At a time when the regulation of the optometry profession in Portugal seems finally within reach, the Portuguese Association of Licensed Optometry Professionals (APLO) is playing a central role in advocating for this goal with political, regulatory, and academic bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The experience of this first year in office, marked by structural changes, intense political dialogue, and a great effort to connect with members, is the starting point for this conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are very close to correcting decades of delay. Regulation will finally place optometry in the position it deserves, as a primary health profession, with recognized skills, clinical responsibility, and institutional credibility,\u201d assures Jo\u00e3o Caetano. According to the leader of APLO, this first year in office was “an intense year of structural change, of rebuilding trust and of getting closer to the members”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe managed to reorganize APLO, modernize internal procedures, strengthen communication, organize extraordinary Open Optometry Conferences, and gather contributions for crucial reforms. Above all, I feel that we have given members back the feeling that APLO and optometry have regained direction, strategy, and the capacity to work,\u201d says Jo\u00e3o Caetano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n