Highlights from Optometry's Meeting® 2026

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2026-2027 AOA Board of Trustees elected at AOA House of Delegates

The AOA House of Delegates elected the 2026-2027 AOA Board of Trustees during Saturday’s concluding session at Optometry’s Meeting in Phoenix. The following doctors of optometry were elected to serve on the AOA board: 

Officers 

• President Teri K. Geist, O.D., of Nebraska 
• President-elect Terri A. Gossard, O.D., M.S., of Ohio 
• Vice President Curtis A. Ono, O.D., of Washington 
• Secretary-Treasurer Paul M. Barney, O.D., of Alaska 
• Immediate Past President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., of Colorado 

Trustees 

• Amy A. Puerto, O.D., of Louisiana 
• Shane A. Foster, O.D., of Ohio 
• Steven P. Eiss, O.D., of Pennsylvania 

Not up for election this year but continuing to serve as AOA Trustees are Marrie S. Read, O.D., M.B.A., of AFOS in Virginia; Tad R. Kosanovich, O.D., of Florida; and Jon F. Pederson, O.D., of Colorado. 

Dr. Geist: Future of optometry must remain human

As she begins her term as AOA president, Teri K. Geist, O.D., calls on doctors of optometry to look forward with unity, purpose and a commitment to keeping care deeply human. 

“The past taught us who we are," Dr. Geist said. "The leaders who came before us built the foundation of who we are and how we stand here today. But leadership requires us to spend more time looking toward possibility than toward nostalgia. The future deserves our attention. And there has never been a more exciting time to imagine what optometry can become." 

Dr. Geist honored the leaders who helped build the profession, while emphasizing that optometry’s future will require bold advocacy, collective strength and continued focus on patients. Membership, she said, is more than a renewal form; it is a commitment to access, reimbursement fairness, advocacy and professional unity. 

“When we work together, our collective voice becomes stronger than any individual voice could ever be,” she said. 

Dr. Geist described a future in which optometry moves from correcting sight to enhancing lives, and from reactive care to anticipatory care. Her commitment, she said, is “to listen carefully,” “to lead humbly,” “to advocate boldly,” and to help ensure optometry’s future is “not only more advanced—but more human.” 

Dr. Geist calls on optometry to embrace change

In her installation address as AOA president, Teri K. Geist, O.D., urged doctors of optometry to recognize both the weight and the promise of a changing health care landscape. 

“We are living in a time of rapid change,” Dr. Geist said. “New technologies are transforming how we deliver care.” 

She acknowledged that change can feel difficult, even for those committed to progress. But she encouraged the profession to meet the moment with adaptability, noting that patients’ needs are changing as screen time rises, myopia increases among children, populations age, chronic disease grows and health care expectations shift toward more personalized, proactive care. 

“Growth is rarely comfortable,” she said. “But it is almost always necessary.” 

Dr. Geist said optometry has long helped patients see what they did not realize they were missing, whether through clearer vision, earlier disease detection or better understanding of their health. Now, she said, the profession itself is being called to see new opportunities. 

“The future of optometry begins with helping people see what they didn’t know they were missing,” she said. 

Teri K. Geist, O.D., installed as 106th AOA President

Teri K. Geist, O.D., of Nebraska, was installed Saturday as the 106th president of the American Optometric Association during the AOA House of Delegates at Optometry’s Meeting in Phoenix, opening her term with a message of stewardship, humility and shared responsibility. 

“As your incoming president, I understand the immense responsibility,” Dr. Geist said. “It is a stewardship.” 

In her remarks, Dr. Geist framed leadership not as a title or individual achievement, but as one part of a longer relay in which each generation of doctors of optometry carries the profession forward. “You don’t hold the baton forever,” she said. “You simply run your segment as well as you can.” 

That responsibility, she said, belongs not only to elected leaders but to every generation of optometrists entrusted with the profession’s future. 

“Every generation of optometrists inherits something valuable,” Dr. Geist said. “And every generation has a responsibility to leave it stronger, broader, and more accessible than they found it.” 

AOA House of Delegates approves three bylaws amendments

The AOA House of Delegates continued its session Saturday with a consideration of bylaws amendments, updates and changes. The AOA Congress took the following actions: 

Bylaws amendment concerning the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). This bylaws amendment changes the composition of the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education from 11 AOA-member seats to 10, replacing the technician-program member seat as ACOE phases out accreditation of technician programs. It adds another public, non-OD member to reflect increasing public-member workload and reinforce ACOE’s objectivity and independence in accreditation decisions. The amendment passed among Delegates. 

Bylaws amendment concerning board vacancies. This bylaws amendment gives the Board of Trustees more flexibility to fill vacancies by allowing the remaining trustees to appoint an experienced past officer or trustee until the next annual congress, when the House of Delegates elects someone to complete the term. It also clarifies procedures for officer vacancies, including that a Board-designated president-elect does not automatically become president and that a secretary-treasurer vacancy must be covered by another current officer until the next election. The amendment passed among Delegates. 

Bylaws amendment concerning paraoptometric membership. This bylaws amendment broadens Paraoptometric Member eligibility by removing the requirement that a paraoptometric be sponsored by an AOA-member optometrist and instead allowing eligible current or former optometric practice staff to apply directly. It also gives the Board of Trustees, subject to House of Delegates direction, flexibility to set eligibility rules and dues levels to expand access and engagement for paraoptometrics. The amendment passed among Delegates. 

AOA House of Delegates reopens Saturday with consideration of resolutions

The AOA House of Delegates convened for its final day Saturday in Phoenix with a consideration of resolutions amendments, updates and changes. The AOA Congress took the following actions: 

Resolution A regarding Conflicts of Interest. The resolution updates AOA conflict-of-interest policy by reaffirming recusal duties for trustees, officers, volunteers and elected officials, while empowering the Board of Trustees and Judicial Council to address disputes, complaints and enforcement. It also strengthens disclosure requirements for Board candidates and trustees and restricts outside affiliations, including service on optometry licensing boards, that could conflict with AOA objectives. The resolution passed after deliberation and a roll call vote among Delegates. 

Resolution B regarding Eye Deserve More. This resolution updates the Eye Deserve More advocacy campaign to emphasize vision as a driver of performance and overall well-being, citing expanded campaign reach, doctor locator traffic, and the 2025 partnership with Kike Hernández. It encourages AOA affiliates, doctors, staff, students, industry partners and the public to keep sharing patient stories and campaign information to highlight the value of in-person comprehensive optometric care. The resolution passed among Delegates. 

Resolution C regarding kiosks. This resolution warns that kiosks and other self-service automated vision-testing devices can compromise patient safety by generating prescriptions without comprehensive, in-person exams or ocular health evaluation by licensed doctors of optometry. It urges policymakers, educators, professional organizations and technology deployers to protect clinical standards, patient awareness, privacy, accountability and the doctor-patient relationship as these technologies expand. The resolution passed among Delegates. 

Resolution D regarding VBMs and health plans. This resolution calls for greater accountability and oversight of health plans and vision benefit managers regarding claims processing, fair reimbursement, credentialing, denials, downcoding and administrative barriers. It highlights AOA’s ongoing advocacy and member reporting as key tools to protect patient access, practice viability and transparency in payer-provider interactions. The resolution passed among Delegates. 

Students gain firsthand residency perspectives at AOA+ Residency Summit

The AOA+ Residency Summit successfully brought together optometry students and residency directors from schools and colleges of optometry across North America for an engaging and informative experience. Attendees had the opportunity to connect face-to-face with program representatives, explore a wide range of post-graduate training options, and gain valuable insight into the residency application process. 

Throughout the interactive summit, participants asked questions about program structures, clinical focus areas, and application timelines while learning firsthand about the benefits and expectations of optometric residency training. The event provided a unique platform for students to evaluate whether pursuing a residency aligns with their professional goals and career aspirations. 

AOA+ Career Fair opens doors to employment and networking

At the AOA+ Career Fair, optometry students and new doctors connected with prospective employers and organizations to explore the wide range of career opportunities available across the profession. Attendees had the opportunity to network, learn about different practice settings, and find positions that aligned with their career goals. Employers, meanwhile, benefited from cost-effective recruiting and the ability to engage with and evaluate a diverse pool of qualified candidates in real time. 

Disaster Relief Fund Marks 20 Years Of Optometry Support

During Friday’s AOA House of Delegates session, Marrie S. Read, O.D., M.S., AOA Trustee, provided an update on The AOA Foundation: Optometry Cares, including recognition of 20 years of impact from Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief. 

Created in direct response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the fund has helped doctors of optometry recover from disasters and continue serving patients in times of urgent need. Dr. Read highlighted the fund’s continued role in supporting the profession and invited Optometry Association of Louisiana Executive Director Robert Janot, O.D., to share a personal reflection on its impact. 

Dr. Janot recalled how Hurricane Laura struck his Louisiana practice in 2020 as a Category 4 storm, leaving the area without electricity for months. While his building survived, the prolonged outage created serious challenges for his practice and community. With support from colleagues and a partnership with the University of Houston, he helped provide eye exams and replacement contact lenses and eyeglasses to patients in need. 

After being encouraged to contact Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief, Dr. Janot said his practice received support that helped with rebuilding. He described OFDR as “Optometry’s Family for Disaster Relief” and urged continued support for the family of optometry. 

$12.5 million returned to doctors from AOA reimbursement, coverage fairness advocacy

AOA Secretary-Treasurer Curtis A. Ono, O.D., and AOA Trustee Tad R. Kosanovich, O.D., delivered a Reimbursement and Coverage Fairness Report to the AOA House of Delegates, outlining the association’s ongoing work to protect doctors of optometry, their practices and the patients who depend on them. 

Dr. Ono emphasized that doctors of optometry show up every day in their communities to diagnose disease, preserve sight and improve quality of life, yet too often face exhausting battles with insurers after providing medically necessary care. 

Dr. Kosanovich said health insurers and vision plans continue to create unnecessary barriers to payment, threatening not only practice sustainability but also patient access to care nationwide. He pointed to data showing the average cost of fighting a single claim is $43.83, while 97% of denied dollars are eventually paid—evidence, he said, that many claims should have been paid from the start. 

Together, the speakers highlighted AOA advocacy that has returned more than $12.5 million to doctors across the country, and helped stop downcoding programs implemented by Aetna and Humana since the last AOA House of Delegates in 2025. 

Dr. Ono closed by urging doctors to report payer challenges to StopPlanAbuses@aoa.org, noting that when optometry stands united, it can fight for fairness, transparency, respect and the future of patient care. 

‘An opportunity, and an obligation, to educate Americans about the connection between eye and overall health’

The AOA’s Eye Deserve More campaign continues to expand its reach, promoting the value of comprehensive, in-person eye exams and the role of doctors of optometry in overall health care. 

Launched in 2021, the campaign aims to raise awareness of quality eye health care, strengthen public recognition of optometrists as essential health care providers, and connect patients with local care through AOA’s doctor locator. Campaign performance is measured by patient engagement, including visits to the doctor locator and educational resources.  

In 2025, Eye Deserve More featured Los Angeles Dodgers player Kiké Hernández, whose comprehensive eye exam led to the diagnosis and treatment of vision issues that improved his performance. His story generated national media coverage and more than 2 million organic video views. 

The campaign also addressed growing concerns about GLP-1 medications and eye health, partnering with health influencers and conducting research that revealed significant public awareness gaps regarding potential vision-related side effects. 

Through earned media, paid advertising, social media, strategic partnerships, and patient success stories, the campaign drove strong engagement. AOA reported 282,000 doctor locator clicks in 2026 to date, putting the initiative on pace to surpass 2025 results while earning multiple national marketing and public relations awards. 

AOA President: 'Every reason to be optimistic’

AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., told the House of Delegates that AOA is exploring emerging opportunities that continue positioning optometry within the broader medical model. 

From aesthetics, technology integration, artificial intelligence, innovations surrounding GLP-1 therapies, to new clinical opportunities still taking shape, AOA is making a deliberate choice to engage with the future rather than fear it. 

Innovation is coming whether we participate or not, Dr. Bowen said, and she hopes to see optometry helping shape that future. 

“As we look ahead, there is every reason to be optimistic. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in the students and new doctors entering our profession, almost 3,000 of whom have joined us here in Phoenix.” 

AOA President: Building the future together

On the second day of the House of Delegates, AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., reflected on her inaugural address in 2025, in which she asked members to imagine an optometric version of It’s a Wonderful Life—a world where the AOA and its affiliates never existed.

“As I stand here one year later, what strikes me most is that we don’t have to imagine that alternate reality because every day this year, we’ve been writing a different story—a better story. A story where patients have greater access to care. Where doctors have more opportunities to practice to the full extent of their training. Our voice now carries even more influence in statehouses, in Washington, D.C., and throughout healthcare,” Dr. Bowen said. 

“That story is being written by every person in this room.” 

She emphasized the rapidly changing healthcare environment, and that while those changes create uncertainty for many professions, they create opportunities that point directly toward what optometry does best. She highlighted the ongoing scope modernization and expansion momentum and one of the most important fights facing doctors today: holding vision benefit managers accountable. At the federal level, Dr. Bowen said, optometry’s influence continues to grow as well.  

“More than ever, policymakers understand who we are and the role we play in healthcare. Federal agencies and committees are taking on our concerns and demanding accountability. 

“Whether we’re addressing Medicare challenges, advocating for veterans’ access to care, working on student debt concerns, advancing tax policy priorities, or promoting legislation that strengthens patient access, our voice continues to become stronger.” 

Vermont Scope Victory Expands Access To Essential Eye Care

Steven T. Reed, O.D., opened the AOA House of Delegates on Friday morning with an announcement of a major scope of practice victory in Vermont, marking another historic win for patients and doctors of optometry. 

 Signed by Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday, June 18, the new law modernizes optometric scope of practice and expands access to essential eye healthcare services. The new law creates an Advanced Therapeutic Procedures Specialty License and, beginning July 1, 2028, authorizes qualified Vermont doctors of optometry to provide additional in-office procedures, including certain ophthalmic laser procedures. 

With the victory, Vermont becomes the 17th state to authorize doctors of optometry to perform ophthalmic laser procedures and the third state in 2026 to achieve a major scope advancement, following Kansas and Tennessee. 

“This is a historic day for Vermont patients and doctors of optometry,” said Tina Keshava, O.D., Vermont Optometric Association president. “For years, Vermont doctors have worked to ensure our laws reflect the education and training we receive today. This legislation will improve access to care across our state and help more patients receive the services they need closer to home.” 

The new authority will include procedures such as laser capsulotomy, laser peripheral iridotomy, laser trabeculoplasty, corneal cross-linking, certain lesion removals, minor eyelid injury repair and periocular injections. 

Led by the VOA, with support from the AOA State Government Relations Center, the win reflects growing nationwide momentum to modernize outdated practice laws, strengthen patient access and ensure doctors of optometry can practice to the full extent of their education, training and licensure. 

Vermont's delegation was recognized at the start of Friday's House of Delegates session with an Affiliate Advocacy Award. 

"We celebrate this huge win for optometrists across New England and patients in Vermont," noted Dorothy Brodmann, O.D., VOA president-elect, alongside Dan Phillips, O.D., VOA vice president. "Let's bottle this energy and keep moving the needle forward across the country. You can do this. Thank you for sharing in the joy that we're feeling now in Vermont." 

Added Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., AOA president: "This victory is about more than one state—it reflects the growing momentum behind expanding patient access to care across America. As the third major scope advancement of 2026, this historic win demonstrates the increasing recognition of doctors of optometry as essential healthcare providers at the ready to address Americans' needs. We are all proud to stand alongside the VOA and affiliates nationwide as we continue advancing the future of eye health care." 

Follow aoa.org/news for additional details on this breaking news. 

Discover what's next at the AOA Eye Care Square & Exhibit Hall

Carve some time out for the AOA Eye Care Square & Exhibit Hall at Optometry’s Meeting, where the exhibit hall becomes an immersive hub for innovation, networking and practice growth. Visit the more than 150 exhibitors sharing the latest optometric good and services, technologies and business solutions that can drive practice success.  

Other happenings in the AOA Eye Care Square & Exhibit Hall include: 

• Hot-topic discussions on cutting-edge products at the EYETalks stage.  
• Opportunities to connect with top talent, explore professional partnerships and find your practice's next associate doctor or partner at the AOA+ Career Fair. 
• Interacting with clinical researchers from 9-10:30 a.m., and 2-5 p.m., Friday, June 19, for the in-person Poster Session—showcasing unique clinical cases and innovative research. 

Vermont Scope Victory Expands Access To Essential Eye Care

Steven T. Reed, O.D., opened the AOA House of Delegates on Friday morning with an announcement of a major scope of practice victory in Vermont, marking another historic win for patients and doctors of optometry. 

 Signed by Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday, June 18, the new law modernizes optometric scope of practice and expands access to essential eye healthcare services. The new law creates an Advanced Therapeutic Procedures Specialty License and, beginning July 1, 2028, authorizes qualified Vermont doctors of optometry to provide additional in-office procedures, including certain ophthalmic laser procedures. 

With the victory, Vermont becomes the 17th state to authorize doctors of optometry to perform ophthalmic laser procedures and the third state in 2026 to achieve a major scope advancement, following Kansas and Tennessee. 

“This is a historic day for Vermont patients and doctors of optometry,” said Tina Keshava, O.D., Vermont Optometric Association president. “For years, Vermont doctors have worked to ensure our laws reflect the education and training we receive today. This legislation will improve access to care across our state and help more patients receive the services they need closer to home.” 

The new authority will include procedures such as laser capsulotomy, laser peripheral iridotomy, laser trabeculoplasty, corneal cross-linking, certain lesion removals, minor eyelid injury repair and periocular injections. 

Led by the VOA, with support from the AOA State Government Relations Center, the win reflects growing nationwide momentum to modernize outdated practice laws, strengthen patient access and ensure doctors of optometry can practice to the full extent of their education, training and licensure. 

Vermont's delegation was recognized at the start of Friday's House of Delegates session with an Affiliate Advocacy Award. 

"We celebrate this huge win for optometrists across New England and patients in Vermont," noted Dorothy Brodmann, O.D., VOA president-elect, alongside Dan Phillips, O.D., VOA vice president. "Let's bottle this energy and keep moving the needle forward across the country. You can do this. Thank you for sharing in the joy that we're feeling now in Vermont." 

Added Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., AOA president: "This victory is about more than one state—it reflects the growing momentum behind expanding patient access to care across America. As the third major scope advancement of 2026, this historic win demonstrates the increasing recognition of doctors of optometry as essential healthcare providers at the ready to address Americans' needs. We are all proud to stand alongside the VOA and affiliates nationwide as we continue advancing the future of eye health care." 

Follow aoa.org/news for additional details on this breaking news. 

Inaugural AOA EyeQ Championship crowns historic champion

Bentley St. Peter of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, College of Optometric Medicine, won the first-ever AOA EyeQ Championship, supported by AOAExcel®. The new and reimagined high-speed test of optometric clinical knowledge pits champions from each of the 27 optometric schools and colleges of optometry across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. Southern California College of Optometry also won the competition’s first-ever Spirit Award for most energetic supporters. 

The brightest minds bring big school spirit to the inaugural AOA EyeQ Championship

A new era begins today with the inaugural AOA EyeQ Championship, supported by AOAExcel®. Join emcee Brooke Major, O.D., and thousands of students, educators and optometry professionals as top competitors from schools across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico battle for glory, prizes and bragging rights. Even if you're not competing, bring your school spirit and help your program contend for the coveted Spirit Award. 

"We’re creating a competition shaped by student insight that reflects the next generation’s priorities, passion, and vision for the future,"  says AOA President, Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D. 

AOA announces expansion of Future Practice Initiative

“One clear lesson we have learned over the past decade is that when we invest in advocacy, the profession advances,” AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., told the House of Delegates. 

In 2017, the Future Practice Initiative helped provide support and resources that contributed to important progress in scope modernization efforts across the country. Dr. Bowen announced the expansion of the initiative. 

Going forward, the initiative will broaden its focus to support affiliate efforts not only in scope advancement—including laser authority—but also in confronting abusive VBM practices and advancing legislation that protects patients and doctors alike, Dr. Bowen said. 

“Because the future of practice is about more than what doctors can do. It is also about removing barriers that prevent patients from receiving the care they deserve.” 

Dr. Bowen pointed to a new opportunity to coalesce the full strength of optometry's leadership community: the inaugural Practice Growth & Advocacy Conference, September 16 through 19 in Chicago. The new gathering will unite state affiliate executive directors, state government relations advocates, student leaders, payer and reimbursement experts, AOA leaders and volunteer advocates to plan, prepare and propel optometry forward.   

AOA salutes affiliate advocacy

Every advancement in optometry and patient care starts with someone willing to raise their hand and lead. That’s why AOA leaders highlighted during the House of Delegates the affiliates across the country who have continued to build the momentum that is changing the face of optometry. 

This year, Tennessee and Kansas became the 15th and 16th states to contemporize their laws to ensure doctors of optometry could provide in-office procedures including lasers, joining a strong group of affiliate states:  

Optometry has made significant strides to fight against vision benefit middleman abuses—and that strength is growing. Louisiana joined the ranks of states that have been ardently fighting back to ensure reimbursement and coverage fairness for doctors of optometry.  

The AOA also highlighted affiliates advancing patient access through advocacy efforts and legislation involving full physician recognition, aesthetics, injectables, prescribing authority, Medicaid and children's eye health, and affiliates leading important patient safety efforts. 

AOA’s Affiliate Advocacy Awards were presented to: 

• Kansas Optometric Association  
• Minnesota Optometric Association  
• Pennsylvania Optometric Association  
• Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians  
• American Optometric Student Association 
  

Insights, innovation and independent practice success

Optometric professionals interested in independent practice can join fellow independent doctors of optometry at the AOA Independent Practice Expo on June 18, from 3:30-5 p.m. Attendees will hear candid insights from successful practice owners, connect with industry partners, learn more about innovative solution providers and peers dedicated to helping independent practices grow, thrive and succeed. 

Optometrist-Lawmakers urge students to show up for advocacy

AOA+ Leadership Lab continued Thursday morning with “Beyond the Practice,” a panel discussion focused on taking leadership into action through advocacy and public service. 

Moderated by David Parker, O.D., a former Mississippi state senator, the session featured doctors of optometry currently or previously serving in state legislatures: Mark Shirey, O.D., of the Alabama House of Representatives; Greg Koenig, O.D., of the Nevada State Assembly; and Carl Newton, O.D., of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Chase Bowerman, AOSA president, also joined the discussion to ask questions on behalf of students. 

Dr. Parker opened by noting the record student turnout and thanking attendees for being active in the profession. He recalled first witnessing optometry advocacy as a student during a therapeutic bill hearing, where opponents attempted to define the profession inaccurately. 

“If you’re not there, then you let the opposition define you,” Dr. Parker told students. 

Panelists echoed that message, urging students to build relationships with lawmakers before optometry’s issues are debated. 

Looking forward: 5 areas of focus

Looking forward, Hymes reported that as AOA seeks and analyzes survey and focus group feedback from members and nonmembers alike, five immediate areas of special emphasis have been identified: 

1. Moving faster on strategic opportunities and membership offerings for groups, employers and strategic alliances as they continue to become more prominent, while continuing to deliver for doctors in smaller, more traditional practice settings.  
2. Addressing major metro markets. Nearly 25% of nonmembers are concentrated in just five metro areas, and market share in these markets is lower than average. The high concentration of nonmembers represents an exciting opportunity to rethink how AOA delivers for doctors in high-population areas. 
3. Using shared tools and affiliate support. A total of 77% of members say their state or affiliate association membership is valuable, one of the highest rated benefits tested. But many of the challenges we face require new ways of harnessing the AOA’s federated system.
4. Reframing advocacy efforts in ways that are more relevant and personal. A total of 85% of members and 68% of nonmembers say legislative advocacy should be a very high priority, but only 61% of members and 27% of nonmembers say they are very familiar with AOA's advocacy efforts.  
5. Reinforcing advocacy with more visible tangible value like restored reimbursement, customized coding and reimbursement help, continuing education and career-stage resources. Billing and coding resources tested at 70% very valuable with all members, and 55% of new grads said new tangible daily practice resources would make renewal much more likely.  

“The board and our analytics and recruitment strategy teams are ready and eager to schedule a discussion about growth opportunities we can pursue together. We have tools, resources and support and recognize that these efforts are best pursued jointly,” Hymes said. 

Public confidence in AOA doctors is strong

Hymes shared with the House of Delegates that optometry and the AOA continue to be positioned well with public trust, a measurable and difference-making fact that should excite members and help the AOA recruit new ones. He pointed to data from a recent survey: 

• 75% of Americans say a doctor's membership in their national association is important when they are choosing their healthcare provider. This finding is consistent with results of the past two years. 
• 7 in 10 consumers nationwide say they have confidence in an AOA member, a finding that matches last year's results. 
• Recognition of the importance of eye exams continues to expand—this year to 94%—up a point from last year. 

Hymes attributed these results to the AOA’s Eye Deserve More campaign. Since 2021, the eye-catching, multi-channel, campaign has used media, social media and digital advertising to break through the clutter to capture patients' attention and link, by the hundreds of thousands, to their local AOA doctor. Combined with AOA and affiliates’ nonstop media outreach to ensure doctors of optometry are the go-to eye health and vision care sources, our efforts continue to move the needle. 

$12.5 million restored to optometry practices via AOA, affiliate advocacy

In just over a year, AOA efforts have secured $12.5 million in restored reimbursement, “forcibly extracted from health and vision plans and put in the hands of our doctors through the relentless work of the affiliates and a determined AOA team,” Hymes reported. 

Addressing plan abuses is a core part of the AOA advocacy mission. Hymes pointed out that doctors of optometry across the profession look to the AOA to champion fair plan practices, protect independent clinical decision-making and stand up for the interests of both doctors and patients.  

Hymes offered a call to action to the House of Delegates. 

If you experience payer issues, please contact stopplanabuses@aoa.org to enlist AOA support on your behalf. 

AOA Team Services helps affiliates increase focus on advocacy, recruitment

A year ago, the AOA Board of Trustees officially launched Team Services, behind-the-scenes resources and support options that are open to every affiliate. Hymes shared that the AOA is working with more than two dozen affiliates through more than two dozen separate, customized and confidential approaches to serving organizational needs, from admin to legal, from member communications to maximizing industry support.  

“We've not said no to a request for help, and we don't stop until the job is done,” he said. 

Hymes added that of all the things Team Services has achieved in a year, what makes AOA most proud is that more than two dozen have been able to put an increased focus on advocacy, recruitment and other urgent priorities.  

Hymes encouraged affiliates to connect with their AOA board liaison trustee or with AOA staff to learn more. 

“Let's strategize about how we can deliver more for members; more efficiency, more ROI, even more answers to the question, ‘what have you done for me lately?'”  

‘Historic results, record-setting member engagement and growing unity of purpose across profession’

“The largest intergenerational gathering ever of America's current and future eye doctors” is how AOA Executive Director Jon Hymes characterized Optometry’s Meeting during his opening remarks before the AOA’s House of Delegates. 

It was the perfect segue into his report on the state of the federation. “Over the past 12 months, the affiliates and the AOA, together, have put optometry's message forward effectively and with force, achieving historic results, record-setting member engagement and growing unity of purpose across the profession,” Hymes said. 

He went on to detail: 

• Optometry's essential role in healthcare continues to expand at an accelerating pace, in law, regulation, in media coverage and in public understanding.  
• Optometry is a lead force in holding payers—health insurers and vision benefit middlemen (VBMs)—accountable, standing up for doctors against plan abuses and winning new allies for policy change, government investigations of corruption and more meaningful enforcement.  
• Optometry is beating back the threat of not-a-doctor legislation, a discredited diversionary tactic to derail scope gains.  
• Optometry mobilized as never before this year producing record doctor, student and paraoptometric participation in our organizations, including through the expanding AOA volunteer structure, AOA on Capitol Hill, the State Government Relations national conference, AOA-PAC and the AOSA's notable Kiosks Don't Care campaign.  

Hymes added: “All this is the work of an organization and a profession on the rise.” 

AOA+ leader to leader session emphasizes communication, listening and personal brand

Confidence, communication and empathy emerged as key leadership traits during Thursday’s AOA+ Leadership Lab panel at Optometry’s Meeting in Phoenix. 

Asked what skills stand out in new doctors, Sue Downes, CEO and co-founder of MyEyeDr, pointed to confidence and communication. She reminded students not to underestimate the education and experiences they have already gained, while also stressing that optometry offers doctors a unique opportunity to build trusted relationships with patients. 

AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., said listening is central to patient care, advocacy and leadership. True listening, she said, means absorbing what someone is saying and responding authentically rather than moving through conversations on autopilot. 

Both panelists also encouraged students to be visible and proactive. Dr. Bowen urged students to introduce themselves to leaders, ask questions and persist. Downes encouraged students to celebrate their successes, identify networking opportunities and take ownership of their personal brand. 

The message to students was direct: leadership is built through preparation, presence and the courage to engage. 

Panel urges students to build confidence through advocacy

Students attending AOA+ Leadership Lab heard Thursday that professional advocacy, networking and service are essential parts of becoming leaders in optometry. 

During a panel moderated by Brooke Major, O.D., AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., encouraged students and new doctors to say yes to opportunities that connect them with the profession and its advocates. Dr. Bowen said leadership involvement “ups your game as a practitioner” because it places young doctors among high achievers and creates relationships that can shape their careers. 

She also emphasized the importance of supporting professional associations that advocate for doctors and patients at every level, including on Capitol Hill. Leadership, she noted, requires time, commitment and financial investment, but helps protect the profession students are working so hard to enter. 

Sue Downes, CEO and co-founder of MyEyeDr, urged students to be intentional about their growth and to pursue roles that make them uncomfortable. That discomfort, she said, often signals an opportunity to learn, adapt and lead. 

AOA+ Leadership Lab opens with call to lead early

AOA+ Leadership Lab opened Thursday at Optometry’s Meeting in Phoenix with a clear message for the more than 2,600 optometry students in attendance: leadership does not begin after graduation. 

Brooke Major, O.D., welcomed students to the first day of AOA+ programming before moderating a panel discussion with AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., and MyEyeDr CEO and co-founder Sue Downes. The discussion, “Leading with Purpose: Influence, Growth and Impact in Optometry,” encouraged students to recognize leadership opportunities in moments that may feel intimidating or uncertain. 

Dr. Bowen reflected on being asked to run for the Colorado affiliate’s board of trustees early in her career, later learning she had been the seventh person asked. Rather than viewing that as a setback, she said the experience taught her that leadership often comes down to being the right person in the right place at the right time. 

Downes told students leadership is not fixed, but a journey shaped by learning, feedback and adaptation. 

Recognizing outstanding paraoptometric contributions

The complimentary Paraoptometric Appreciation Luncheon, from 12-1 p.m., offers a special opportunity for AOA associate-member paraoptometric professionals across the country to connect with peers, enjoy meaningful recognition and honor the invaluable contributions paraoptometric professionals make to advance patient care and practice success. Registration is required. 

‘Historic results, record-setting member engagement and growing unity of purpose across profession’

“The largest intergenerational gathering ever of America's current and future eye doctors” is how AOA Executive Director Jon Hymes characterized Optometry’s Meeting during his opening remarks before the AOA’s House of Delegates. 

It was the perfect segue into his report on the state of the federation. “Over the past 12 months, the affiliates and the AOA, together, have put optometry's message forward effectively and with force, achieving historic results, record-setting member engagement and growing unity of purpose across the profession,” Hymes said. 

He went on to detail: 

• Optometry's essential role in healthcare continues to expand at an accelerating pace, in law, regulation, in media coverage and in public understanding.  
• Optometry is a lead force in holding payers—health insurers and vision benefit middlemen (VBMs)—accountable, standing up for doctors against plan abuses and winning new allies for policy change, government investigations of corruption and more meaningful enforcement.  
• Optometry is beating back the threat of not-a-doctor legislation, a discredited diversionary tactic to derail scope gains.  
• Optometry mobilized as never before this year producing record doctor, student and paraoptometric participation in our organizations, including through the expanding AOA volunteer structure, AOA on Capitol Hill, the State Government Relations national conference, AOA-PAC and the AOSA's notable Kiosks Don't Care campaign.  

Hymes added: “All this is the work of an organization and a profession on the rise.” 

Future Eye Care Will Connect Data, Access And Humanity

Dr. Daniel Kraft closed his keynote by challenging doctors of optometry to take exponential, not incremental, steps toward the future of care. 

He described a future in which continuous data from smartphones, wearables, contact lenses, diagnostic tools and other connected technologies flows into more personalized, predictive and proactive care. Dr. Kraft said the eye is a biomarker-rich organ, offering insight not only into vision and eye disease, but also broader health, brain function and disease progression. 

That future, he said, must also account for access. Kraft pointed to social determinants of health, as well as “digital determinants,” such as whether patients have reliable internet, smartphones or access to health information. 

As care shifts from hospitals to phones, homes and community settings, Dr. Kraft said optometry can help bring innovation to patients at the right time and in the right place. His closing charge was clear: don’t wait to be disrupted. Help build the future of eye care.

AI Offers Augmentation, Not Replacement, For Eye Care

Artificial intelligence may be dominating health care conversations, but Dr. Daniel Kraft told attendees that AI is only one part of a much larger wave of innovation reshaping patient care. 

Dr. Kraft described AI tools that can support clinicians through documentation, patient education, clinical decision support and earlier detection of disease. He pointed to opportunities such as AI scribes, patient-facing tools that help people follow prescriptions or use eye drops correctly, and emerging platforms that connect personal health data with clinical care. 

At the same time, Dr. Kraft cautioned that AI is not without risks. He noted that AI systems can make mistakes and warned about “deskilling” if clinicians become too dependent on technology. The goal, he said, should be upskilling. 

For optometry, Dr. Kraft framed AI as a tool to amplify care, not replace the doctor-patient relationship. By reducing administrative burden and supporting better insights, he said, technology can create more room for the human conversations that remain essential to care. 

Dr. Daniel Kraft: Optometry must reimagine what comes next

Dr. Daniel Kraft opened the AOA Experience: Opening Session, supported by Johnson & Johnson, with a clear message for doctors of optometry: the future of eye care is arriving quickly, and the profession has a central role to play in shaping it. 

Dr. Kraft, a physician-scientist, inventor and health care futurist, said health and medicine are entering a period of rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence, consumer technology, genomics, wearables and new models of care. While he acknowledged real challenges facing the profession, including Medicare cuts and an aging population, Kraft emphasized the opportunity ahead. 

“Now is more exciting than ever to be an optometrist,” he told attendees, describing doctors of optometry as a gateway to primary health care. 

Dr. Kraft urged the profession not to suffer from a “failure of imagination,” but instead to rethink what eye care can become in an era when technology is changing how patients access information, engage with clinicians and manage their health. 

Honoring exemplary AOA members

AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., told attendees that one of the most powerful things about optometry is that the profession never stops evolving because its members never stop pushing forward.   

“Every year, doctors, educators, students and advocates across the country redefine what excellence looks like. And tonight, we are proud to honor those individuals.” 

Dr. Bowen welcomed to the stage the 2026 AOA Excellence Award winners: 

• Optometrist of the Year David Parker, O.D.    
• Young Optometrist of the Year Mahsa Masoudi, O.D. 
• Distinguished Service Award – Douglas Morrow, O.D. 
• Optometric Educator of the Year Gregory Nixon, O.D.    
• Student of the Year Amy Ngo 
• Apollo Award – iSee Ohio (The Ohio Optometric Foundation) 
• Paraoptometric of the Year Kimberly Pickle, CPOA   

AOA+ draws record student attendance

American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) President Chase Bowerman told attendees that while the AOSA’s mission is empowering students to thrive as doctors of optometry, each year the organization focuses on a particular aspect. This year it is community. 

Bowerman asked doctors to think back to when they were in school, perhaps not knowing what to do after graduation. “That is why this year we want to focus on increasing and building a strong community within each school. Connecting them on the national level and allowing them to build those connections early on in their optometry careers.” 

“Students, go introduce yourselves, ask questions, meet new people! Doctors, you have the future of optometry here ready to learn from you; be inspiring, and help create another great generation of optometrists.” 

Bowerman added that the AOA and AOSA are excited to launch a bold new chapter for student engagement—and competition—the first-ever AOA EyeQ Championship.

“EyeQ represents the future of optometric excellence—and fun!” 

AOA President: ‘You can feel that something special is happening’

AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., emphasized the energy on the first night of Optometry’s Meeting. 

“You can feel that something special is happening,” Dr. Bowen said. “Rolling into tonight, following an incredible afternoon with innovators and changemakers who came together during AOA’s second Innovation Hub, there is so much momentum here paving the way for what is next in healthcare.” 

But what struck her most wasn’t the technology itself, Dr. Bowen said. It was the people in these gatherings asking: how do we use these advances to take even better care of our patients? 

“That is optometry. We embrace innovation that elevates the human side of care. And I think that is why this moment feels so important for our profession.” 

Dr. Bowen highlighted the more than 3,000 students, residents, new doctors and faculty joining the more than 5,500 attendees this week.  

Arizona Optometric Association welcomes Optometry’s Meeting to Phoenix

Arizona Optometric Association President Jon Beeson, O.D., kicked off Optometry’s Meeting 2026 with a warm desert welcome to Phoenix. Dr. Beeson reminded attendees of what Optometry’s Meeting is all about. 

“More important than exhibits or receptions ... it’s about connection. It’s about the shared commitment we all bring to caring for patients, advancing our profession, supporting one another and continuing to move optometry forward. This meeting represents the future of our profession,” he said. 

“Phoenix itself was built upon the foundations left behind by earlier civilizations and thus was named because the city rose and thrived from those remains much like the mystical creature rising from the ashes. Our predecessors in this great profession have left us a firm foundation to build on as well. It is our opportunity to embrace this magical city this week and elevate optometry even higher than they could have ever imagined.”  

AOA Innovation Hub Panel: Pharmaceutical Advances in Eye Care

The final panel discussed emerging technologies, evolving patient needs, regulatory progress and the future of eye care within a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Panelists included: 

• Craig Sponseller, MD (Kowa) 
• Nick Ruth (Sydnexis) 
• Marc Gleeson (Azura) 

A central theme throughout the discussion was addressing unmet needs for both patients and providers.  

The optometry community has been tracking the engagement between Sydnexis and the FDA, and Ruth provided updates. 

Many current dry eye therapies primarily address inflammation or symptoms. Gleeson addressed how advances in our understanding of meibomian gland dysfunction have changed the way Azura thinks about treating dry eye disease. 

Sponseller reflected on the tremendous transformation he has witnessed in eye care throughout his career and expressed optimism for improved outcomes for patients worldwide. 

AOA Innovation Hub Panel: Surgical Procedures and Diagnostic Equipment

The panel offered a glimpse into the procedures and equipment revolutionizing therapy and intervention. Panelists included: 

• Rocky O’Shea (Alcon) 
• Justin Schweitzer, O.D. (Balance Ophthalmics) 
• Matthew Low, O.D. (Movu) 

Panelists explored three different "gaps" in current care—time, scope and purpose—and whether emerging technologies can meaningfully close them.

All three companies are making different bets on the same idea: the eye exam, while trusted, still misses important opportunities. 

• Balance Ophthalmics seeks to fill the gap in time by monitoring and treating what happens outside clinic hours.  
• Movu seeks to fill the gap in scope by using the eye to reveal information about the rest of the body.  
• Alcon seeks to fill the gap in purpose by addressing conditions and patient experiences that traditional exams may overlook.  

The question posed to attendees: Which of these gaps is real enough, and proven enough, to change how you practice on Monday? 

AOA Innovation Hub Panel: AI in Optometry

The panel explored how predictive technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging diagnostic tools are reshaping healthcare delivery, particularly in optometry. Participants included: 

• Rupe Hansra, O.D. (Topcon) 
• Davis Corley (Newton) 
• Carl Spear, O.D. (EssilorLuxottica) 

The discussion highlighted a significant workflow challenge facing the industry. While AI and advanced diagnostics offer tremendous potential, panelists noted that technology alone will not solve the problem. Addressing workflow issues requires optometrists, patients, industry partners and healthcare subspecialties to work together more effectively. 

Wearable technologies were identified as a major area of future growth. Today, wearables primarily function as data collection devices, with large technology companies controlling vast amounts of health-related data. The next generation of wearables, according to panelists, will move beyond monitoring and provide real-time therapeutic interventions and benefits. 

Looking ahead, panelists agreed that optometry must embrace new technologies to meet growing patient demand. The discussion concluded with a call to action for the profession to actively participate in shaping the future of healthcare innovation: "We're either at the table or on the menu." 

Special program brings together industry innovators

Today at Optometry’s Meeting, The AOA Innovation Hub brings together not only eye health and vision care industry innovators, but also clinical and scientific researchers and business leaders from across the world. Supported by Topcon and Newton, the program begins with a networking lunch, followed by three panels showcasing cutting-edge innovators and startups driving the future of optometric care. Moderators Scot Morris, O.D., Alan Glazier, O.D., and Helene Bracey, O.D., will guide the conversations. 

Thomas Wong, O.D., associate clinical professor in the Department of Clinical Education at SUNY Optometry, serving both as the director of clinical externships and director of new technologies, shared the perspective from schools and colleges of optometry. 

“We need to embrace responsible new technologies and AI,” Dr. Wong said. “We need to be the leaders.” 

AOA+ draws record student attendance

American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) President Chase Bowerman told attendees that while the AOSA’s mission is empowering students to thrive as doctors of optometry, each year the organization focuses on a particular aspect. This year it is community. 

Bowerman asked doctors to think back to when they were in school, perhaps not knowing what to do after graduation. “That is why this year we want to focus on increasing and building a strong community within each school. Connecting them on the national level and allowing them to build those connections early on in their optometry careers.” 

“Students, go introduce yourselves, ask questions, meet new people! Doctors, you have the future of optometry here ready to learn from you; be inspiring, and help create another great generation of optometrists.” 

Bowerman added that the AOA and AOSA are excited to launch a bold new chapter for student engagement—and competition—the first-ever AOA EyeQ Championship.

“EyeQ represents the future of optometric excellence—and fun!” 

Optometry's Meeting® poised to kickoff in Phoenix with potentially record-setting attendance

Optometry’s Meeting® is heading into Phoenix with record-breaking momentum. Some 2,600 optometry students are expected to participate in AOA+ special events at Optometry's Meeting, fueling overall registration totals that could elevate this year's annual AOA and AOSA member meeting to one of the highest-attended in recent memory. Student totals alone would make this the largest-ever student gathering at Optometry's Meeting. Officially opening on Wednesday, Optometry's Meeting promises a new and innovative focus this year, from the AOA Innovation Hub and AOA Experience: Opening Session, supported by Johnson & Johnson, with Dr. Daniel Kraft delivering the opening keynote, to the AOA EyeQ Championship, supported by AOAExcel®, on Thursday evening. Attendees also can expect an expanded Eye Care Square exhibit hall with 150+ vendors.