Opportunities in Optometry grant celebrates five years and 100 recipients

Many patients have never seen an optometrist who looks like them or shares their background. For instance, only 2% of practicing optometrists identify as Black, compared with 13% of the American population. 

The AOA Foundation is working to change that. Since 2021, the organization has granted more than $150,000 to some 100 optometry students from traditionally underrepresented groups. This one-time Opportunities in Optometry grant offers a tangible way for the optometry industry to foster diverse providers who can relate to patients on a personal level. 

Overseen by the AOA Foundation and the Community Engagement Advisory Committee, the grant extends a $1,500 stipend to multiple students each year and helps defray the costs of initial Optometry Admission Tests, school applications, and miscellaneous expenses. 

Impact: Grant recipients in their own words 

The first class of grant recipients has graduated and is excited to put their training into practice.  

Emely Soto, O.D., was one of the first grant recipients and recently graduated from the New England College of Optometry. She is now completing a residency in ocular disease and says receiving the grant made a measurable impact on her journey into the optometry profession.  

Ijem Ozodigwe, O.D, a fellow 2021 grant recipient, says the grant helped her get started in what can be an expensive field. “I’m deeply grateful to be one of the recipients of the OIO grants,” she says. “With this grant, some of the financial hardships associated with being an optometry student were greatly alleviated. I was able to use my grant to purchase some of the necessary equipment we needed, and I’m grateful for this, knowing that some of my classmates had more troubles.” 

More recent grant recipients attest that the grant not only eases financial burdens but also reaffirms their sense of belonging and purpose in the field where minority voices are underrepresented. 

“It reinforced that one of the greatest driving forces behind optometry is the community I come from and the responsibility we have to increase access to care and raise awareness about eye health,” says grant recipient Victoria Laws, an optometry student at Rocky Mountain University. “African American individuals are disproportionately affected by several serious eye conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy, highlighting the importance of representation and advocacy in our field. This support allowed me to begin my journey with purpose and strengthened my belief that breaking barriers in optometry is not just about my path but about opening doors for others who will follow.” 

Others are grateful to have the opportunity to build a more accepting and inclusive field of practice. “I am thankful for the opportunity the grant created and for its dedication to cultivating a more culturally competent field, one that recognizes patients’ clinical needs as well as the challenges they face every day,” says grant recipient Daisy Dominguez. “Now, as a fourth-year student, I hope to carry this vision forward by contributing to a profession grounded in empathy, equity and meaningful patient care.” 

Momentum grows with renewed financial support 

This work is impossible without financial support from the field. EyeCare Partners has demonstrated its commitment to diversity and to creating an equitable environment with its second year of financial support. Its $15,000 donation enabled the foundation to award 20 grants in 2025 alone. 

Optometry students bring a fresh perspective to the practice, and those from underserved communities are essential to helping the field evolve to serve all patients. The AOA thanks EyeCare Partners and other donors for helping these grants reach those who need them.  

Help support Opportunities in Optometry 

Applications for the Opportunities in Optometry grant will reopen in January 2026. If you know a student who can benefit from the grant, please encourage them to apply. Find eligibility criteria and application information here. 

Direct your AOA Foundation donation to the Opportunities in Optometry grant to help underrepresented students afford essential materials and training.