Educate Your Community
The AOA reaches out to media outlets across the country to inform consumers of the importance of eye health and vision care provided by optometrists. You can do the same in your local community by utilizing the customizable resources on this page.
Public education and campaign materials
Available for your use are customizable news releases, social media posts, infographics and other campaign resources that cover a number of vision and eye-health related topics. Not only are these tools useful to educate your patients and the public, but they provide an opportunity for you to market your practice and services to your community.
Also available are PowerPoint presentations that can be used for health events, school meetings and other assemblies.
Questions? Please email Susan Thomas.
For more ways to promote your practice, educate your patients and serve your community through customizable marketing materials, visit the AOA Marketplace.
2021 calendar of eye and vision observances
Promote the importance of regular optometric eye and vision care by participating in some or all of the observances listed. Please note this list is not necessarily exhaustive but provides an abbreviated list of those in alignment with AOA outreach and positions. Observances and campaigns supported by the AOA are noted in GREEN.
Handouts, presentations & infographics
Description |
Format |
| Understanding the Difference Between Vision Screenings and Vision Examinations | Handout |
| Healthy Vision for Life | PowerPoint |
| Children's Vision | PowerPoint |
| Digital Eye Strain: Steps You Can Take for Good Eye and Vision Health | PowerPoint |
| Decorative Contact Lenses | PDF Infographic |
| Diabetes | PowerPoint |
| Diabetes and Your Eyes | PDF Infographic |
| Glaucoma: Knowing the Facts Can Save Your Sight | PowerPoint |
| Strokes and Your Vision | PDF Infographic |
| Optometry Career PowerPoint Presentation (courtesy of the Association of Schools of Optometry; geared toward young adults) |
PowerPoint |
Glaucoma, often called the "sneak thief of sight"
Glaucoma, often called the “sneak thief of sight,” frequently has no symptoms and, if left untreated, can lead to complete loss of sight. Educate your patients about the importance of an annual, comprehensive eye exam for early intervention with a downloadable infographic and template press release.
Smoking, vaping and your eyes materials
Smoking, as well as 'vaping' (also referred to as e-cigs), can be harmful to your eyes, in particular for contact lens wearers. Download this helpful fact sheet for your patients.
Scout Vision Awareness Patch toolkit
A vision awareness patch program has been created to help members start an awareness program to reach out to the thousands of scouts in their community.
AOA MORE, optometry’s data registry, takes yearlong pause
The AOA will use the time to evaluate its collection efforts and create a registry for the future that is most useful to improving eye health and vision care. The AOA launched the registry in 2015.
Who are you? AOA is letting America know
AOA’s public health observance calls out the bait-and-switch of online vision tests with a campaign emphasizing why there is no substitute for in-person eye health care with a doctor of optometry.
Developing a new generation of optometric leaders
In a virtual kick-off, the AOA launches Leadership Institute with 130 doctors of optometry from across the country. A project of the AOA Leadership Development Committee, the Institute is a yearlong program designed to grow and support the next generation of leaders in the profession.