Association of Optometrists

What Association of Optometrists does

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is a UK professional membership organisation founded in 1946 and headquartered at 2 Woodbridge Street, London. It represents approximately 20,000 eye care practitioners and over 82% of practising optometrists in the United Kingdom, providing them with FCA-regulated (reference 313444) professional indemnity, legal protection, continuing professional development (CPD), clinical and policy guidance, business advice and advocacy at national and local level. The AOP is governed by a member-elected Council and committees and operates as a member of the Optical Confederation.

The AOP's product portfolio centres on member services rather than discrete software. Core offerings include the award-winning Optometry Today (OT) journal (bi-monthly print, daily online), the OT CPD Hub (interactive and non-interactive education with upload to MyGOC), the MyAOP member portal, the AOP Community platform, The OT Podcast, and a set of bespoke member tools (Locum Logbook, Pre-reg Register, GOS Audit Tool). Education and events are delivered through webinars, a UK-wide CPD roadshow series, the Hospital and Specialty Optometrists Conference (HSOC), Myopia Day, and the 100% Optical trade event. The 2026-2030 five-year strategy frames the organisation's near-term direction around policy influence, specialty clinical expansion and workforce capability.

The business model is funded primarily by recurring annual membership subscriptions across multiple grades (with free student and pre-registration membership), supplemented by event and conference ticket sales and commercial sponsorship from sector partners including CooperVision, Bausch + Lomb, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Alcon, Essilor, Hakim Group and Newmedica. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the aop.org.uk website and the MyAOP portal, supported by an active student-rep programme across UK universities and a multi-channel content engine spanning print, digital, podcast, social media and in-person events across the four UK nations.

Name

Association of Optometrists

Legal name

Association of Optometrists

Website

https://aop.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading UK professional membership body for optometrists, representing approximately 20,000 practitioners. It provides FCA-regulated insurance, CPD education, clinical guidance, advocacy and member services through its journal, digital platforms and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & PEO Group Health Plans (AHP/PEO-Sponsored) (FSAIAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Vision Provider Networks (PPO/HMO) (FSAIAHAG)

Keywords

• Professional membership association
• Optometry services
• Continuing professional development
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Clinical education

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees from optometrists, dispensing opticians, and business owners with different grades and rates. Student membership is free.
2. Event and conference revenue: Revenue from CPD-accredited events, webinars, and conferences including HSOC and roadshow series. Event tickets range from £355 to £599+VAT for non-members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is a UK professional membership organisation that sells annual membership subscriptions to optometrists, dispensing opticians, business owners, students, and pre-registration optometrists. Membership bundles together professional indemnity insurance, legal advice, CPD-accredited clinical education, the Optometry Today journal, advocacy and representation, and access to member-only digital tools and events including the annual Hospital and Specialty Optometrists Conference (HSOC) and 100% Optical trade event.

Product overview

The Association of Optometrists operates as a membership organization offering a unified portfolio of member services rather than a traditional software product. The core offerings include: Optometry Today (OT), a flagship professional journal; a comprehensive CPD education platform providing interactive and non-interactive continuing education; events and webinars including the annual HSOC conference and regional roadshows; member portals (MyAOP and AOP Community); and professional tools such as the locum logbook, pre-reg register, and GOS audit tool. The organization also hosts 100% Optical, the UK's largest optical trade event, and produces The OT Podcast as an audio resource.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Optometry Today (OT): The official journal of the AOP - a bi-monthly publication in print and daily online, covering news, features, CPD education, and clinical content for optical professionals
• MyAOP
• AOP Community
• 100% Optical

Products and services

• AOP Membership Annual membership subscription for optometrists, dispensing opticians, practice owners, hospital optometrists, students, and pre-registration optometrists, bundling FCA-authorised professional indemnity insurance, legal advice, clinical guidance, CPD access, and the Optometry Today journal.
• Optometry Today (OT) Bi-monthly print journal and daily online news, features, research, and clinical education content for optical professionals, including CPD exams.
• OT CPD Hub Online continuing professional development (CPD) education platform offering interactive and non-interactive CPD modules suitable for all practitioner types, allowing members to upload CPD points to their MyGOC account.
• Events and Webinars Portfolio of CPD-accredited webinars, UK roadshows, and conferences delivering continuing education and clinical updates to AOP members and non-members.
• MyAOP Member Portal Personalised member dashboard providing AOP members with access to membership benefits, CPD tracking, job alerts, and exclusive content.
• AOP Community Online community platform for AOP members to connect, share knowledge, and access peer resources.
• AOP Locum Logbook Digital logbook for UK pre-registration and practising locum AOP members to record and track their work history.
• Pre-reg Register Free online register enabling student and pre-reg AOP members to list availability for pre-registration placements, searchable by employer members.
• GOS Audit Tool Secure online tool designed to help AOP member GOS (General Ophthalmic Services) contractors in England who are subject to a GOS reclaim.
• The OT Podcast Podcast featuring interviews with eye care professionals, clinical experts, and industry leaders, distributed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Amazon Music, PlayerFM, and BoomPlay.
• Hospital and Specialty Optometrists Conference (HSOC) Annual two-day conference in London bringing together hospital and community specialty optometrists for clinical education, networking, and professional development, sponsored by Bausch + Lomb.
• 100% Optical Trade Event The UK's largest optical trade event, hosted by AOP as a strategic partner, featuring education sessions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities for the optical sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• 82%+ of practising optometrists in the UK are AOP members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Bausch + LombmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 November 2026Bausch + Lomb is headline sponsor for the Hospital and Specialty Optometrists Conference (HSOC) 2026. Sponsorship includes brand exposure at the major two-day optometry education event in London.
• CooperVisionmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 July 2026CooperVision is headline sponsor for Myopia Day (July 2026), a full day of myopia-focused CPD education. Partnership provides interactive CPD points and expert insights into myopia management.
• The Eyes Have It coalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2025AOP is a proud partner of The Eyes Have It coalition, a national coalition working to push eye health to the fore of the political agenda and prevent avoidable sight loss. Partnership includes joint Westminster Eye Health Day activities to engage policy makers and parliamentarians.
• 100% OpticalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025AOP partners with 100% Optical, described as the UK's biggest trade event in the optical sector. AOP provides education content and representation at this major industry exhibition.
• Johnson & Johnson VisionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerJohnson & Johnson Vision partners on Practice Team Guide and provides sponsorship for multiple CPD and education content including leadership, wellbeing, and clinical skills content in OT journal.
• AlconsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAlcon sponsors CPD education content including clinical interpretation exams on retinal disease diagnostic techniques for optometrists.
• EssilorsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEssilor sponsors dry eye management content and educational materials in the OT journal and advertising programme.
• NewmedicasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNewmedica partners on sponsored content regarding patient choice in community optometry and ophthalmology services.
• Hakim GroupsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHakim Group sponsors flagship SPA event content and jobs recruitment advertising through the OT platform.
• Optical ConfederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOP is a member of the Optical Confederation, representing optometrists' interests at local and national level through member elected Council and committees.
• College of OptometristscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOP works jointly with the College of Optometrists on policy responses, including consultations on mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers and other regulatory matters affecting the profession.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Optometric Association (AOA): The US professional association for optometrists, with advocacy, education, and member services. Directly comparable to AOP as the national optometry association for the largest English-speaking optometry market.
• Royal College of Nursing (RCN): The UK's largest nursing professional body and union. Comparable as a UK healthcare membership organization offering professional representation, learning, and member benefits to a single clinical profession.
• Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO): The UK trade association for optical sector businesses, including multiples and independents. Comparable to AOP as a sector body representing optical providers, with overlapping scope on health policy and NHS contracting.
• College of Optometrists: The UK professional body for optometry focused on clinical standards, education, and research. Directly comparable to AOP as the other major optometry membership/credentialing organization in the UK, with whom AOP jointly responds to consultations.
• British Medical Association (BMA): The UK trade union and professional association representing doctors. Highly comparable as a UK healthcare professional membership body providing representation, insurance, CPD, and policy advocacy for its members.
• British Dental Association (BDA): UK professional association and trade union for dentists. Closely comparable to AOP in mission, structure, and member services: combines professional indemnity, CPD, journal, and policy advocacy for a UK healthcare profession.

Regional players

• Optometry Australia: The professional peak body for optometrists in Australia. Comparable to AOP as the national optometry membership association (non-UK), with similar CPD, advocacy, and member services.
• Canadian Association of Optometrists: The national professional association for optometrists in Canada. Comparable to AOP as the principal Canadian optometry membership body offering professional development, advocacy, and member benefits.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS): The UK professional body for pharmacists. Comparable in structure to AOP as a healthcare professional association providing CPD, publications, and advocacy for a single registered profession.
• Royal College of Ophthalmologists: The UK medical royal body for ophthalmologists. Adjacent eye care professional body that influences the scope of practice and training pathways relevant to AOP's optometry members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/The_AOP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkH7HzQSHUd0KHR3XFQJBJg
• Facebookfacebook.com/AssociationOfOptometrists
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-optometrists
• Instagraminstagram.com/association_of_optometrists

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of Optometrists