One of the primary purposes of V.O.S. is to develop and expand the realm of vision care education. In order to ensure that the Taiwanese public would benefit from enhanced vision care, V.O.S. has invited experts and scholars in the vision care profession from both Taiwan and around the world annually to conduct periodic seminars and panel discussions, in addition to establishing a learning network so as to guarantee that members of V.O.S. could continuously be kept abreast of the latest vision-related information and breakthroughs.

Beginning in 1997, V.O.S. has broadened its outreach effort in inviting scholars and experts from abroad to share their professional knowledge and insights with th optometrists and opticians in Taiwan. As was done over the past few years, V.O.S. continues to invite Chandru Pessumal, O.D. (Dean of De Ocampo Memorial College of Optometry from the Philippines) to offer series of courses in Taiwan. Also in June and July of 1997, V.O.S. invited from the U.S., Dr. W.C. Maples, President of the College of Optometry in Vision development, to conduct a host of topical lectures and visit the relevant government sectors so as to foster further academic exchanges. Furthermore, pursuant to V.O.S.'s invitation, Dr. Steven Cohn and Dr. Beth Ballinger also offered a series of courses between September 30 and October 6 of 1997.

For the balance of 1998 and 1999, V.O.S. has scheduled to invite a number of international scholars to provide similar exchanges as mentoned above.

Moreover, starting in 1997 and each year thereafter, the vision care training courses will regularly be provided on a quarterly basis whereas the academic conferences will be offered semi-annually, all with the intended purpose of upgrading the professional competence of the Opticians and Optometrists in Taiwan.

In light of the current inadequacies regarding pertinent education and facilities for vision care, V.O.S. is committed to focusing its attention and resources on designing programs and the wherewithal to effectively develop and frain the necessary vision-care professionals in order to overcome the challenge of reversing the worsening vision trend among the public at-large.

Therefore, aside from adhering to its goal of developing qualified vision care professionals as outlined above, the Society seeks to bring about the establishment of a systematic licensing requirement, in addition to assisting with the on-going periodic re-examination of vision care professionals and the designing of continuing education curriculum for opticians and optometrists.

About 90% of the behavioral activities of those who live in a contemporary society is dependent upon his or her vision capability. Each and every advanced nation in the world has instituted regulations for Optometrists, in addition to having a well established vision care system.

Althought Taiwan is currently regarded as one of the developed nations in the world, the health care attention designated to vision-related issues and the educational trainings for vision care professionals in Taiwan are still in the elementary stage, akin to those in the developing nations. Because the above sentiment is strongly shared by Mr. Marshall Lin who began working tirelessly toward the preparation and gathering necessary support years ago and with the Vision Optics Society founded on July 30, 1988.

Over the past 12 years, the Society has conducted scholarly exchanges with optometric organizations from various advanced nations around the world, so too will V.O.S. continue to diligently pursue its committed purpose of developing qualified vision care professionals to effectively serve the public at-large of Taiwan.

We look forward to receiving the guidance and support from our fellow esteemed colleagues (from both Taiwan and overseas alike) as we work together jointly foward to pursue this worthwhile and meaningful cause. The inputs from our esteemed colleagues are deeply appreciated.

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