Keywords
health care organization
refractive errors
myopia
medical services market
How to Cite
Abstract
In press
Background. Optometry is gaining strategic importance due to the increasing prevalence of refractive errors, myopia, digital visual load, and the need for accessible primary eye care. In most developed countries, optometrists perform not only vision correction but also participate in screening, monitoring of chronic ophthalmic conditions, and interdisciplinary collaboration. In Ukraine, the profession is at the stage of formation, which requires the development of education, professional standards, and regulatory definition of its role within the health care system.
Aim. To analyse the current global state of optometry, identify trends in its development, and outline the prospects for the establishment of optometric care in Ukraine, taking into account international experience.
Materials and Methods. The lecture is intended for medical students, interns, ophthalmologists, optometrists, and specialists involved in the organization of eye care. The study was conducted as a private initiative without grant support or state registration. Bibliometric, content, and comparative analyses were applied to scientific publications, official reports, materials of professional associations, regulatory documents, and data on the development of optometric education and practice.
Research Ethics. The study was carried out in accordance with the principles of academic integrity and bioethics. No patients were involved, no personal data were collected, and no medical interventions were performed; therefore, ethics committee approval was not required.
Results. It was found that in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, optometric care is integrated into primary eye care and includes extended clinical functions. In the Asia-Pacific region, the key priority is the prevention and control of myopia progression. The global optometric services market is steadily growing. In Ukraine, the development of optometry is accompanied by the expansion of educational training and private practice; however, it requires regulatory definition of professional competencies and broader integration into the health care system.
Conclusions. Optometric care is an important resource for the prevention of visual impairment, early detection of ophthalmic pathology, and reduction of the workload on ophthalmological services. Its development prospects in Ukraine are associated with harmonizing educational standards with international approaches, legally defining professional competencies, introducing digital technologies, and forming an evidence-based model of primary care in the field of visual health.
Keywords: ophthalmology, health care organization, refractive errors, myopia, medical services market.
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