PENNSYLVANIA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION

What PENNSYLVANIA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION does

Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) is a non-profit professional membership association representing Doctors of Optometry in Pennsylvania, founded in 1896 and headquartered in Harrisburg. It serves approximately 1,600 members organized across 15 local societies, supported by a staff of 9 employees, and coordinates a network of 450+ volunteer InfantSEE providers delivering no-cost infant eye assessments. The association functions as the recognized state-level voice for the profession on scope-of-practice, legislative, and regulatory matters.

POA's core offerings include continuing education programs, legislative and regulatory advocacy, member benefits, and clinical-coordination programs. Proprietary programs include Kids Welcome Here®, a trademarked pediatric-vision campaign licensed to 11 other state optometric associations, and the Diabetic Eye Health Alliance, a clinical-practice vertical launched in 2009. The organization also sustains an InfantSEE volunteer network and a partnership with Pennsylvania's CHIP program to secure children's vision coverage.

Revenue is generated through membership dues, continuing-education program fees, advertising in member publications, and a tiered corporate sponsorship program (Diamond through Bronze) with industry partners including VSP and Bausch & Lomb. The organization is currently evaluating the proposed 2026 sale of its 218 North Street headquarters, indicating active capital-reallocation decisions rather than headcount or geographic expansion.

Name

PENNSYLVANIA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION

Legal name

Pennsylvania Optometric Association

Website

https://pennsylvania.aoa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association is a non-profit professional membership association serving approximately 1,600 Doctors of Optometry in Pennsylvania through 15 local societies, delivering continuing education, legislative advocacy, and clinical programs including Kids Welcome Here® and InfantSEE.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The POA operates as a professional membership association. Optometrists join the POA/AOA and are automatically assigned to a local society. Each local society has its own dues structure, collected by POA and paid to local societies quarterly.
2. Continuing Education Programs: The POA provides continuing education programs for optometrists including webinars, CE series, and in-person education. Programs include the Back-to-School CE Series and various webinars on clinical topics.
3. Classified Advertising: POA members may place classified ads for free in The Keystoner. Non-members pay $1 per word with a $25 minimum.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership association serving licensed optometrists throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1896 and headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, the association delivers continuing education programs, regulatory and legislative advocacy, member benefit programs, classified advertising, and an electronic claims service for member practices, while serving as the state affiliate of the American Optometric Association.

Product overview

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) is a professional association for optometrists in Pennsylvania, offering membership services, continuing education, advocacy, and various clinical networks. The organization operates primarily as a membership-based professional association rather than a product company. Core offerings include The Keystoner newsletter, continuing education programs, and provider networks for specialized care (Low Vision, Scleral Contact Lens, Children's Vision Care Alliance, Diabetic Eye Health). Public health initiatives include Kids Welcome Here pediatric campaign and InfantSEE free infant assessments. Member benefits encompass classifieds, legal resources, billing/coding services, practice management resources, and awards programs. The association also maintains POPAC/POI for legislative advocacy and provides a Find a Doctor directory for public referrals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• POPAC/POI: Pennsylvania Optometric Political Action Committee - the political advocacy arm of the POA
• The Keystoner
• Kids Welcome Here
• Pennsylvania Children's Vision Care Alliance (PA-CVCA)
• Pennsylvania Diabetic Eye Health Alliance (PDEHA)

Products and services

• Professional Membership
• Continuing Education Programs
• Classified Advertising

Quantifiable outcome

• 450+ volunteer optometrists providing free InfantSEE assessments to infants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• VSP Vision CareflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiamond Partner sponsor of the POA. VSP is a vision care insurance provider and one of the largest vision benefits companies.
• Bausch and LombcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Partner sponsor. Bausch and Lomb develops and manufactures eye health products including contact lenses and lens solutions.
• PECAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Partner sponsor. PECAA provides peer-to-peer network, advisory services, and purchasing power for optometry practices.
• Versant HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Partner sponsor. Versant Health provides vision benefits and eye health services.
• AlconcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Partner sponsor. Alcon develops and manufactures surgical equipment, contact lenses, and eye care products.
• Johnson & Johnson VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Partner sponsor. Johnson & Johnson Vision offers eye health products including contact lenses and surgical solutions.
• CooperVisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Partner sponsor. CooperVision specializes in contact lenses and myopia management solutions.
• AnagramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Partner sponsor. Anagram provides marketing and branding services.
• ExectrasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Partner sponsor. Exectras provides practice solutions for POA members.
• Interstate NationwideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Partner sponsor. Interstate Nationwide provides laboratory services.
• Tucker Arensberg, P.C.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal resource partner offering POA members a free 30-minute consultation and discounted POA hourly rate thereafter for legal representation.
• Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners (PASNAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for children's vision education programs and school nurse outreach through Kids Welcome Here® campaign.
• Pennsylvania Association for the Blind (PAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Kids Welcome Here initiatives, training for Prevention of Blindness staff, and low vision rehabilitation services partnership.
• CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with PA Insurance Department and CHIP to educate parents about CHIP's vision benefit and expand coverage for children's eye care.
• InfantSEE (AOA Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic health initiative offering free one-time eye and vision assessment to infants under one year. 450+ PA optometrists volunteer.
• Pennsylvania Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on revised school vision screening procedures implemented in 2002-2003 and development of education programs for school nurses.
• Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for student awards (Donald H. Evans Award, Joseph Ricci Memorial Award), externship sites, and optometric education.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• American Dental Association (ADA): National professional association for dentists operating a similar federated model (ADA + state dental societies) with advocacy, CE, and member benefits. Analogous governance and revenue model to POA's AOA-affiliated structure.
• American Academy of Ophthalmology: National medical specialty association for ophthalmologists (MDs). While representing a different profession (physicians vs. optometrists), it is a direct stakeholder and competitor in the eye-care advocacy space POA operates in.
• American Medical Association (AMA): National professional association for physicians with state medical society affiliates. Operates a parallel advocacy, education, and member-benefit model to POA's AOA-affiliated state-level structure, providing a useful reference for organizational design.
• American Optometric Association (AOA): The national professional association for optometrists, of which POA is a state affiliate. AOA operates at the national level on advocacy, education, and clinical guidelines; POA is the Pennsylvania state-level counterpart delivering many of the same member services.

Direct peers

• California Optometric Association: California's state optometric association, providing advocacy, continuing education, and member benefits to licensed California optometrists. Directly comparable in mission and operating model, scaled to a larger state.
• Texas Optometric Association: Texas's AOA state affiliate, representing the optometric profession in Texas with advocacy, CE, and member services. Comparable in scope and structure to POA, scaled to a large state.
• New York State Optometric Association: A fellow AOA-affiliated state optometric association serving New York optometrists with the same model of CE, advocacy, and member services. Closest direct comparable to POA in size, structure, and mission.

Others

• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO): Represents optometric education institutions, including Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, POA's academic partner. Adjacent to POA in the optometric professional ecosystem.
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO): Administers optometric licensure examinations in the U.S. While not a membership association, NBEO is a closely adjacent organization in the optometric professional ecosystem that POA members engage with for licensure.

Regional players

• Optometry Cares — The AOA Foundation: AOA's charitable foundation supporting public health initiatives including InfantSEE. POA directly engages with this foundation to deliver 450+ volunteer InfantSEE assessments in Pennsylvania, making it the most direct operational peer for POA's public-health programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/poaeyes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/aoaweb
• Facebookfacebook.com/PennsylvaniaOptometricAssociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/poaeyes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pennsylvania-optometric-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PENNSYLVANIA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION