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Mission Statement

The American Optometric Society was formed by, and represents the interests of, optometrists throughout the United States. Its mission is to:

  • Monitor, protect, and improve the interests of optometrists and the optometric profession on local, state, and national levels;
  • Improve the quality and accessibility of optometric care available to the public;
  • Support and enhance education, competency, and excellence in optometry;
  • Ensure that licensed doctors of optometry, who have proven their competence and their ability to provide the highest quality optometric care, are properly recognized as such by the public, the profession, its regulators, third party payers, and the government, and that they are not excluded from programs available to the profession and third party payer plans; and
  • Establish, support, and recognize those who maintain the highest standards of excellence in the practice of optometry.


Specifically, The AOS is committed to giving its members a voice in their profession, supporting the common goals of its members and advocating for its members within other organizations. The American Optometric Society is an inclusive, transparent organization that works with local, regional and national optometric organizations.  The AOS remains committed to the open communication with and the fair and equal representation of its members. Above all, the AOS is dedicated to excellence in patient care and the growth and expansion of optometrists’ ability to serve the public.

 

Who are we?

The American Optometric Society was created in August, 2009, in response to the American Optometric Association’s passage of a resolution forming the American Board of Optometry for the purpose of creating a program to board certify general optometrists. The AOA created the ABO despite overwhelming opposition by both the general membership of the AOA and non-AOA member optometrists, and despite there being no substantiated need for it. 

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