Optometrists for the Nation: Safeguarding Vision, Building Golden Indonesia 2045
Every person has the right to see the world clearly. However, for millions of people, optimal vision remains a luxury. The momentum of World Optometry Day, commemorated every 23 March, serves as an important reminder that good vision is not merely a medical issue, but an inseparable part of human development. This year, the world adopts the theme “A Shared Vision: Collaboration in Global Eye Care,” a call to strengthen collaboration in enhancing global eye health services.
In Indonesia, this message feels even more relevant. Good vision is an essential foundation in supporting the achievement of sustainable development. When someone can see clearly, they have a greater opportunity to learn, work, and live independently. In other words, vision health directly contributes to efforts to alleviate poverty, improve welfare, and enhance the quality of life for the community.
Moreover, eye health is closely linked to a healthy and productive life. Vision impairments not only limit daily activities but also impact mental health, increasing the risk of stress and depression. In older age groups, declining vision can even raise the risk of falls and injuries. This demonstrates that safeguarding vision means maintaining overall quality of life.
In the world of education, vision plays an irreplaceable role. Children who cannot see clearly will struggle to follow the learning process. Amid the rising cases of myopia due to modern lifestyles and digital screen exposure, this challenge is growing larger. If not addressed seriously, vision disorders can hinder the formation of a superior generation that becomes the pillar of Golden Indonesia 2045.
However, challenges in the field are still evident. Vision disorders such as refractive errors, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are still commonly found, especially in areas not yet optimally reached by health services. One of the main causes is the limitation of vision health personnel in primary services. Meanwhile, specialist eye doctor services are still more concentrated at the secondary level.
This is where the role of optometrists becomes highly strategic. As frontline health personnel, optometrists have the competence to conduct screenings, examinations, and early detection of vision disorders. This role is vital in preventing more serious conditions through early intervention.
In line with this year’s global theme, collaboration is the key. Optometrists do not work alone. When conditions requiring advanced medical treatment are found, patients are referred to specialist eye doctors. The synergy between optometrists and ophthalmologists creates an integrated, effective, and tiered eye health service system. This collaboration ensures that the community receives prompt, accurate, and comprehensive services.
Unfortunately, many still do not understand that optometrists are not merely “spectacle makers.” At the applied undergraduate level, optometrists are equipped with strong clinical competencies, from eye disease science, ocular pharmacology, to examination techniques and diagnostics. With this expertise, optometrists play an important role in improving the degree of community vision health, especially in primary services such as community health centres.
The momentum of World Optometry Day is the right time to strengthen collective commitment. The government, health personnel, educational institutions, and the community need to synergise in expanding access to eye health services, including through the equitable distribution of optometrists across all regions of Indonesia.
Ultimately, the theme “A Shared Vision” is not just a slogan, but a call to collective action. Because seeing clearly is not only about sensory function, but about opening opportunities, improving quality of life, and building the nation’s future.
The steps towards Golden Indonesia 2045 begin with investment in the quality of human resources, including vision health. Here, optometrists play a strategic role as the main drivers in ensuring that the community can see, learn, and develop optimally.