XIAMEN - About 180 optometry experts from both sides of the Taiwan Straits discussed training and development of optometrists on Monday, hoping to strengthen cooperation in vocational education.

The mainland's education of professional optometrists has been slow in developing, with four provincial level regions still lacking special vocational schools in this field of work, experts said during the fifth Straitss Forum, which opened in southeast China's Xiamen on Sunday.

Visual impairment, along with tumor and cardiovascular disease, has been listed by the World Health Organization as a disease that severely affects people's life quality around the world.

Zhang Rongming, former vice chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said efforts should be made by the government, social organizations, enterprises and vocational schools to advance the development of professional optometrists.

Vice education minister Lu Xin said that a cooperative mechanism should be set up to encourage more Taiwan-funded enterprises on the Chinese mainland and mainland's businesses in Taiwan to play an active role in the development of optometrists.