrist Mr Jagrut Lallu as one of four global ambassadors to support its work to address myopia as a public health crisis.
As part of the collaboration with CooperVision, the ambassadors have been appointed for education, outreach, and practice-building initiatives, and to further the adoption of myopia management as the standard of care. Each are actively involved in day-to-day myopia management.
According to WCO, all ambassadors serve a global role, represent a diverse set of regions, and are leading optometrists with extensive experience in myopia management in both clinical practice and educational settings.
Lallu – who is the Asia-Pacific representative – is a partner of Rose Optometry in Hamilton, New Zealand and director of Innovatus Technology that develops software to make contact lens design accessible to contact lens practitioners.
In 2009, he set up the first myopia control clinic in New Zealand devoted to evidence-based methods for management. Then in 2023, he established the New Zealand Eye Research Centre, focusing on clinical trials and research in a new Hamilton location. Lallu is also a clinical senior lecturer at the Deakin School of Optometry in Victoria, Australia, and is an honorary teaching fellow at the University of Auckland.
Other ambassadors include global representative Dr Nicola Logan, European representative Dr Síofra Harrington, and US representative Ms Ashley Wallace Tucker.
WCO president Dr Sandra Block said with cases of myopia soaring among children, there is an urgent need to adopt myopia management as a standard of care on a global scale.
“It is an important cause to each of our ambassadors, and I’m thrilled to collaborate with them to expand awareness around the world. Each ambassador will play a crucial role in our efforts, using their platforms to engage with the optometry community and reach a broader audience.”
“While more eyecare professionals have embraced evidence-based approaches focused on the mitigation, measurement, and management of myopia—there is still much work to be done. We have new and exciting endeavours planned for this year, and we’re ready to hit the ground running.”
The WCO myopia management standard of care resolution was developed in partnership with CooperVision and introduced in April 2021. It includes the three main standard of care pillars of mitigation, measurement, and management.
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