5 myths—busted—about money, parties and politics in optometry’s advocacy

Myth: Advocacy is all about money in politics, and I don’t want to contribute to the problem. 
 
Fact: Many Americans are critical of the role of money in politics. However, the reality is that campaigning today is a costly endeavor for candidates looking to retain their office for any length of time. Longevity is important for optometry’s advocates looking to build an ongoing relationship with an elected official who will champion our issues over multiple Congresses. That’s where political action committees (PACs) come into play; PACs allow individuals to pool their resources and contribute to candidates who will advocate for our priorities. The AOA-PAC is the only PAC representing optometry—one of Washington’s largest—but is not a “Super PAC” that many people mistrust. Unlike a Super PAC, AOA-PAC is bound by a strict eligible class representing only our profession and can only legally contribute $5,000/year to a candidate. After you contribute to AOA-PAC, a board of directors made up of your peers chooses candidates to support based on strict criteria centered around issues that affect optometry. AOA-PAC is bipartisan, supporting lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who understand the needs of optometry. It is imperative that optometry builds strong relationships with these candidates and elected officials, providing them clarity on our vision for the future. AOA-PAC provides optometry the financial resources necessary for gaining a seat at the table and helps ensure our views are taken seriously by decisionmakers who are constantly courted by other, often competing, organizations with larger financial coffers.  

Myth: Advocacy means supporting a political party that I disagree with.

Fact: Many Americans hold weary attitudes toward partisan politics, the current political discourse and feel the tension of polarization. However, advocacy is about issues and not party lines. Optometry’s advocates support elected officials and candidates who champion our profession, our patients and our practices—regardless of political affiliation. The AOA often works with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers because optometry's issues, such as preserving the doctor-patient relationship, promoting patients’ access to eye health and vision care, and fair reimbursement for services, span both sides of the aisle. By engaging both Republican and Democractic policymakers, the AOA ensures that this message resonates across Capitol Hill. In fact, the AOA’s priority VBM reform bills in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate enjoy bipartisan support from Democrats and Republicans alike.

"No matter your personal political views, we are all 'Opticrats' and  'Eyepublicans,'" says Laura Suppa, O.D., AOA Federal Relations and Advocacy Action Committee member. "Optometry advocacy is for our doctors, our patients, and our businesses and those are the topics we are going in to discuss. Luckily, AOA staff prepares great fact sheets and 1-pagers to prepare our advocates, and they are always there to help craft key messages which make it easy to stay on point."

Myth: Advocacy is an exclusive community, reserved for a few select people.

Fact: Many Americans feel disconnected from the political process and that they have little influence over the decisions of their representatives. However, advocacy is for everyone. While often misunderstood as a role reserved for inside-track professionals or paid lobbyists, grassroots advocacy—the work of everyday doctors—is equally impactful in unique ways. When doctors meet with a member of Congress or their staff, they see a constituent who has taken time out of their practice or school to provide them direct feedback. Sharing personal stories about how policy decisions affect your own practice and patients back home carries immense weight; you’re not just a voter but a trusted health care professional in the lawmaker’s district.

"Advocacy for our profession isn’t about partisan politics or an exclusive club—it’s about the long game," says Jennifer Deakins, O.D., Texas Optometric Association past president and legislative commitee chair. "In a world where we crave instant results, it can be hard to remember that trusted relationships with policymakers are built over years, sometimes even generations. Whether you’re working on state or federal issues, you stand on the foundation laid by those who came before you, and you have the responsibility to empower those who will follow. The results aren’t always immediate, but I believe there’s no mountain too high for us to climb if we commit to the hard work together."

Myth: I'm just one person—or as a group, we’re too small—to make a difference in Washington. 
 
Fact: Most Americans care about making the political system work well despite frustrations over the prevailing political climate. And that system was intended to ensure that citizens had a voice in their governing. Your voice, when combined with hundreds of other optometrists and students at AOA on Capitol Hill, creates a powerful message that policymakers can’t ignore. The AOA's annual hill day is a key reason why the AOA is consistently recognized as one of the most effective, respected advocacy organizations in the nation’s capital. Consider how Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) optometrists gained physician-level recognition in January 2025 as a result of the work that advocates at AOA on Capitol Hill accomplished, championing the issue months earlier in April 2024. But that’s not to suggest that advocacy is ever a sprint; it’s usually a marathon. While AOA on Capitol Hill is a critical, high-impact event, it is part of a year-round advocacy strategy that involves individual doctors and students connecting with their representatives. Continued participation and connection demonstrates your personal commitment to the profession, making it more likely that you’ll be seen as a trusted resource lawmakers can turn to when health care issues are debated.  

Myth: I’m not a policy expert and don’t know the issues well enough to talk to my members of Congress.

Fact: Many Americans express pessimism over how their elected officials represent them on issues or policies they care about. Yet it’s the goal of advocacy to better inform, build awareness and gather support for how members of Congress can better represent their constituents—and it starts with you. Your unique perspective as a practicing or future optometrist is what makes you the most valuable resource in the room for your lawmaker. You are an expert on what it’s like to provide eye health and vision care to patients in their district, and that’s what elected officials need to hear. But AOA on Capitol Hill also prepares doctors for effectively delivering this message by providing comprehensive issues briefings, along with talking points and tips on how to effectively share your stories to get the most impact and generate support.

“AOA on Capitol Hill is just as much an education event as it is an advocacy event,” says Emily Benson, O.D., AOSA past president and 2024 graduate. “It’s a great opportunity to learn about issues that impact our profession, and then immediately go out onto the Hill to educate our lawmakers on these important issues.”