5 things to know about Optometry’s Meeting® 2025

January 30, 2025
What can you expect from the annual AOA and AOSA member meeting in Minneapolis, June 25-28? Learn more and register before March 31 to secure your lowest registration rate.
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What better place to celebrate the global optometric community than “the happiest city in the United States,” and four other fun facts about Optometry’s Meeting® as registration officially opens for the profession’s premier event. 

The 128th Annual AOA Congress & 57th Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry’s Meeting®, June 25-28, in Minneapolis, delivers the same powerful lineup of continuing education (CE), networking, career-building opportunities and business solutions that optometric professionals have come to expect. But this year, in collaboration with the World Council of Optometry (WCO), the AOA and American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) annual meeting offers a unique chance to recognize the opportunities that optometry has to advance eye health and vision care not only in the United States but also worldwide. 

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This convergence of global perspectives isn’t the only thing new about Optometry’s Meeting. Here are five takeaways from this year’s conference: 

1) It's all in the name: Optometry’s Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry. 

In partnership with the WCO, the AOA and AOSA are proud to host the 5th World Congress of Optometry during Optometry’s Meeting in Minneapolis. This momentous alignment brings together the strongest advocates for optometry, both in the United States and the world. Through advocacy, education, policy development and humanitarian outreach, Optometry’s Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry will empower optometrists to play a pivotal role in promoting eye health and vision care for all. Intersect with international colleagues during a reimagined AOA Experience: Opening Session and Eye Care Square opening reception on Tuesday, June 25, or over an in-person scientific Poster Session, provided by WCO, on Wednesday and Thursday, June 26-27. Want to participate in the Poster Session? Poster abstracts may be submitted electronically through Feb. 14. 

2) Minneapolis is ‘the happiest city’ in the United States. 

That’s right: Optometry’s Meeting host city, Minneapolis, was recently named the happiest city in the United States—and the 18th happiest city in the world among an overall list of 250 cities—nestled right between Aalborg, Denmark, and Basel, Switzerland. The ranking, from the U.K.’s Institute for Quality of Life, considered Minneapolis’ city governance, environment, economy, citizens and mobility. But there is so much more to Minneapolis, too. See what you can do in Minneapolis during Optometry’s Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry and find exclusive offers. 

3) You can make a serious dent in your CE requirements with great courses. 

Optometry’s Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry is recognized as an industry leader in optometric CE and professional development with over 200 innovative courses, amounting to over 300 hours of CE credits. In fact, 92% of 2024 CE attendees said their courses would enable them to improve their patient outcomes. Whether you’re a doctor of optometry or paraoptometric professional, earn up to 36 hours of CE credits (AOA CE Hours, COPE, CPC and 22 hours of CEE/TQ credit) in just four days from a comprehensive selection of clinical lectures and panels or 20 different hands-on workshops and demonstrations. Stay at the forefront of optometry by learning from industry-renowned speakers, either individually or in an integrated, team setting alongside practice staff. View the 2025 education session schedule.

4) It’s where you can connect—and reconnect—with your friends and colleagues. 

This is the only national meeting dedicated specifically to AOA and AOSA—and WCO—members with special membership pricing, including for AOA associate-member paraoptometrics and optometry students, that allows you to engage all the meeting has to offer with competitive registration rates. In fact, 82% of attendees say they are satisfied with the overall value offered by Optometry’s Meeting and nearly as many say they are highly to extremely likely to recommend the conference. And a big reason for that: connections. Here, optometry’s leaders, volunteers and advocates convene to advance the profession—be it through the deliberative body of the AOA House of Delegates or the organizational work of AOA Leaders Summit or the 5th World Congress. Moreover, come reconnect with fellow classmates during the Alumni Receptions on Thursday evening, an Optometry’s Meeting tradition that finds attendees wearing their school colors throughout the day. So, too, paraoptometric professionals can find valuable connections via the Paraoptometric Appreciation Luncheon Celebration and Idea Exchange, where staff across the nation have a chance to network and exchange insights, educational resources and strategies for helping their practice and careers.

5) Career- and practice-building opportunities are at every turn. 

This is what Optometry’s Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry is all about: equipping you for success. Whether you’re a doctor of optometry, paraoptometric staff or optometry student, these four days in Minneapolis provide you with an immersive opportunity for career development, skill building and professional networking that aligns you toward success. Beyond the premier CE and professional development program, the Eye Care Square exhibit hall is your chance to connect with over 150 exhibitors offering the latest products and solutions or keep your learning momentum going with the Education Theater and EYETalks Stage for more hot-topic discussions. If you’re an optometry student, be sure to check out the AOA+ Residency Summit & Career Fair on Friday, June 27, to learn more about the career opportunities and paths to consider in the optometric industry, and sign up for your seat at an AOA+ Leadership Link to make a connection with some of the profession’s leaders from across the country. 

Take advantage of early bird pricing for the lowest rates—now! 

See something you like about Optometry’s Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry? Don’t hesitate—register now to receive the lowest rates during early bird registration through March 31. Be sure to reserve your seat at special events such as the Celebration of Optometry or workshop courses and book your choice housing now before the rooms fill. 

Still interested in learning more? Check out the 2025 conference preview and see other ways to save at Optometry’s Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry. 

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