The American Optometric Association
Closely following the founding of the Optical Society of New York in 1896, The American Optometric Association (originally the American Association of Opticians) began its existence in 1898. It is an amalgamation of several state and armed forces optometric associations, along with optometry student organizations. Under the AOA banner, more than 36,000 paraoptometric assistants and technicians, doctors of optometry, and optometry students are represented.
The AOA works together with its affiliate organizations to provide quality eye care and diagnosis of eye-related diseases and conditions throughout the country. In more than half of the communities in which AOA members offer eye care, they are the only available primary eye care resource for the public.
More Information on the American Optometric Association
The American Optometric Association is dual-headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and in Washington D.C. The organization works to set professional standards for optometric care throughout the country, drives research and education within the optometric community nationwide, and lobbies federal and other governments on behalf of optometrists and eye-care specialists, as well as students of optometry, and the general public.
The AOA works with federal, state, and local governments to ensure the availability of primary eye care throughout the country, as well as the establishment of laws governing the practice, licensing, and continuing education of eye care professionals.
The AOA works to improve both the availability and the quality of vision and eye care throughout the U.S. through the pursuit of several established goals, including: the recognition of optometrists as the primary health care providers, the ready availability of optometric care to the general public, the establishment of professional standards throughout the optometric community, the codification and ready availability of quality information pertaining to eye and vision care for the general public.
The American Optometric Association’s legislative and policy making effort is made up of an elected House of Delegates from the AOA’s general membership, as well as a Board of Trustees which functions to put into action policies enacted by the House of Delegates. The AOA recognizes its responsibility to members in facilitating the ethical practice of eye and vision care throughout the optometric profession, and has enacted (and continues to refine) a Code of Ethics, and Standards of Professional Care for the optometric profession, as well as an Optometric Oath for its members.
[Photo Credit: The AOA]