AOA leaders address optometry’s past, future

DALLAS – The Optometry 2020 Summits, a series of three meetings slated to discuss the future of optometry, were a key topic of discussion here at Optometry's Meeting, the 108th Annual American Optometric Association Congress.

“We haven’t had anything like this since the 1960s,” said new AOA President Richard L. Wallingford Jr., OD, in his inaugural speech before the AOA House of Delegates. “It’s time that we look at this profession again and how exciting it is to contemplate the possibilities. Where are we going, where would we like to go, and how are we going to get there?”

The continued growth of the optometric profession, particularly in the face of opposition from ophthalmology, was an important theme in both Dr. Wallingford's inaugural address and in an earlier press conference.

Outgoing president Wesley E. Pittman, OD, reflected on his year in office as one of noteworthy progress and activity.

“This has been one of the more active years the AOA has ever had as far as programs and initiatives,” he said at the presidential press conference. “Now it’s time to decide where optometry is going to go over the next 20 years.”

Dr. Pittman said the past year has been a contentious one for optometry in terms of practice scope battles and conflicts with ophthalmology. The conflict culminated in the banning of optometrists from the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

“Being banned from their meeting, having our scope of practice attacked and having our professional skills questioned by them is a constant battle,” he said. “I am concerned that another profession outside of optometry wants to define what we are and what we can do. We need to define what optometry is ourselves, and we will continue to do that.”

Fighting these legislative battles can take its toll on the individual states and their resources. Dr. Wallingford cited a resolution that was passed in the AOA House of Delegates for a state affiliates’ legal and legislative fund.

“We’ll set aside $1.1 million where up to $300,000 per year can be borrowed from a state in case they’re involved in a battle they didn’t count on,” he said. “It’s an emergency fund so we can help affiliates out. This is something we’ve never done before, and it’s something the affiliates have asked us to do.”

Dr. Pittman conceded, however, that political conflicts with ophthalmology are not likely to end in the near future. “There will still be problems,” he said. “Their decision not to allow us into their educational meetings is unethical and unprofessional. It inhibits the free flow of information. That kind of decision can’t stand, because it’s not what’s best for patients.”

Dr. Pittman commended the successful launch of the InfantSee program, a no-cost initiative to provide professional eye care to infants nationwide. He praised the organizers of the program. “I’ve never seen a more cohesive team and hard-working group of people in my life,” he said. “It’s not just their job; it’s their passion.”

Dr. Wallingford discussed some of the programs and legislative efforts that are continuing to thrive as he begins his presidency. “Vision USA is continuing on for another year,” he said. “This is for people who don’t have Medicaid, but cannot afford eye care. They can apply online for a free eye exam and free eyeglasses. The program has been going on for a few years now.”

Dr. Wallingford also discussed the AOA’s increasingly popular Contact Lens and Cornea Section. “The Contact Lens and Cornea Section is growing; it’s our most popular section. We had 400 new members this year,” he said.

Another legislative effort put forward by the AOA seeks the classification of plano contact lenses as medical devices, Dr. Wallingford said. “We’re working on getting the government to recognize plano lenses as a medical device,” he said. “This has passed the Senate committee.”

Dr. Wallingford also mentioned HR 2238, known as Pascrell’s bill, which aims to supply state grants to provide eye exams to children.

“We’ll also be working with the Federal Trade Commission to try to get them to enforce the contact lens prescription release law,” he said. “There are some problems with the verification procedures of some companies, and we’re trying to get the FTC to enforce that bill.”

Dr. Pittman said the AOA is working to address the issue of vision care for the burgeoning elderly population. “We’re on a longevity boom right now, and by 2030, our aging population will more than double to over 70 million people,” he said. “With the aging population, there is concern with care and access to care.”

He said a conference will be held on this topic in Washington, with smaller conferences scheduled throughout the country to gather information.

The AOA also plans to work with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding provider discrimination against optometrists regarding inclusion in insurance panels. “We’ll be working with CMS to try to get these companies to play by the rules,” Dr. Wallingford said. “If it doesn’t work there, we will do it in the court system. If that doesn’t work, we will do it legislatively.”

Dr. Pittman said the first of the Optometry 2020 Summits is slated to take place in August and will include representatives from all areas of optometry.

“We will include all of the groups involved in optometry, from students to every specialty group we can think of, to make these long-range plans,” he said. “I’m glad to see the work that Kevin Alexander and Tommy Crooks put together has come to fruition."

All three summit meetings will be held in Dallas, Dr. Pittman said. Two representatives from each optometry group have been invited. Active participants in the summit have been limited to 250, but all members of the public are invited to attend as observers.

“This is going to be a room with 250 individuals, optometrists, students, industry leaders,” Dr. Wallingford said. “The year 2020 is not that far away. I know how quickly the last 15 years have gone, and the next 15 will go even faster. This is something we should be doing at least every 10 years, not every 30 years. It’s exciting to plan where our future is going.”