Contributed by Mary Rose Parao, O.D.
Chair, PODS 3rd Annual Conference
The Professional ODs Society (PODS) pulled out all the stops at its 3rd Annual Conference, held September 20–21, 2025, at the Makati Diamond Residences (Philippines). With the theme The Well-Rounded Optometrist: From Education to Experience to Expertise, the two-day event spun together science, skills and a splash of spectacle.
Keynotes with a global lens
The event kicked off with heavyweight keynote addresses from Dr. Cindy Tromans (United Kingdom), President-Elect of the World Council of Optometry and Professor George Woo (Hong Kong), Dean Emeritus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Instead of keeping the conversation local, both zoomed out to the big picture, putting Filipino optometry within a global ecosystem. Their call to align competency frameworks and benchmarks gave practitioners fresh perspective, especially timely as the University of the Philippines lays groundwork for its own College of Optometry.
Keeping the global-to-local thread alive, Dr. Rolando Enrique Domingo (Philippines) of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office introduced the SPECS 2030 initiative, built on five sturdy pillars: access, workforce, education, cost and research. He pressed the point that public health priorities and clinical practice need to move in tandem, casting Filipino optometrists as vital players in making equitable eye care more than just a policy line.
Myopia front and center
On the second day, myopia stole the stage. Professor Mingguang He (Australia), Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, unveiled his team’s pioneering work on repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy. His talk sparked conversation about how frontier technology can leap off the research bench and land in everyday practice.
Closer to home, Dr. Carmen Abesamis-Dichoso (Philippines), Philippine optometry leader and international lecturer, followed with a tour through the current arsenal of myopia control. From Ortho-K to low-dose atropine to spectacle lenses, she walked the crowd through the evidence, balancing big-picture updates with practical pearls for clinic and classroom alike.
Eye care for every athlete
Expanding the definition of well-rounded care, Ms. Gillian Akiko Thomson-Guevara (Philippines), OLY, National President of Special Olympics Pilipinas, spotlighted the Opening Eyes program and its role in widening access. She announced the next Opening Eyes event for December 13, 2025, showing how collaboration between clinicians and advocacy groups can push eye care into places it rarely reaches.
Rolling up the sleeves
Of course, no PODS conference would be complete without getting hands-on. Participants rotated through workshops on scleral lens fitting, myopia management and advanced diagnostics, grounding lofty lectures in real-world skills. Case discussions, from keratoconus breakthroughs to pediatric myopia success stories, ensured attendees left with practical insights they could bring back to the clinic on Monday morning.
Values at the core
Throughout the program, PODS kept circling back to the independence and professional autonomy that drives the profession. These values weren’t window dressing, they framed every discussion as a reminder that optometrists thrive when they can adapt, innovate and make patient-centered choices on their own terms.
Partners in progress
The exhibit halls buzzed with industry partners showcasing everything from topographers to myopia-control lenses. Their innovations reinforced the strength of the broader ecosystem, while their presence reminded attendees that the power of choice still rests with the clinician.
Looking ahead
As the curtains closed, attendees walked away with more than notes and handouts. They left with a renewed sense of purpose that sharpened their clinical edge, while keeping the balance of education, experience and expertise that makes a “well-rounded optometrist”.
Editor’s Note: This content is intended exclusively for healthcare professionals. It is not intended for the general public. Products or therapies discussed may not be registered or approved in all jurisdictions, including Singapore.