The AOA is the profession's foremost advocate in Washington, D.C., fighting—and winning—for doctors of optometry and the essential, primary eye health and vision care services they provide Americans. Learn more about the AOA's federal advocacy below.
How does AOA's federal advocacy benefit optometry?
Maintaining optometry's seat at the table
Lawmakers and administration officials play a key role in determining what care is within optometry's scope of practice, how patients access that care and how doctors are reimbursed. Defending the rights of doctors of optometry to practice full-scope optometry is one of the most important roles of the AOA, committed to fighting and winning in Washington, D.C.
Advocating for optometry in federal government
The AOA is the profession's foremost advocate in Washington, D.C., consistently recognized as one of the most effective and respected advocacy organizations in the nation's capital. Each year, hundreds of optometry's advocates fly in to deliver optometry's priorities directly to members of Congress as part of the AOA's single-largest annual advocacy event, AOA on Capitol Hill.
Supporting candidates who support optometry
AOA-PAC is one of the most effective, hassle-free ways to support the advancement of optometry. Depending on the consistent support of AOA members nationwide, AOA-PAC is 24/7/365 and being able to count on these resources helps optometry stay at the table in Washington, D.C. AOA-PAC dollars are not limitless and so select criteria is established to determine which candidates will be supported by AOA-PAC.
Federal Priorities
The AOA's federal advocacy is driven by the issues that matter the most to doctors of optometry, their practices and the patients they serve. These federal priorities guide our work with Congress, federal agencies and coalition partners to protect the profession, expand access to high-quality eye care and advance policies that strengthen optometric practice.
Explore each federal priority below to learn more about the issue, the AOA's advocacy efforts and how you can get involved.
Vision benefit middlemen (VBM) reform
Medicare physician payment reform
Veterans eye health and vision care
Contact lens safety and prescriptions
AOA Action Center
AOA on Capitol Hill 2025: Live News Updates
Welcome to the official news hub for AOA on Capitol Hill 2025! Follow along with the AOA's exclusive coverage from optometry's single-largest federal advocacy event in Washington, D.C., and learn about the issues 600 of our colleagues championed on Capitol Hill.
Optometry’s expertise on pediatric heath and screen time dangers featured in U.S. Surgeon General’s policymaking symposium
Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety Chair and Past AOA President David Cockrell, O.D., joined federal health leaders at a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services symposium examining the impact of screen use on children, ensuring myopia, early detection and children’s eye health were front and center in national conversation.
Critical moment: AOA mobilizes for VBM reform
Nearly 35 AOA Federal Keypersons mobilized for a targeted Capitol Hill fly-in at a critical moment for federal Vision Benefit Middlemen (VBM) reform, urging congressional leaders to advance bipartisan protections for patients and their doctors.