INDIGENTS鈥� HOSPITAL The Philippine General Hospital is the hospital of choice of poor patients who cannot afford to go to private hospitals for treatment. 鈥擨NQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� An optometry program will soon be offered at the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) to address the critical shortage of optometrists in the country and to improve the quality of and access to eye care.
The UPM, the Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists Inc. (IPAO), and the Asia Optometric Congress (AOC) Academy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday to formalize this commitment.
Under the MOU, UPM commits to establishing a Department of Optometry under its College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP) to offer a six-year Doctor of Optometry program.
IPAO will contribute to curriculum development, faculty training, and the establishment of a vision therapy and rehabilitation clinic at the UP鈥揚hilippine General Hospital (PGH).
For its part, the AOC Academy will leverage its international network to support UPM through faculty development programs, visiting lecturers, and postgraduate training opportunities.
UPM-CAMP Dean Esmerita Rotor; Dr. Charlie Ho, national president of IPAO and chair of AOC Academy; UPM Chancellor Michael Tee; Dr. Christine Rodriguez, PRBOO chair and CHEd technical panel member for optometry; and Dr. Katherine De Mesa, honorary secretary of AOC Academy, sign the memorandum of understanding launching the country鈥檚 first state university optometry program at the UP Manila Board Room on June 10, 2025. PHOTO FROM UP MANILA
鈥淭he collaboration aims to ensure quality education, training, and research in optometry, while also building international linkages and promoting best practices in vision science and eye care,鈥� the UPM said in a statement.
Optometrists are eye and vision specialists who primarily focus on diagnosing and treating vision problems, as well as prescribing glasses or contact lenses. They are different from ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors that perform eye surgery and treat a broader range of eye diseases and conditions.
According to data from the Professional Regulatory Board of Optometry, only about 6,399 of the 12,686 registered optometrists in the country are actively renewing their professional licenses.
With the country鈥檚 population now at approximately 117 million, the current optometrist-to-population ratio stands at 1:18,399鈥攚ell below the World Health Organization鈥檚 recommended ratio of 1:10,000 for developed nations.
Offered only in private schools聽
Dr. Charlie Ho, national president of IPAO and chair of the AOC Academy, said the Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country where optometry programs are offered exclusively by private institutions. In contrast, countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore have long entrusted optometry education to public universities.
鈥淭he industry has been facing the current shortage of optometrists for a very long time, and we saw the very issue is that the program of optometry is only offered in private institutions,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 had my own research and realized that 55 to 60 percent of medical professionals in a hospital would be allied medical professionals鈥攁nd that excludes the nurses and the doctors鈥攚hich means it鈥檚 very important that UPM as the Health Science Center takes charge in the development of our allied medical professionals,鈥� UPM chancellor Dr. Michael Tee said.
Ho also noted the outdated education and practice standards, despite the passage of the Revised Optometry Law of 1995 more than 30 years ago.
Although guidelines have been issued over the years, progress has been slow. Research, particularly in vision science, also remains underdeveloped.
According to Ho, organizations have long advocated for the inclusion of optometry in the curriculum of a state university, recognizing that public institutions are better positioned to support broader health goals.
It was only in 2024 that the Professional Regulatory Board of Optometry and its partner organizations elevated the issue to the Commission on Higher Education (Ched).
Former Ched Chair Prospero De Vera supported the initiative, declaring optometry a priority course eligible for scholarship support.
鈥淲e are in a position, in terms of mobilizing our network as well as resources. If we all cooperate, the setting up of the optometry program will be expedited. We hope that with this partnership and the willingness of all the stakeholders, we can go a long way,鈥� Ho said.
By August 2024, the College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP) convened a technical working group (TWG) to develop the Doctor of Optometry program.
The TWG is chaired by former CAMP dean Dr. Maria Eliza Aguila, with members including Dr. Teresita Castillo, chair of the PGH Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Dr. Victor Arni Sicam, director of the UP National Institutes of Health 鈥� Philippine Eye Research Institute; and Dr. Cesar Perez Jr., director of UPM鈥檚 Information, Publication, and Public Affairs Office.
Supporting the TWG is a dedicated group of optometrists led by Dr. Carmen Abesamis Dichoso and lawyer Bayani Abesamis of the Professional ODs Society, along with international experts Dr. James Wolffsohn, visiting professor from Aston University, and Dr. George Woo, professor emeritus at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University./mcm