AOA Focus logo

THE LATEST



North Dakota secures telemedicine provisions, ignites grassroots advocacy

Pivotal new law establishes crucial safeguards and accountability for optometric telemedicine services but revitalizes grassroots engagement and strengthens the future of care in North Dakota along the way.

A voice for independent doctors

A one-stop hub of resources, education, legal assistance and more, the Center for Independent Practice was created to help doctors of optometry and optometry students succeed.

Build your practice and protect the planet

Every day is Earth Day at these optometric practices. Considerations for an environmentally friendly practice.

Candidates announce 2025 election bids for AOA Board of Trustees

Six doctors of optometry are vying for positions on the AOA Board of Trustees. Delegates representing the AOA’s affiliate associations will cast their votes for trustees and officers at Optometry’s Meeting®, June 25-28, in Minneapolis.

Are you prepared?

Having a disaster preparedness plan is essential for navigating your practice through an emergency. With recent, tragic examples of extreme weather events, knowing how you’ll respond should the unimaginable occur is more than due diligence: It’s peace of mind.

Patient success stories drive awareness and action

The AOA encourages members to submit testimonials to the Eye Deserve More campaign.

Load More Stories

FEATURED VIDEOS

Introducing AOA Focus: Members’ exclusive online hub for optometry news

Pamela Lowe, O.D., AOA Strategic Communications Committee chair, provides AOA members a first look at the digital evolution of AOA's flagship magazine. Introducing AOA Focus, a member-exclusive online content hub designed to keep you informed about the latest in optometry. Head to aoa.org/news to see your newly redesigned and optimized news resource for all things optometry. #optometry #optometrist

Why attend Optometry's Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry in Minneapolis?

Optometry’s Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry, June 25-28, in Minneapolis, offers a unique combination of the AOA & AOSA annual meeting with that of the World Council of Optometry (WCO) to recognize and celebrate the boundless opportunities that optometry has to advance eye health and vision care across not only the United States but also the world.

Audio Extra: Richard Castillo, O.D., D.O., on AOA's Para Surgical Assisting Micro-Credential

The surgical assisting micro-credential delivers paraoptometrics a solid foundation in surgical assisting techniques, patient care and surgical office management. Access the didactic portion of the AOA Paraoptometric Micro-Credential: Optometric Surgical Assisting course in the AOA EyeLearn Professional Development Hub.

Members of Congress host Capitol Hill briefing on vision plan abuses

AOA President-elect Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., shares a recap of an important issues briefing on Capitol Hill, Sept. 9, 2024, where the AOA, Patients Rising and National Consumers League representatives detailed vision benefit manager (VBM) abuses affecting patients and doctors. Such abuses are at the heart of three separate federal investigations, emphasizing the need for Congressional action in the form of the Dental and Optometric Care Access Act.

Seeking paraoptometric certification? Use AOA study resources—Tamara Franklin, CPOT, shares why 🧑‍💻

Developed using the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification’s (CPC’s) publicly available 2025 exam outlines, new study resources available in AOA EyeLearn are the No. 1 source for paraoptometric professionals looking to build confidence heading into their Certified Paraoptometric (CPO), Certified Paraoptometric Assistant (CPOA) or Certified Paraoptometric Technician (CPOT) exam. CPC member Tamara Franklin, CPOT, shares why AOA.org should be any paraoptometric staff's starting point for paraoptometric certification exam preparation.

Video Extra: Mile Brujic, O.D., on care of patients with presbyopia.

Mile Brujic, O.D., past chair of the AOA Contact Lens & Cornea Section, discusses the importance of sharing care options for patients with presbyopia.

Defocus Media Podcast on Arkansas

Partner Content

Defocus Media Podcast

🔊Listen as Defocus Media's Dr. Darryl Glover and Dr. Jennifer Lyerly sit down with Dr. Matthew Jones and Dr. Curtis Ono to discuss Arkansas' landmark VBM reform legislation that's been the talk of the profession lately.

LISTEN

CURRENT ISSUE

AOA FOCUS MAGAZINE

Destination: Scope expansion

The AOA deploys multifaceted support for state affiliates in their high-stakes fights to secure optometric scope expansion through strategic guidance, administrative and operational resources, and the Future Practice Initiative, established in 2018. The bold direction is yielding remarkable results—scope expansion and the future of optometry are reaching historic heights.

STATE ADVOCACY

HINDSIGHT JOURNAL

Hindsight Journal Fall 2024

Hindsight: The Journal of Optometry History is the quarterly publication of The Optometric Historical Society, a program of Optometry Cares®—The AOA Foundation.

Read Hindsight

PARAOPTOMETRIC NEWSLETTERS

Quarterly Paraoptometric Newsletters

The paraoptometric newsletter is a quarterly communication sent to all member paraoptometrics informing them of optometric news, events, education, involvement opportunities and more!

See Recent Issues

FEATURED PODCASTS

Arkansas Makes MASSIVE Changes to Optometry Practice Laws!

In this powerful episode of Defocus Media, Dr. Darryl Glover and Dr. Jennifer Lyerly sit down with Dr. Matthew Jones and Dr. Curtis Ono to explore the sweeping legislative victory in Arkansas that’s making waves across optometry. From fair reimbursement and protections against Vision Benefit Managers (VBMs) to the power of advocacy and relationships, this conversation is a must-watch for optometrists, opticians, and optometry students alike. #Optometry #AOA #Optometrist

AWP: Evidence-Based Optometry: Behind the Scenes of AOA’s Clinical Practice Guidelines

In this episode of the Aaron Werner Podcast, Dr. Aaron Werner is joined by Dr. Carl Urbanski and Dr. Andy Morgenstern—two key leaders behind the AOA’s Evidence-Based Optometry Committee. Together, they pull back the curtain on the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) that shape how optometrists diagnose and manage disease.

Dr. Jade Coats: The Empathetic OD

Jade Coats, OD, FAAO, of Rogers, Arkansas, wants patients to feel like she's in their corner, inside and outside of the exam room. She's ready with a list of resources to help patients who need some emotional support as caregivers or patients undergoing treatment. Being empathetic, she says, costs her no additional time but creates mountains of goodwill and can contribute to better outcomes.

The No.1 Eye Doctor: They’re Lying To You About Blue Light! The Truth About Floaters!

Dr. Joseph Allen is an optometrist and leading expert in eye health. He is the creator of the ‘Doctor Eye Health’ YouTube channel and host of the podcast, ‘Eye Give A Damn!’.

FOLLOW US