Editing Optometry (section)

===South America===
====Brazil====

The CBOO (Brazilian Council of Optics and Optometry), which is affiliated to the WCO ([[World Council of Optometry]]), represents Brazilian optometrists. In conjunction with organizations representative weight of Brazilian companies, including the National Commerce Confederation for goods, services and tourism (CNC), through the CBÓptica/CNC, its defence arm of the optometric and optical industry, are defending the right of free and independent practice of optometrists, even if it is against the interests of ophthalmologists.

The Federal Supreme Court (STF), the Brazilian Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), another important National Court, ruled several processes granting inquestionable victories to ophthalmologists.

In Brazilian law, however, there is an explicit recommendation that the one prescribing corrective lenses are prohibited to sell them. This restricting rule to the ophthalmologists has to keep the optic shops away from Hospitals and Eye Care Clinics since 1930, and it has to be reviewed before any further regulation for the optometrists.

====Colombia====
In [[Colombia]], optometry education has been accredited by the Ministry of Health. The last official revision to the laws regarding healthcare standards in the country was issued in 1992 through the Law 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cna.gov.co/cont/publicaciones/estandares/salud/anexo_ant_for_pro_cie_sal.htm|title=Consejo Nacional de Acreditación<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=28 April 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040911151134/http://www.cna.gov.co/cont/publicaciones/estandares/salud/anexo_ant_for_pro_cie_sal.htm|archive-date=11 September 2004|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Currently there are eight official universities that are entitled by [[ICFES]] to grant the optometrist certification. The first optometrists arrived in the country from North America and Europe {{circa|1914}}. These professionals specialized in optics and [[refraction]]. In 1933, under [[Decree]]s 449 and 1291, the Colombian Government officially set the rules for the formation of professionals in the field of optometry. In 1966 [[La Salle University, Colombia|La Salle University]] opened its first Faculty of Optometry after a recommendation from a group of professionals. At present optometrists are encouraged to keep up with new technologies through congresses and scholarships granted by the government or the private sector (such as [[Bausch & Lomb]]).