Feb. 16, 2023 — Latinos En Optometry (LEO) has officially launched to support Latinos in eye care and eyecare professionals who serve Latino communities. The organization seeks members as it further develops sponsorship, events, and engagement in the coming months.
 
In 2021, Diana Canto-Sims, O.D., CEO and founder of La Vida Eyewear and co-owner of Buena Vista Optical, and Lawrence Chavez, founder and CEO of EveryDay Contacts Inc., founded LEO to act as a conduit between the Latino community and the eyecare industry. The organization provides resources to Latino optometry students and ECPs who serve the Latino community, along with continuing education for all optometrists.
 
“We are excited to begin building Latinos En Optometry and sharing the resources and connections that will help better address the eyecare needs of the Latino community and especially the doctors who serve the Latino community,” says Chavez. “We are committed to creating generational change to better serve the needs of Latinos now and 20 years from now.”
 
According to the 2020 Census, the Latino community represents 19% of the U.S. population, expected to grow to 21% by 2030. The National Eye Institute shares that the Latino population has some of the highest rates of vision loss and blindness due to eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. LEO recognizes this as an ever-increasing need for Latino ECPs.
 
“LEO will be a vibrant, engaging, growing organization to support you as you develop your optometric practice, your career, your life. We are planning our 2023 events now and are open to ideas that will support, develop, and serve our membership, the Latino community, and the eyecare industry,” says Dr. Canto-Sims.
 
An introductory event is in the works for Vision Expo East in March.
 
LEO’s board includes Howard Purcell, O.D., president and CEO of the New England College of Optometry; Hector Santiago, O.D., Ph.D., professor and director of research activities at Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry; Glenda Aleman-Moheeputh, O.D., founder and CEO of OK Love Myopia Control Experts; Karen Carrasquillo, O.D., Ph.D., senior vice president of clinical and professional affairs at BostonSight; and Diana Shechtman, O.D., fellow at the American Academy of Optometry and Optometric Retinal Society.
 
In the October 2022 issue of EB, Dr. Canto-Sims shared information to help ECPs achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion in their practices.
 
For more information: latinosenoptometry.com/membership.