Represents optometrists in the United States. Optometrists are trained to examine, diagnose, treat and manage disorders that affect the eye or vision. Provides brochures on eye problems for the lay public and professional materials on eye care delivery. Offers a Find a Doctor service on their website to help people locate optometrists. Coordinates InfantSEE, a public health program designed to ensure early detection of eye conditions in babies 6 months to 1 year. Member optometrists provide a free comprehensive infant eye assessment to children younger than one year. A service of the AOA in partnership with The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. Locate a AOA participant on the InfantSEE website www.infantsee.org or by phone at (888) 396-3937.
Mission
AOA advocates for the optometric profession and helps optometrists meet their patients’ eye care needs.
They do this by providing advocacy, professional development, practice management tools, and more.
Social media
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/American.Optometric.Association Twitter: http://twitter.com/aoaconnect LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-optometric-association YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/aoaweb
Organizational membership
AOA has 33,000 members with affiliates in 50 states and the District of Columbia. The American Optometric Student Association and the Armed Forces Optometric Society are affiliated with AOA.
Programs
AOA administers the Healthy Eyes Healthy People™ initiative with a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help implement the objectives of Healthy People 2010. AOA supports year-round programming to educate Americans about their vision and eye health and to encourage people to take steps to preserve and protect their vision. AOA creates eye care awareness among the public during Save Your Vision Week each March. AOA develops clinical practice guidelines, which include guidelines on diabetes and glaucoma, to define the appropriateness and quality of optometric care. AOA supports the coordination and development of research proposals to improve eye care through the Council on Research. AOA offers quality continuing education for eye care providers. AOA sponsors a Seal of Certification and Acceptance Program to impartially evaluate ophthalmic-related products voluntarily submitted by manufacturers.
Meetings
June 24–28, 2015 — Seattle
Publications
AOA News: Semimonthly newsletter Journal of the American Optometric Association: Monthly clinical reference articles Professional and patient education materials are available. Contact the Order Department at http://www.aoa.org.
Representative
Alison Manson, Federal Government Relations
Tel: 703–837–1378
Email: amanson@aoa.org
Education programs
Diabetic Eye Disease
Glaucoma
Healthy Vision