American Optometric Association

03/18/2026

AOA board members and staff, led by AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., officially opened AOA's Capitol Hill office in between AOA on Capitol Hill meetings with legislators advocating for optometry's essential and expanding role in health care. Doubling down on optometry's presence in the nation's capital, optometry's advocates have a home base to connect with legislators and advance optometry's priorities, including physician-level recognition and reimbursement and coverage fairness.

03/17/2026

AOA Board of Trustees leadership conduct a White House briefing during AOA on Capitol Hill | AOA Federal Keyperson Summit, reinforcing optometry’s essential and expanding role in health care during an extended West Wing discussion with President Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair. Top AOA officers Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., Teri K. Geist, O.D., Terri A. Gossard, O.D., M.S., and Steven T. Reed, O.D., delivered updates on optometry’s top advocacy priorities, including legislation designed to eliminate plan-imposed barriers to care.

03/16/2026

AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., kicks off the AOA's single-largest annual advocacy event: AOA on Capitol Hill! This year’s event will harness the power of the AOA’s 500-strong Federal Keyperson Program. Follow along as advocates drive action on our collective advocacy, ensuring optometry’s voice leads to even higher levels of legislative action and progress.

03/12/2026

A newly released report from the Government Accountability Office examining the vision benefit middleman (VBM) industry reveals extraordinary levels of market power dominance and limited transparency.

In some states, the three largest VBMs control as much as 95.5% of the employer-based vision benefits market, with a single plan controlling more than 80% in certain states. Even at the median level nationwide, the three largest VBMs control more than three-quarters of the group market. In the individual market, concentration is even higher—reaching as much as 98.8% market control by the three largest plans in some states.

The findings underscore serious concerns among policymakers about ensuring competition, accountability and patient choice within the vision benefits system.

Advocates head to Washington, D.C., next week to urge their legislators to support the bipartisan DOC Access Act and to continue to actively investigate VBM abuses.

03/12/2026

Little League season is full of big moments - some you see, and some you don’t.​

​Clear vision and healthy eyes play an important role in how kids track the ball, react quickly, and stay focused. ​

A comprehensive eye exam with a doctor of optometry helps ensure their vision and eye health are keeping up with their growing skills, both on the field and beyond.​

Find an AOA doctor here: https://bit.ly/4cI7rrK

03/11/2026

“... if every optometrist out there was a dues-paying member of AOA and their state association, and gave to their state and national PACs, and went to one organized optometry meeting a year, we would be unstoppable.”

AOA member Kurt Steele, O.D., spoke with us about his new book and ongoing commitment to optometric advocacy. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4b3rmA7

03/09/2026

Calling all 2024-2025 or 2025-2026 optometry residents!

Are you a 2024-25 or 2025-26 optometry resident with an intriguing clinical case to share? We invite you to take the stage at the third annual Residency Forum, June 19, at !

The deadline to submit abstracts is March 20. Learn more here: https://go.aoa.org/40mcp61

03/06/2026

There are many benefits that come along with being an AOA member. But perhaps most valuable of all is having a trusted partner to support you in your career. Let’s face it: The day-in, day-out responsibilities of running a practice are challenging without some assistance.

In the latest issue of AOA Focus, the AOA Board of Trustees answers common questions about the value of AOA membership.

Read it here: https://bit.ly/4rj12XD

03/05/2026

Grassroots efforts are moving the needle for optometry.

03/04/2026

This year, AOA member Beverly Roberts, CPOT, will attend for the 18th time! Find out what keeps her coming back, then get registered! The lowest rates are available through March 31.

REGISTER: https://ow.ly/HFSv50Y4rhy

03/03/2026

Spring is about fresh starts.

What better time to make eye care part of your spring reset than right now during Save Your Vision Month? A comprehensive eye exam helps you start the season seeing clearly.

Find a doctor near you here: https://bit.ly/4l7J490

03/02/2026

United in Atlanta, the AOA Board of Trustees conferred with leaders from 13 affiliates on active efforts to hold the vision benefit manager (VBM) industry accountable. In support of reimbursement and coverage fairness, the leaders reviewed recent progress of StopPlanAbuses@aoa.org, a wrongful denial reporting hotline that has resulted in $12.1 million in restored reimbursement for AOA doctors.