Optometry’s Meeting® | 5th World Congress of Optometry Brings First-of-its-Kind and Largest Global Optometric Gathering to Minneapolis

Minneapolis, Minnesota – June 25, 2025 – In partnership with the World Council of Optometry, the American Optometric Association (AOA) and American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) are proud to host the 5th World Congress of Optometry during Optometry’s Meeting® in Minneapolis. Welcoming thousands of doctors of optometry, students, staff and industry attendees, the event reflects a momentous alignment bringing together the strongest advocates for optometry – both from across the U.S. and around the world. 

Marking the 128th Annual American Optometric Association (AOA) Congress and 57th Annual American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) Conference, the annual four-day education, governance and networking event focuses on optometry’s essential and expanding role in health care.  

“This meeting is a singular moment for optometry to celebrate all we have accomplished together – and the future opportunities we have,” said AOA President, Dr. Steven Reed. “We are seeing optometry’s essential and expanding role advancing in unprecedented ways. We are able to share, learn and take action in an increasingly integrated and dynamic way than ever before and our opportunities continue to grow as our community gets larger, yet so much closer. We have broken through so many barriers and see no limit to what the profession can achieve.” 

Innovation Hub  

This year’s event debuted the inaugural AOA Innovation Hub, welcoming tech innovators, startups, industry reps and attendees to share the latest on future of eye health and vision care. Intended to align conversations and networking opportunities among the tech sector and optometric industry, the AOA Innovation Hub featured a three-part panel conversation, including:  

• Assessing Future Health Through AI-Enabled Tools  
• Addressing Patient Workflow Challenges Through AI  
• Enhancing Treatment Through New Technologies  

"This isn't just another summit—it's a call to action to challenge your perspectives, engage with these industry titans and be at the forefront of the evolution of eye care," said Scot Morris, O.D., session moderator.  

Click here to learn more about the panels hosted at the AOA Innovation Hub.   

See It Through  

Announced during the AOA Experience: Opening Session, the AOA and Johnson & Johnson are launching a new, united effort to bring together eye doctors, educators, caregivers, community leaders and policymakers to close the referral loop—the critical gap between a failed vision screening and the care that must follow.  

“Today, I want to pledge that we are here together with you in the journey to advance eye health,” said Peter Menziuso, company group chairman, vision, Johnson & Johnson. “There's a lot more for us to accomplish for children.” 

Called See It Through, the new initiative from The AOA Foundation in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson aims to build a movement to raise awareness, eliminate barriers and deliver real solutions, starting in individual communities and stretching across the nation. At the heart of this collaboration is InfantSEE®, a groundbreaking public health initiative launched 20 years ago with the simple but profound mission to make eye and vision care a routine part of infant wellness, powered by The AOA Foundation and sustained by the enduring support of Johnson & Johnson.  

“At Optometry’s Meeting 2023, the AOA issued a nationwide rallying cry to close the alarming gap in children’s eye health and vision care: Johnson & Johnson is proudly and urgently answering that call,” said AOA President Steven T. Reed, O.D. “Together, we are redoubling our efforts to ensure no child falls through the cracks of our health care system. In some communities, only 1 in 5 children who fail a vision screening receive the follow-up care they so critically need. That means children are entering classrooms with undiagnosed, untreated vision problems—putting their learning, confidence and future at risk.”  

AOA Experience: Opening Session 

Tommy Elton, O.D., president of the Minnesota Optometric Association, kicked off the AOA Experience: Opening Session by welcoming attendees to experience “Minnesota Nice”—a way of life. “We boast many things, but none more impressive than the power of our people,” Dr. Elton said.  

AOA President Dr. Steven T. Reed welcomed the global gathering and celebrated the profession’s compassionate spirit and highlighted its boundless opportunities.  During his opening remarks, Dr. Reed underscored the AOA’s advocacy efforts, detailing significant wins against vision plan abuses and optometry’s “unprecedented gains” in expanding its scope of practice across the U.S., with 14 states now permitting in-office procedures, such as optometric laser procedures.  

Belinda R. Starkey, O.D., president of The AOA Foundation, shared updates on the impact of the foundation and its programs, such as Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief (OFDR). In 2024, the program had its most active year ever – disbursing over $275,000 in emergency funds to nearly 200 doctors and students affected by hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and wildfires. Already in 2025, OFDR has provided $33,000 in relief. The grants help reopen practices quickly, so patients don’t miss a beat in their care.   

AOSA President James Chung continued the AOA Experience: Opening Session by welcoming attendees and highlighting optometry’s journey from humble beginnings to its current role—vision science pioneers, patient advocates and frontline providers of eye health and vision care. He cited the evolution as being accomplished by the profession’s efforts in advocacy and dedication to patients – and the pivotal role students play in shaping optometry’s future. 

Sandra Block, O.D., World Council of Optometry president, shared the importance of hosting the 5th World Congress of Optometry with Optometry’s Meeting.  

“WCO also believes, as the AOA does, that learning how best to serve our patients does not end upon graduation. As the science and evidence on how best to provide care for our patients changes, WCO has been working tirelessly with partners to offer continued education,” Dr. Block continued.   

During the AOA Experience: Opening Session, Richard Edlow, O.D., industry lecturer and author known as the Eyeconomist, shared his analysis of Americans’ immediate and future access to essential eye care services. Citing opportunity for industry, he called attention to three factors currently shaping the ophthalmic industry, including: 

• Market size 
• Supply of eye care providers 
• Demand for vision and medical eye care services 

He noted how the total U.S. ophthalmic market increased by over 70 percent between 2015 and 2023, and with that came a steady increase in medical eye care services over vision services (based on dollars spent) in recent years. Likewise, the past several years experienced an overall decline in full-time equivalent (FTE) ophthalmologists in the field, a factor of attrition by retirement and fewer graduates. That’s compared to optometry, where the workforce trend is upward as new graduates are projected to offset attrition by 4,000+ FTEs through 2035. 

Lastly, Dr. Edlow emphasizes that an aging American population is beginning to elevate demand for age-related eye care. 

Eye Care Square  

Following the Opening Session, Eye Care Square welcomed attendees to a sprawling Exhibit Hall floor featuring more than 40 new exhibitors—a record for industry support. Eye Care Square offered attendees an immersive experience showcasing the latest products and solutions shaping the future of optometry.  

For more information on Optometry’s Meeting, visit www.optometrysmeeting.org and follow along on social media on Facebook. 

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About Optometry’s Meeting® 

Optometry’s Meeting, the annual meeting of both the AOA and AOSA, aligns optometric and industry professionals for a four-day experience to advance optometry and engage the association’s official business. Optometry’s Meeting renowned educational program supports every member of the care team with progressive continuing education and professional development opportunities. Simultaneously delivering an impactful conference experience, Optometry’s Meeting promotes networking and connection through the expansive exhibit hall, as well as a dynamic program of special events.  

About the American Optometric Association 

The American Optometric Association (AOA) is the leading authority on and advocate for quality eye health care, representing more than 50,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and optometric professionals. As the sole primary eye care provider in many communities across America, doctors of optometry are often a patient's first entry point into the health care system, and have extensive, ongoing training to examine, diagnose, treat, and manage disorders, diseases, and injuries that affect the eye and visual system. Through a nationwide public health initiative, AOA's Eye Deserve More campaign is fostering awareness of the importance of eye health and vision care and the overall health benefits of in-person, comprehensive eye examinations with AOA doctors of optometry for all Americans.