Dr. Sandra S. Block OD, M. Ed., MPH, FAAO, Dipl AAO, FCOVD, DAAO, FNAP, FARVO is a Professor Emeritus at Illinois College of Optometry. She received her O.D. degree (1981) and followed by a Pediatric Residency (1982) at the Illinois College of Optometry where she was a faculty member until her retirement in 2020. She completed her Master of Education at National Louis University and her Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois, School of Public Health. She is a Diplomate in Public Health and Environmental Vision at the American Academy of Optometry, a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academy of Practice and a Fellow of ARVO. She previously sat on the Prevent Blindness Board of Trustees and was recently approved as an Emeritus Board member, was co-chair of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health and currently is the treasurer of VISION 2020 USA Board of Directors.
She was a consultant to the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program from 1995-2022 and was instrumental in developing the vision program used globally. Her interests lie in primary care for children and persons with disabilities, as well as diagnosis and treatment of visually related learning problems as well as public health issues facing the equity and quality of eye care delivery.
Dr. Block has authored numerous publications and conducted presentations worldwide. In November 2021, she was elected as the WCO President-Elect. In which she has been involved with WCO’s work with the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Prior to November of 2021, Dr. Block served on WCO’s Board of Directors as the Public Health Committee Chair. She is the current President of WCO.