AOA Excellence Awards
Nominations for 2026 are now closed.
AOA’s Excellence Awards are the organization’s most prestigious awards that recognize outstanding member doctors and partners for their exceptional contributions, unwavering dedication and distinguished achievements for the profession and the visual welfare of the public. These are individuals who stand up, bring the profession together and make sure the profession is united in advancing optometry.
The AOA thanks its longstanding Visionary Supporter Johnson & Johnson Vision for their recognition of these exemplary individuals. Awarded yearly, recipients are honored every year throughout Optometry’s Meeting®.
The deadline to submit a nomination has been extended to Feb. 27, 2026.
Optometric Educator of the Year Award
Recognizes a deserving member educator for outstanding service on behalf of the profession, optometric education and the visual welfare of the public.
Optometrist of the Year Award
Recognizes a member doctor of optometry for performance of outstanding services on behalf of the profession and to the visual welfare of the public.
Young Optometrist of the Year Award
Recognizes a member doctor of optometry in their first decade of practice who show leadership skills when serving their profession, their patients and their community.
Distinguished Service Award
Recognizes a member doctor of optometry who has distinguished themselves within the profession for unusually significant contributions and outstanding achievements contributing to the advancement of the profession of optometry. It recognizes long-term dedication rather than any single contribution.
Apollo Award
Recognizes persons or organizations for distinguished service to the visual welfare of the public and is the highest award presented to the general public by the AOA.
Student of the Year Award
The American Optometric Student Association recognizes optometry students in their third or fourth year of school who show leadership skills when serving their profession, their patients and their community.
Click here for a list of all AOA past award recipients.
Ask the Coding Experts
You ask, the experts answer. The AOA Coding and Reimbursement Committee supports the AOA's strategic direction to develop and value procedural (CPT), diagnostic (ICD-10) and supply codes (HCPCS). Members can submit questions regarding medical records and coding to askthecodingexpert@aoa.org. Here are the latest questions.
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