American Optometric Association
The American Optometric Association is a nonprofit professional membership association, founded in 1896 and headquartered in St. Louis, representing 44,000+ doctors of optometry, paraoptometric staff, and students across the United States through federal advocacy, continuing education, practice management resources, and the public-facing Eye Deserve More campaign.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1896
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What American Optometric Association does
The American Optometric Association (AOA) is a private nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1896 and headquartered at 243 North Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri. It represents more than 44,000 members — primarily the approximately 30,000+ doctors of optometry practicing in the United States, alongside paraoptometric staff and optometry students — and operates as the recognized national authority for eye and vision care. The AOA federates 50 state optometric associations and runs wholly-owned subsidiaries including The AOA Foundation (Optometry Cares), InfantSEE, the American Optometric Student Association, EyeLearn, and Optometry's Meeting.
The AOA's core deliverables are advocacy, continuing education, practice management support, and public awareness. Federal and state advocacy is delivered through AOA-PAC, a Health Policy Institute, model legislation, comment submissions (133 to the FTC on the Eyeglass Rule), and annual events including AOA on Capitol Hill (nearly 600 attendees, 280+ congressional meetings in 2025). Education and practice support run through the EyeLearn Professional Development Hub, the AOA Center for Independent Practice, AOAExcel (career, insurance, financial services), coding/reimbursement and clinical guidelines, and Optometry's Meeting. The public-facing Eye Deserve More campaign (launched 2021) drives patient referrals to the Find a Doctor directory.
The AOA generates revenue primarily from annual membership dues (doctors of optometry, paraoptometrics, students, and group tiers), conference and event registration fees (Optometry's Meeting, AOA on Capitol Hill), CE subscriptions, and corporate sponsorships (Johnson & Johnson Vision, CooperVision, Vision Source, InMode). Specific dues rates and financials are not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is community-led and advocacy-driven, leveraging state affiliates, volunteer Keypersons assigned to federal legislators, and grassroots events; the Find a Doctor directory and Eye Deserve More campaign serve as the consumer-facing demand-generation layer.
American Optometric Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Optometric Association
- Legal name
- American Optometric Association
- Website
- https://aoa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1896
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The American Optometric Association is a nonprofit professional membership association, founded in 1896 and headquartered in St. Louis, representing 44,000+ doctors of optometry, paraoptometric staff, and students across the United States through federal advocacy, continuing education, practice management resources, and the public-facing Eye Deserve More campaign.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Optometric Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Association - Healthcare/Eye Care
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ophthalmic/Optometric Assisting (EDAOAJAK)
Keywords
Where American Optometric Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
American Optometric Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Primary revenue stream from dues paid by doctors of optometry, paraoptometrics, and optometry students. Members pay annual dues to join and renew, gaining access to exclusive continuing education, practice management tools, clinical resources, advocacy representation, and member-only content.
- Events and Conferences: Revenue from Optometry's Meeting (annual flagship conference), AOA on Capitol Hill, AOA+ student program, state affiliate events, and CE credit claiming. The association organizes and hosts these events for professional development and networking.
- Publications and Education: Revenue from EyeLearn professional development hub, AOA CE hours and credit claiming, paraoptometric certification, micro-credentials, and leadership institute programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Doctor of Optometry membership — standard professional membership with full access to advocacy, CE, and practice resources. |
| Subscription | Annual | Paraoptometric membership — staff of member ODs can join with reduced dues. |
| Subscription | Annual | Student / Future Doctors of Optometry membership — reduced membership for optometry students. |
| Subscription | Annual | Group Membership — discounted rates for practices enrolling multiple ODs or staff. |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
American Optometric Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The American Optometric Association (AOA) is a nonprofit professional membership association that serves as the national authority and leading advocate for doctors of optometry in the United States. It provides its 44,000+ members with federal and state legislative advocacy, continuing education through EyeLearn, clinical guidelines, coding and reimbursement support, practice management tools, professional liability protection, and networking through Optometry's Meeting and AOA on Capitol Hill. The association also operates public health programs such as InfantSEE and the Eye Deserve More consumer awareness campaign.
Product overview
The American Optometric Association operates a membership-based professional association structure centered on AOA.org, a comprehensive membership portal offering exclusive access to clinical guidelines, practice management tools, coding resources, and advocacy support. The portfolio includes specialized education platforms (EyeLearn Professional Development Hub), career services (AOA Career Center), public health programs (InfantSEE, Eye Deserve More campaign), practice support resources (AOA Center for Independent Practice, Legal FAQs, Paraoptometric Resources), and annual events (Optometry's Meeting, AOA on Capitol Hill). The organization also operates The AOA Foundation / Optometry Cares as its philanthropic arm, managing charitable initiatives including disaster relief, scholarships, and the Archives & Museum of Optometry. Advocacy-focused offerings include AOA-PAC and the Health and Vision Plan Advocacy initiative addressing vision benefit manager (VBM) reforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Eye Deserve More: National consumer-focused campaign launched in 2021 to raise awareness about the importance of eye health and annual comprehensive eye exams from AOA doctors of optometry.
- The Eye
- InfantSEE
- AOA-PAC
- AOA EyeLearn
Products and services
- AOA Professional Membership Annual membership for doctors of optometry, paraoptometrics, students, and group practices granting access to continuing education, practice management tools, clinical guidelines, coding and reimbursement support, advocacy representation, and member-only content.
- EyeLearn Professional Development Hub
Quantifiable outcome
- AOA advocacy efforts returned more than $7.5 million to members through tax benefits and other savings.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use American Optometric Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
American Optometric Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
American Optometric Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- Arkansas Optometric AssociationcoreThe AOA and Arkansas Optometric Association jointly advocated for and secured passage of Arkansas HB 1353 (Act 142 of 2025), landmark VBM reform legislation signed into law in late February 2025 and effective August 2025.
- Johnson & Johnson VisionmajorJohnson & Johnson Vision is a sponsor and Visionary Supporter of the American Optometric Association, providing recognition of AOA annual award winners. The company sponsors Optometry's Meeting and the InfantSEE program, supporting public health initiatives and professional development for AOA member doctors.
- CooperVisionsupportingCooperVision is listed as a supporter of AOA on Capitol Hill 2025, contributing to the annual advocacy event that brings nearly 600 optometrists to Washington D.C.
- Vision SourcesupportingVision Source is listed as a supporter of AOA on Capitol Hill 2025, providing financial and organizational support for the annual advocacy event.
- InModesupportingInMode is listed as a supporter of AOA on Capitol Hill 2025.
- Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (HCAPS)coreHCAPS is a core strategic partner of the AOA focused on patient safety issues, particularly around contact lens prescription verification and combating unsafe online contact lens sales. The AOA's Dr. Jeff Sonsino serves on the HCAPS board. HCAPS advocates for H.R. 4282 (Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act).
- National Consumers League (NCL)coreNCL, America's oldest consumer advocacy organization, is a key ally in confronting abusive VBM policies. The AOA presented NCL CEO Sally Greenberg with the 2025 AOA Health Care Leadership Award. NCL has forcefully backed the DOC Access Act and Vision Lab Choice Act on Capitol Hill.
- Patients RisingcorePatients Rising, a leading national patient advocacy group, co-sponsored the AOA on Capitol Hill 2025 and backs the AOA's VBM reform legislative agenda. The AOA presented the group's co-founder and CMO Terry Wilcox with the 2025 AOA Health Care Leadership Award.
- AMVETScoreAMVETS is a Veterans Service Organization that partnered with the AOA to fight for VA doctor physician-level recognition and compensation, and to ensure veteran access to full-scope optometric care. The AOA presented AMVETS National Executive Director Joe Chenelly with the 2025 AOA Health Care Leadership Award.
- American Academy of OptometrycoreThe American Academy of Optometry and the AOA share a collaborative relationship, with both organizations providing input on federal regulatory matters. The Academy joined the AOA in criticizing the FTC Eyeglass Rule update as creating unnecessary administrative burden.
- American Academy of OphthalmologycoreThe American Academy of Ophthalmology and AOA collaborated in submitting comments to the FTC on the Eyeglass Rule update. Both organizations criticized the updated rules as creating unnecessary administrative burden on practitioners.
- Arkansas Optometric AssociationcoreThe Arkansas Optometric Association worked with the AOA to pass Arkansas HB 1353 (Act 142 of 2025), landmark legislation regulating vision benefit managers. The AOA provided advocacy support for this state-level reform effort that became a model for other states.
- AOSA (American Optometric Student Association)coreThe AOSA is the student affiliate of the AOA, representing optometry students nationwide. The two organizations jointly host Optometry's Meeting and the AOA+ student program, with over 230 students attending AOA on Capitol Hill 2025.
- State Optometric Associations (Affiliates)coreAll 50 state optometric associations are affiliated with the AOA, serving as the local governance and advocacy arm of the national organization. The AOA supports state affiliates with model legislation, advocacy resources, and communications toolkits.
- Optometry's MeetingsupportingOptometry's Meeting is the annual conference jointly organized by AOA and AOSA, serving as the primary distribution channel for CE, governance, and networking for the profession.
- The AOA Foundation (Optometry Cares)coreThe AOA Foundation is optometry's premier philanthropic organization, managed by the AOA. It operates the InfantSEE program, Optometric Disaster Relief Fund, Optometric Historical Society, and the Archives & Museum of Optometry, as well as student scholarships ($2,500–$10,000).
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
American Optometric Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American Pharmacists Association: National professional society for pharmacists offering advocacy, CE, publications, and practice resources. Its membership-association economics and advocacy-driven operating model closely resemble AOA's.
- American Academy of Optometry: The scientific and clinical fellow society for optometrists, with overlapping membership and joint advocacy efforts (e.g., joint FTC Eyeglass Rule comments). It is the most directly comparable organization to AOA within the optometry profession, differentiated by its clinical/research focus versus AOA's advocacy/practice-management emphasis.
- American Dental Association: National professional association for dentists with a comparable dues-funded, advocacy-led, CE-providing operating model. ADA's structure (state affiliates, journal, advocacy, practice resources) closely parallels AOA's organizational design and revenue mix.
- American Physical Therapy Association: National professional association for physical therapists with a state-chapter structure, advocacy focus, CE platform, and journal publications — a structurally near-identical peer to AOA in healthcare professional association design.
- American Psychological Association: National professional association for psychologists with comparable membership, advocacy, CE, and publication functions. APA's organizational model closely mirrors AOA's across governance, dues structure, and policy influence.
- American Nurses Association: National professional association for nurses operating a state-affiliate model, advocacy, certification, and continuing education. Its scale and member-services portfolio closely parallel AOA's structure and revenue mix.
Broad incumbents
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: National medical specialty association representing ophthalmologists. It is a strategic counterpart to AOA in eye care, jointly commenting on FTC rules but competing on scope of practice; highly comparable as a peer professional association model in vision care.
- American Medical Association: The largest U.S. physician professional association, operating a similar advocacy-plus-publication-plus-CRE model with state society affiliates. It is a comparable incumbent association at greater scale, with analogous CPT/regulatory influence.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
American Optometric Association social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Optometric Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
American Optometric Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Optometric Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
American Optometric Association subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
American Optometric Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Optometric Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Optometric Association
What does American Optometric Association do?
The American Optometric Association (AOA) is a nonprofit professional membership association that serves as the national authority and leading advocate for doctors of optometry in the United States. It provides its 44,000+ members with federal and state legislative advocacy, continuing education through EyeLearn, clinical guidelines, coding and reimbursement support, practice management tools, professional liability protection, and networking through Optometry's Meeting and AOA on Capitol Hill. The association also operates public health programs such as InfantSEE and the Eye Deserve More consumer awareness campaign.
Is American Optometric Association a public or private company?
American Optometric Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Optometric Association founded?
American Optometric Association was founded in 1896. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is American Optometric Association based?
American Optometric Association is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Optometric Association make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are events and Conferences and publications and Education.
Who are American Optometric Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American Pharmacists Association, American Academy of Optometry, American Dental Association, American Physical Therapy Association, American Psychological Association and American Nurses Association. Broad incumbents are American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Medical Association.
Does American Optometric Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Optometric Association.
What industry is American Optometric Association in?
American Optometric Association's product category is Professional Association - Healthcare/Eye Care. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAJAK, Ophthalmic/Optometric Assisting. Its SIC code is 8600.