Paraoptometric advocacy lifts optometry: Why staff involvement is critical
Paraoptometric attendance at the AOA’s premier advocacy conference, May 23-25, helps reinforce optometry’s case for immediate changes that will affect the entire practice.

Who are you? AOA is letting America know
AOA’s public health observance calls out the bait-and-switch of online vision tests with a campaign emphasizing why there is no substitute for in-person eye health care with a doctor of optometry.

Developing a new generation of optometric leaders
In a virtual kick-off, the AOA launches Leadership Institute with 130 doctors of optometry from across the country. A project of the AOA Leadership Development Committee, the Institute is a yearlong program designed to grow and support the next generation of leaders in the profession.

AOA MORE, optometry’s data registry, takes yearlong pause
The AOA will use the time to evaluate its collection efforts and create a registry for the future that is most useful to improving eye health and vision care. The AOA launched the registry in 2015.

Enrich optometry’s future: Support ‘Opportunities’ grants
New AOA/AOSA Opportunities in Optometry grants provide underrepresented minority students assistance with entrance costs for optometry school—how you can help.
Air pollution implicated in AMD study as U.S. air quality declines
Scratchy, irritated eyes may be the least of concerns from poor air quality as a new study associates ambient air pollution with greater AMD risk and differences in retinal layer thickness.
New rules ahead for patient access to electronic health records
Under new rules for the 21st Century Cures Act, doctors of optometry will need to prepare for changes going into effect April 5. Doctors should check in with their health IT vendor in order to make sure they meet the new requirements.

Congress, President Biden asked to activate optometry for COVID-19 vaccination response
As AOA encourages federal recognition of optometry as COVID-19 vaccinators, doctors can access new COVID-19 vaccinator resources, information and guidance with an upcoming #AskAOA webinar.

Feds accelerate COVID-19 vaccination pace, AOA offers vaccinators’ webinar
U.S. health authorities spur next phase of COVID-19 vaccination rollout, dramatically expanding supply and administration sites, as optometry explores going from vaccinated to vaccinator.
AOA Focus
