Future ready: AOA leaders set the course for 2026

“Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” 

This is the quote AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., shared with more than 275 AOA-member volunteers to kick off the 2026 AOA Leaders Summit, January 29-21 in St. Louis, Missouri. At the beginning of each year, volunteers—doctors of optometry, paraoptometrics and students in the AOA’s robust committee structure—gather together to connect and mobilize. The work done at this meeting sets the course for the coming year.  

AOA wins set the stage 

Advocacy 

Dr. Bowen reminded attendees that advocacy is at the core of everything the AOA, volunteers and affiliates do. She highlighted notable advocacy wins, including: 

• Kicking off 2026, 14 states currently have laser authority
• A 2.5% pay increase to offset 2026 Medicare cuts
• Permanent extension of the 20% small business pass-through tax deduction originally set to expire in 2026
• Three new optometry-specific federal laws:
  • Physician recognition and payfor doctors of optometry working in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Approved status for opioid prescribing education
  • Student loan limit parity with medicine, dentistry and law
• Patient safety and the standard of care consistently fought for at the national and local levels 

Dr. Bowen encouraged volunteers to attend AOA on Capitol Hill | AOA Federal Keypersons Summit, March 15-17, to continue to drive critical progress for the profession's federal advocacy priorities with health policy leaders on Capitol Hill. 

“We are always on, for every optometrist.” 

Public advocacy 

AOA President-Elect Teri K. Geist, O.D., added that AOA advocacy is keeping the public safe. Dr. Geist pointed to the Eye Deserve More campaign, which has been promoting the importance of annual, comprehensive eye exams and driving patients to an AOA doctor near them since 2021. Last year, the AOA partnered with professional baseball player Kike Hernández, who shared his personal story on how a visit with a doctor of optometry took his game to a new level. In 2025, more than 402,000 patients visited the AOA member doctor locator, connecting them directly to the local doctor they can trust. 

The AOA conducts constant media outreach and surveillance to insert optometry’s messages into the national discussion on eye health and vision care—and push back against false information about the profession and eye health and vision care. For example, last fall the AOA issued a safety alert regarding Eyebot, including direct outreach to the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration, warning about the potential patient health safety issues posed by vision test kiosks. In December, the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) issued a formal patient safety alert regarding Eyebot kiosks currently piloted at 16 major retail locations in the state, asserting these 15-minute automated tests are no substitute for comprehensive eye care. The AOA is actively championing patient protection by urging the FTC and FDA to investigate Eyebot for potential Eyeglass Rule violations, while at the same time updating policies to clarify that direct-to-patient technology should never replace doctor-led diagnostic care. 

Resources for support 

The AOA Board of Trustees and volunteers are constantly working to identify how to advance all members and all practices. AOA Vice President Terri A. Gossard, O.D., M.S., highlighted resources from the AOA, including: 

• The only research-based clinical guidance for doctors regarding GLP-1 receptor agonists and vision risk—a growing concern as more of our patients are using these therapies for diabetes and other health applications, including weight loss.
• Coding tools to educate doctors and staff on medical recordkeeping and documentation, compliance and coding, supporting AOA members in providing the best possible patient care while ensuring accurate reimbursements are received. Based on feedback from members, this year the AOA will roll out the AOA Help Desk, combining all the resources AOA and volunteers already offer, to reinforce the benefit and value AOA brings to practices.
• The recently revised Telemedicine in Optometry policy, which reflects both the input of members and the rapid pace of change in telemedicine, ensuring doctors have the latest guidance on the appropriate usage of technology in patient care.
• AOA’s member-exclusive centralized education portal, EyeLearn, offers more than 200 courses and resources covering various topics. For the first time ever, in 2025 EyeLearn exceeded 1,000 unique users per month. 

Dr. Gossard emphasized that while other professions may be pulling back and revising their budgets and events, the AOA is positioned to grow, setting the policy agenda in states and the nation’s capital and educating and informing the public. This year, the AOA aims to bring more than 2,000 students, new graduates, residents and faculty as well as thousands of doctors, paraoptometrics and industry together at Optometry’s Meeting®, June 17-20 in Phoenix, to continue to elevate the profession of optometry and optometry’s impact on increasing patient care. 

Future looking: Innovative strategies for sustainable growth 

As the business of optometry rapidly evolves, practices that embrace innovation—across care delivery, technology and staffing—are best positioned to thrive. According to a recent survey, more than half of responding doctors of optometry indicate that growing their business is one of their top goals.  

During Leaders Summit, a panel of leading voices from across the industry explored the next generation of practice profitability. Panelists discussed emerging revenue opportunities such as myopia management, dry eye services and chronic disease care; examined how technology and artificial intelligence (AI) can streamline operations and improve margins; and shared new approaches to staffing in an increasingly competitive labor market.  

Moderated by Dr. Bowen, the panel provided practical, strategic insights into what it takes to build a resilient, future-ready practice. Panelists included:

• Alan Glazier, O.D., Clinician Ignition and ODs on Facebook 
• Eugene Shatsman, National Strategic Group
• Tareq Nabhan, O.D., UMSL and Affinia Healthcare
• Christopher Wroten, O.D., Innovations in Care Committee Co-Chair  

“One of the most important roles we play at AOA is serving as a filter—bringing clarity where there’s confusion and confidence where there’s uncertainty. That’s exactly why today’s conversation is so important,” Dr. Bowen said. 

Attendees walked away with actionable ideas to help members grow sustainably, deliver high-value patient care, and stay ahead in a shifting marketplace

The AOA acknowledges and thanks its industry supporters for this event, including Johnson & Johnson, EssilorLuxottica, Arrellio and iOR.