AOA Awards and Recognition
Every year, the American Optometric Association (AOA) honors individual doctors of optometry, paraoptometric staff, students, affiliates and other partners for contributions to the profession and advancing the eye health and vision care of the public.
Annual Awards presented at Optometry’s Meeting:
The National Optometry Hall of Fame Awards
Since 1998, the National Optometry Hall of Fame has recognized and honored optometrists who are luminaries of the profession — those who have made significant and long-lasting contributions to the optometric profession. Originally created by the Ohio Optometric Association, the National Optometry Hall of Fame is currently administered by the AOA.
The Excellence Awards are the AOA’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. The Excellence Awards include Optometric Educator of the Year, Distinguished Service, Optometrist of the Year and Young Optometrist of the Year, and the Apollo award.
AOA President’s Awards
Each year, the AOA President recognizes doctors and partners who stand out for their exceptional contributions, unwavering dedication and outstanding achievements for the profession with the distinguished President’s Award. These are individuals who stand up, bring the profession together and make sure we are all advancing optometry.
Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr. InfantSEE Award
The Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr. InfantSEE Award recognizes an individual doctor of optometry who has made significant contributions to optometry or their community for outstanding public service involving the InfantSEE program.
The Paraoptometric Awards recognize optometric staff members for “outstanding and worthwhile contributions to both the profession and local community.” The awards include Paraoptometric of the Year, Paraoptometric Community Service Award and the Paraoptometric Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. Jerry P. Davidoff Vision Care Award
The Dr. Jerry P. Davidoff Vision Care Award is given annually to a doctor of optometry who is active in a clinical vision rehabilitation practice setting; has committed to giving back to optometry through the education of other practitioners; and has demonstrated a long-standing contribution and shared knowledge with fellow practitioners for the betterment of vision rehabilitation eye care.
Davidoff Vision Care Award Nomination Form
AOA Advocacy Awards
The AOA Advocacy Awards recognize individuals or affiliate(s) for their remarkable leadership and commitment to advocacy on behalf of the profession. These include AOA State Advocacy Award, AOA Federal Advocacy Award, AOA Third Party Advocacy Award, and AOA Media Advocacy Award.
The Contact Lens & Cornea Section (CLCS) is a nationally recognized segment of the AOA. Members of CLCS include eye care professionals and optometry students who are dedicated to furthering their understanding in the field of contact lenses, cornea, diagnosis and treatment of anterior segment disease, refractive surgery, and related technologies. The group recognizes individuals during Optometry’s Meeting for the CLCS Achievement Award, Dr. Donald R. Korb Award, Dr. Rodger Kame Award, Luminary Award for Distinguished Practice, and Dr. "Uncle Frank" Fontana Award.
On the radar: Emerging technologies
The AOA’s New Technology Committee shares five areas they are investigating and how they might affect your practice.
‘What more can I do?’ Change Agents ready to advance myopia care
Nearly 3,000 doctors of optometry joined The Myopia Collective, a groundbreaking partnership by the AOA and CooperVision determined to bring about a shift in the clinical management of young patients with myopia.
Making the grade
Paraoptometric gives Remote Proctored Testing a passing grade for its convenience. Learn more about remote testing for paraoptometric certification.