The American Optometric Student Association

Associated with optometric research, a person with F.A.A.O. after their name is a fellow of the Academy. This title recognizes excellence in optometric research. The goals of the AAO are to raise the standards of optometric practice, improve vision care, and to disseminate knowledge from research in vision science.

The AFOS represents optometrists in all of the armed forces, as well as optometrists in areas such as hospitals and Indian reservations. AFOS has members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Health Service, Veterans Administration, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Air National Guard, and Civil Service. The largest component consists of the men and women in uniform, serving in many different situations all over the world.

AOA-PAC is concerned with the political arena and the effects of politics on optometry. Optometry is a legislated profession, thus falls under state and federal rules and regulations. AOA-PAC provides an overview of the importance of involvement in the political process. AOA-PAC raises voluntary funds from ODs across the country and supports candidates who sit on key committees affecting the profession.

The Vision Care Section of the APHA recognizes the role of optometry in primary and vision care. In today's society with the changing role of primary health care, the relationship with this organization has increasing importance. The objective of APHA is to exercise leadership in protecting and promoting personal and environmental health. Optometry is involved in those issues of health related to improved eye and vision care through the Vision Care Section, one of 25 sections of APHA.

ARBO is a voluntary membership organization.  The members are boards of optometry in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and other jurisdictions. ARBO educates and trains state board members, who are state government appointees, and state board staff members, who are state employees, so they have a better understanding of their role in public protection. It is the only national optometric membership organization dedicated entirely to public protection and accountability.

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) represents the interests of optometric education.  ASCO is committed to achieving excellence in optometric education and to helping its member schools prepare well-qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry. It serves the public through the continued advancement and promotion of all aspects of academic optometry.

COVD is an organization representing both the classic approach, and the OEP approach of vision therapy. COVD is concerned with the development and enhancement of vision. The College exists for the primary purpose of providing children and adults with the best possible vision through vision development care; bringing together optometrists who share a common interest and proficiency in helping individuals develop and enhance emotional, social, scholastic, and vocational efficiency, promoting, fostering, and engaging in interdisciplinary cooperation.

The CLCS serves as an informational and educational resource to members of the AOA, the public, and the media on contact lens and cornea care. The CLCS provides service to AOA members relative to new procedures, products and services in the field, and also provides ongoing liason with government, manufacturers, organizations, and associations in the contact lens and cornia field.

Within the policies of the House of Delegates and the Board of Trustees, FRC develops AOA positions and action programs on federal legislation and agency regulation as related to the profession of optometry.

FRC assists other AOA entities in the accomplishment of their goals when they require assistance which can best be obtained through contacts with Congress and federal agencies.

NBEO is an independent non-profit corporation serving the profession of optometry as a testing agency. NBEO develops, administers, scores, and reports performance on a series of examinations designed to assess candidate competence to enter the unsupervised practice of optometry. The NBEO examinations are offered to the state boards to use at their discretion and as an alternative to undertaking the same tasks at the state level. The NBEO has a very focused mission, and is constantly researching better methods of assessment.

OEP produces and provides a vast array of materials specifically for the public as well as other health care and educational professionals. The mission of OEPF is to Advance Human Progress through the Behavioral Vision Care Council and comment on policies and programs affecting optometric education.