Seeding change

Excerpted from page 38 of the Fall 2024 edition of AOA Focus. 

The AOA Foundation, the charitable arm of the AOA, is a force in the realm of vision care and public health. Through its programs and initiatives, it works to ensure people of all ages have access to essential eye care services, provides much-needed support to those affected by natural disasters and continually invests in the future of optometry through its grant and scholarship programs. 

“During my tenure on the board of The AOA Foundation, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the profound impact our initiatives have on both the lives of our patients and the advancement of our profession,” says AOA Foundation President and AOA Trustee Belinda R. Starkey, O.D. 

“Supporting the Foundation means contributing to efforts that restore patient care more quickly in times of disaster, providing scholarships for aspiring doctors of optometry and ensuring bright futures for children across the country. Your support directly impacts the lives of patients and the professional community, making a tangible difference in times of need and fostering the next generation of optometrists.” 

InfantSEE®: Healthy vision starts early 

Eye and vision care are indispensable needs to live a healthy life. And those needs start at the earliest years of a person’s life. InfantSEE® is a public health program designed to provide no-cost eye assessments for infants in their first year of life. This initiative underscores the importance of early eye care and the role of optometrists in promoting lifelong vision health. 

“I look at InfantSEE not as a charitable program, but as a public health initiative that is intended to change the way parents, caregivers and our communities think about eye care for their infants, children and families,” says Jennifer Zolman, O.D., InfantSEE and Children’s Vision Committee chair. “It is a lifetime of healthy vision that we are trying to establish from the start.” 

About the program 

InfantSEE offers a one-time, no-cost, comprehensive eye assessment for infants between 6 and 12 months of age. These assessments are conducted by volunteer optometrists and can detect potential vision problems that may affect a child’s development. Early intervention is key to addressing issues such as amblyopia and strabismus, which can be treated more effectively when identified early. 

Success and reach 

Since its launch in 2005, InfantSEE has provided more than 170,000 valuable eye assessments to infants by approximately 10,000 doctors of optometry across the country—setting them on a path to healthy vision. The program has garnered support from parents, health care providers and policymakers, highlighting its importance in early childhood care. 

“We have been expanding our public awareness efforts over the past year by developing a grassroots InfantSEE State Advocate Program with an O.D. representative in each of the 50 states to work with their state affiliates,” Dr. Zolman adds. “The more providers we have in the states, the more access we have for these families as well.” 

Disaster Relief Fund: Supporting communities in times of need 

As of November 1, there have been 24 confirmed weather/climate disaster events this year, each with losses exceeding $1 billion in the United States alone, according to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information. These disasters devastate communities and disrupt essential services, including eye care. Those impacted by these disasters need swift and critical aid—and that’s where Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief (OFDR) comes in. 

About the program 

OFDR helps optometrists and students recover from the aftermath of natural disasters by providing grants of up to $4,000 to rebuild and restock their practices. This support ensures affected communities can continue to receive eye care during times of crisis. Qualifying disasters include, but are not limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, civil unrest, earthquakes, floods and fires. In the wake of the Change Healthcare cyberattacks, OFDR also assisted around 200 affected doctors of optometry. 

“I have seen the invaluable support provided by Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief, which assists doctors of optometry during times of crisis,” Dr. Starkey says. “This fund enables practitioners to restore patient care more swiftly, thereby maintaining the continuity and quality of care even in challenging circumstances.” 

Student scholarships: Investing in the future of optometry 

According to the 2024 Optometrist Income Report by ODs on Finance, the average student loan debt is a staggering $230,000, with about “8% of doctors having a debt burden exceeding $300,000.” With this overwhelming debt, it is critical to identify alternate pathways to defray education costs. The AOA Foundation offers scholarships and grants to support optometry students and researchers. These programs aim to advance the field of optometry by fostering education, innovation and professional development. 

About the funding 

The Foundation provides scholarships to deserving optometry students, helping them pursue their education and achieve their career goals, as well as recognizes academic excellence, leadership and commitment to the profession. Each year, scholarships are awarded to deserving students, easing the burden of education and creating the next generation of qualified optometrists. 

Third-year students can apply for two scholarships: 

• Dr. Seymour Galina Scholarship: This $2,500 scholarship was established through a bequest from longtime AOA member Seymour Galina, O.D. The scholarship application requires that third-year students identify qualities they developed through either financial planning or work experience that will be useful following graduation. 

• Dr. Larry J. Alexander Scholarship for Education: This $2,500 scholarship honors Larry Alexander, O.D., and his dedication to mentoring and leading the profession. The scholarship application calls for third-year students to describe a moment they served their community and how they plan to contribute to those in need following graduation. 

Introduced in 2024, a new opportunity is available for one third-year student and one  fourth-year student: 

• Dr. Stanley Pearle Scholarship: Two $5,000 scholarships (one to a third-year and one to a fourth-year) will be awarded to the creators of the social media plan judged to be the best submitted to the AOA Foundation, in accordance with the criteria. 

Opportunities in Optometry: Diversity and equity personified 

Only 2% of practicing doctors of optometry and slightly more than 3% of full-time students in optometry schools are Black, according to information provided in a 2020 press release from a State University of New York College of Optometry event. These staggering figures showcase the need for intervention to assist those underrepresented minorities interested in the field. 

About the program 

Opportunities in Optometry, a grant program of the AOA and the American Optometric Student Association, was created to promote diversity and equity in the optometric profession—helping increase these lackluster numbers. This fund is designed as a one-time stipend for underrepresented minority students interested in the field of optometry to help defray the costs associated with applying to optometry school. Multiple grants of $1,500 are awarded annually. 

“The application process for the grant that is awarded creates an opportunity for students to display their accomplishments, gain experience in applying for programs and, of course, to receive funds to help with the optometry school application process,” says William Jackson, O.D., chair of the Opportunities in Optometry Committee. “Students can see the importance the AOA has placed on increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in optometry by having such a program, which I believe can blossom and become larger and more encompassing of many groups who feel excluded from this great profession.”