Optometry's Meeting - AOA™
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About this event
Optometry's Meeting™ (AOA™ + AOSA™)
Optometry’s Meeting® is the profession’s premier annual conference, bringing together optometrists, optometry students, and paraoptometric practice staff for four days of continuing education (CE), professional development, and industry networking. The program is designed to support attendees in both clinical advancement and career growth, while also strengthening connections across the broader eye care community.
The event delivers 300+ hours of premier, industry-recognized continuing education for optometrists, paraoptometric professionals, and optometry students. According to the event’s official information, the CE experience is structured to satisfy board and accreditation needs and aligns the profession with optometry’s advancing scope of practice nationwide.
Dates
June 17-20 (year indicated on the official event page as the current “Phoenix” event window; for future planning, we also note the next listed city/date below).
Location
Phoenix (United States). The official page content confirms the city as Phoenix, but it does not specify the venue name in the provided text.
What the Conference Includes
- Continuing Education (CE): 300+ hours of industry-recognized continuing education across the four-day agenda.
- Professional Development: training and learning opportunities intended to advance clinical practice and support optometry’s advancing scope nationwide.
- Networking: structured opportunities to connect with optometry professionals and industry thought leaders from across the eye care community.
- Ophthalmic Industry Exhibit Hall: an industry exhibit component that supports interaction between attendees and companies serving the eye care ecosystem.
- Entertainment & Social Opportunities: unique entertainment options for attendees’ enjoyment during the AOA and AOSA conference.
Audience & Community
Optometry’s Meeting is positioned as an annual community event for: optometrists, optometry students, paraoptometric practice staff, and industry leaders participating through education, networking, and exhibition activities.
The official event description also frames the meeting as uniting leaders and practitioners to advance optometry through innovative CE, collaborations, strategic partnerships, and practice solutions/business services/resources that help doctors of optometry and paraoptometric teams deliver quality primary eye health and vision care in their communities.
Next Optometry’s Meeting (Future Edition)
The event’s official content also states that Optometry’s Meeting is coming to Boston in June 16-19, 2027. (Venue details for Boston are not included in the provided page text.)
Why Attend (As Presented by the Event)
- Premier annual CE and education: 300+ hours intended to meet board/accreditation requirements.
- Community connection: networking with optometry professionals and industry thought leaders.
- Advancing practice scope: education designed to reflect optometry’s advancing scope of practice.
- Access to practice solutions and business resources: tools and services aimed at supporting quality primary eye health and vision care.
- Industry exhibit engagement: the ophthalmic exhibit hall supports hands-on interaction and learning from industry partners.
If we need additional structured details (for example, exact venue name in Phoenix, estimated attendance, or attendee geographic mix), we would require more official page sections beyond the content provided here. We can then align our research output precisely to those confirmed facts.
Data sheet
Optometry's Meeting - AOA™ – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event Date: June 16–19, 2027 |
Location: Boston, MA, United States |
Event Status: Upcoming |
Research Date: July 2, 2026
Event Overview
| Event Name | Optometry's Meeting - AOA™ |
| Event Date | June 16–19, 2027 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | Not publicly confirmed in the provided official website text |
| City | Boston |
| State / Region | MA |
| Country | United States |
| Organizer | American Optometric Association (AOA) and American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) |
| Official Event Website | Optometry's Meeting / optometrysmeeting.org |
| Event Type | Annual conference, continuing education program, exhibit hall, networking event |
| Primary Category | Medical & Pharma |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | Wellness, Health & Fitness; Education & Training; Business Services |
| Audience Reach | National with professional and industry reach |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Medium. Official website confirms the event scope, dates, and audience; current-year attendance totals are not publicly posted in the provided source text. |
| Main Purpose of Event | To deliver continuing education, professional development, advocacy, networking, and an ophthalmic industry exhibit hall for optometrists, optometry students, and paraoptometric staff. |
About the Event
Optometry's Meeting is the annual conference for the optometry profession, combining education, advocacy, and business networking in one large professional forum. The official event description identifies it as a four-day conference that serves optometrists, optometry students, and paraoptometric practice staff, with more than 300 hours of continuing education, a formal exhibit hall, and professional development programming.
From a B2B standpoint, the event is important because it brings together clinical decision-makers, practice owners, industry suppliers, and future practitioners who influence purchasing for eyecare products, diagnostic equipment, practice-management tools, business services, and patient-care solutions. It is a strong event for relationship-building, lead generation, education-led selling, and category-specific outreach across the eye care ecosystem.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optometrists / Practice Owners | Independent eye care practices, multi-location optometry groups | Primary purchasing decision-makers for clinical and practice solutions | High-value audience for diagnostic devices, lenses, software, office services, and practice growth offerings |
| Paraoptometric Practice Staff | Optical staff, clinic administrators, technicians, front-office teams | Influencers and users of practice systems and workflow tools | Relevant for training, scheduling, optical retail, patient-engagement, and operational tools |
| Optometry Students / Residents | Colleges of optometry, residency programs | Future buyers and advocates; early-career influencers | Important for recruiting, education products, career pathways, and brand awareness |
| Ophthalmic Industry Suppliers | Manufacturers, distributors, service providers, software vendors | Exhibitors, sponsors, and partnership participants | Useful for ecosystem mapping, but not buyer-side unless they also purchase solutions |
| Association Leaders / Educators | AOA, AOSA, optometry schools, state associations | Influence standards, education, sponsorship, and program decisions | Relevant for education, membership tools, communications, and sponsorship sales |
| Practice Operations / Business Managers | Private practices, optical chains, group practices | Influence vendor selection and budget allocation | Strong fit for RCM, billing, staffing, equipment service contracts, and workflow software |
| Clinical / Technology Leaders | Eye care clinics, optical labs, telehealth providers | Evaluate tools, equipment, EHR, imaging, and digital workflows | High relevance for technology vendors, devices, and clinical innovation suppliers |
| Media / Industry Analysts | Trade media, professional publications, analysts | Amplify event visibility and category trends | Useful for PR, thought leadership, and product launches |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston host city | Local optometrists, practices, students, and vendors | Medium | Convenient for Northeast-based attendees and local chapter participation |
| Massachusetts and New England | Regional practices, distributors, schools, and associations | High | Likely strong concentration due to proximity and professional network density |
| Northeast corridor | Attendees from NY, NJ, PA, CT, RI, VT, NH, ME | High | Major population and healthcare market corridor with strong optometry density |
| National reach | AOA and AOSA members from across the U.S. | High | Official website positions the meeting as a nationwide profession-wide gathering |
| International reach | Limited international supplier participation possible | Low to Medium | Primary audience is U.S.-based; international participation is more likely on the supplier side than as attendees |
3. Audience Reach
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | The event is positioned as the profession’s annual conference for U.S. optometrists, students, and practice staff, with nationwide education and advocacy relevance. |
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Optometric Association | Association / procurement influencer | Event organizer and core decision-making body in optometry education and advocacy | aoa.org | Executive Director, Meetings Director, Sponsorship Manager, Education Director | Confirmed Government / Procurement Organization |
| EssilorLuxottica | Eyecare product manufacturer / distributor | Key supplier of lenses, frames, and eye care solutions for optometry practices | essilorluxottica.com | VP Sales, National Account Director, Trade Marketing Manager, Partnership Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| ZEISS Vision Care | Optical technology supplier | Relevant for diagnostic imaging, lenses, and practice technology | zeiss.com/vision-care | Regional Sales Director, Product Manager, Clinical Education Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Alcon | Eye care company | Supplies contact lenses and surgical/vision care products relevant to eye care professionals | alcon.com | Account Executive, National Sales Manager, Professional Affairs Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Bausch + Lomb | Eye health manufacturer | Strong relevance for ocular health products and practitioner education | bausch.com | Brand Manager, Clinical Affairs Manager, Field Sales Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| CooperVision | Contact lens manufacturer | Direct fit for optometrists prescribing and dispensing lenses | coopervision.com | Territory Manager, Professional Relations Manager, Category Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Hoya Vision Care | Lens and optics supplier | Relevant for ophthalmic lenses, coatings, and practice partnerships | hoyavision.com | Business Development Director, Key Account Manager, Product Marketing Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| VSP Vision | Vision benefits / payer | Relevant to practices, network relationships, and patient access programs | vspvision.com | Network Development Director, Provider Relations Manager, Strategic Partnerships Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| EyeMed Vision Care | Vision benefits / payer | Potential partner for provider networks and practice enrollment discussions | eyemed.com | Director of Provider Relations, Sales Director, Partnership Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Coastal Contacts | Retail / e-commerce vision seller | Relevant to consumer eye care, online contact lens distribution, and brand partnerships | coastal.com | Director of Merchandising, Ecommerce Manager, Partnership Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Mayo Clinic | Healthcare provider / referral organization | Useful for professional networking, clinical collaboration, and referral ecosystem discussions | mayoclinic.org | Clinical Director, Purchasing Manager, Strategy Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Johns Hopkins Medicine | Healthcare provider / academic medical center | Potential clinical collaboration and patient-care innovation stakeholder | hopkinsmedicine.org | Department Administrator, Procurement Lead, Clinical Operations Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| National Vision, Inc. | Optical retail / provider network | Large-scale optical operator with vendor, staffing, and practice solution needs | nationalvision.com | VP Operations, Category Manager, Procurement Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses | Optical retail chain | Potential buyer for product assortment, lab services, and retail practice solutions | americasbest.com | Merchandising Director, Supply Chain Manager, Store Operations Leader | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Walgreens | Retail pharmacy / healthcare retailer | Relevant for optical services, retail health partnerships, and consumer eye care programs | walgreens.com | Category Manager, Retail Health Partnerships, Procurement Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owner / Practice Owner | Executive | Owner | Controls budget, vendor selection, and strategic investments |
| 2 | Chief Executive Officer / President | Executive | C-Level | Influences partnership, growth, and enterprise purchasing decisions |
| 3 | Optometrist / Clinical Director | Clinical | Director / Senior Individual Contributor | Evaluates equipment, products, and clinical workflow solutions |
| 4 | Chief Operating Officer / Operations Director | Operations | C-Level / Director | Owns practice efficiency, staffing, and vendor implementation |
| 5 | Practice Manager | Administration | Manager | Common operational buyer for scheduling, billing, and patient engagement tools |
| 6 | Procurement / Purchasing Manager | Procurement | Manager / Director | Owns vendor sourcing, pricing, and contract negotiation |
| 7 | Director of Professional Affairs | Professional Affairs | Director | Influences education, professional partnerships, and clinical programs |
| 8 | Category Manager / Merchandising Director | Merchandising / Retail | Manager / Director | Relevant for optical retail assortment, frames, lenses, and consumer products |
| 9 | Clinical Education Manager | Education / Training | Manager / Director | Connects directly to CE, product training, and professional development |
| 10 | Business Development / Partnerships Director | Business Development | Director / VP | Useful for sponsorships, alliances, and distribution partnerships |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospital & Health Care | Eye care and patient services are closely aligned with healthcare delivery | Clinical buyers, referrals, care coordination, service partnerships |
| 2 | Medical Devices | Strong fit for diagnostic and treatment equipment suppliers | Equipment sales, service contracts, product education |
| 3 | Pharmaceuticals | Relevant for ocular therapeutics and related patient care programs | Professional affairs, product launch, clinician education |
| 4 | Consumer Goods | Frames, contact lenses, and eyewear consumer products fit this category well | Brand partnerships, retail channels, merchandising |
| 5 | Medical Practice | Directly maps to optometry practices and clinics | Practice management, billing, imaging, and patient engagement |
| 6 | Health, Wellness & Fitness | Vision care is a wellness-adjacent, preventive care category | Consumer care, eye health programs, patient awareness |
| 7 | Retail | Optical retail chains and consumer vision channels are highly relevant | Merchandising, store operations, category management |
| 8 | Computer Software | Practice management, EHR, scheduling, and patient engagement software are relevant | Software demos, integration, workflow automation |
| 9 | Business Supplies & Equipment | Supplies, furnishings, office equipment, and practice operations fit well | Office and clinical procurement, facility needs |
| 10 | Education Management | The event is education-heavy and student-inclusive | Continuing education, curriculum support, student engagement |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official website text provided | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Exhibitor count | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official website text provided | Event includes an ophthalmic industry exhibit hall, but no count was provided in the supplied source text. |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official website text provided | Buyer-side attendees are expected, but no count is posted. |
| Speaker count | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official website text provided | Education programming is extensive, but no speaker total was provided in the supplied source text. |
| Historical attendance | Not included | Not used | No verified prior-year attendance total provided in source text | No reliable historical figure was available in the supplied official content. |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing Education | Accredited learning and professional development | Sponsor education, demos, and training sessions | CE content, training tools, certification support |
| Clinical Technology | Better diagnostics, imaging, and patient outcomes | Product demos and hands-on product education | Diagnostic devices, imaging systems, screening tools |
| Practice Management | Scheduling, workflow, staffing, billing efficiency | Meet with owners and practice managers to discuss ROI | Practice software, billing services, managed services |
| Patient Engagement | Better patient communication and retention | Showcase patient messaging, recall, and CRM tools | CRM, appointment reminders, digital forms |
| Optical Retail | Frames, lenses, merchandising, and consumer care | Target retail decision-makers and category leaders | Product lines, merchandising solutions, retail operations support |
| Professional Partnerships | Networking, referrals, and alliance building | Use the event for strategic introductions and channel development | Partnership programs, distribution agreements, co-marketing |
| Career Development | Recruiting and early-career engagement | Engage students, residents, and new practitioners | Recruitment tools, career pages, education support |
Lead Quality Assessment
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | Attendees include core clinical decision-makers, practice owners, and industry partners in eye care. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | The conference format attracts owners, directors, and professional leaders who can purchase or influence buying. |
| Data collection potential | High | Strong event relevance for attendee-list sales, exhibitor prospecting, and booth-to-lead conversion workflows. |
| Apollo targeting potential | Very High | Clear titles, departments, and industry clusters are easy to map in Apollo. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | Useful for U.S. national targeting with Northeast concentration around Boston. |
| Best outreach approach | Education-led + relationship-led | Lead with clinical value, product education, and operational ROI rather than generic sales messaging. |
| Overall lead quality | High | Strong B2B event for buyer profiling, outreach, and attendee list building in the eyecare sector. |
| Best use case | Prospecting and partner development | Best suited for sales teams targeting optometry practices, suppliers, and adjacent healthcare organizations. |
| Limitations / risks | Moderate | Current-year attendee, exhibitor, and buyer lists are not publicly confirmed in the supplied source text. |
Apollo.io Targeting Recommendation
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Hospital & Health Care; Medical Devices; Pharmaceuticals; Medical Practice; Health, Wellness & Fitness; Retail; Consumer Goods; Computer Software; Business Supplies & Equipment; Education Management | Match the optometry buyer ecosystem and adjacent supplier categories. |
| Departments | Executive; Operations; Clinical; Procurement; Sales; Marketing; Business Development; Professional Affairs; Education | Reach decision-makers, educators, and commercial stakeholders. |
| Seniority | Owner; C-Level; VP; Director; Manager | Prioritize budget holders and those influencing purchasing decisions. |
| Job titles | Practice Owner, Optometrist, Clinical Director, Practice Manager, Procurement Manager, Purchasing Director, Operations Director, Category Manager, Merchandising Director, Business Development Director, Professional Affairs Director | Capture the most relevant buyer and influencer roles. |
| Geography | United States; Northeast; Massachusetts; Boston metro; major optometry markets | Focus on likely attendee regions and nearby buyer clusters. |
| Employee size | 1–10; 11–50; 51–200; 201–1000; 1000+ | Covers independent practices through large retail and healthcare organizations. |
| Keywords | optometry, eye care, ophthalmic, optical, vision care, contact lenses, frames, practice management, diagnostic imaging, patient engagement, continuing education | Improve precision for event-adjacent prospecting. |
| Company type | Private companies; public companies; healthcare practices; associations; retail chains | Separate buyer-side organizations from pure suppliers when building lists. |
Suggested Apollo Search Logic: use combinations such as (optometry OR "eye care" OR ophthalmic OR optical OR "vision care") AND (owner OR "practice manager" OR director OR procurement OR "clinical director" OR "business development"), then layer geography and company-size filters for Boston-region, U.S. national, or multi-location practice targeting.
Client Fit Review Required
Please share the client website or product/service details. I will review the client offering and identify the highest-fit buyer companies, Apollo industries, seniority levels, departments, and job titles from this event.
Sources & Verification Notes
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optometry's Meeting official website | Official organizer website | Event identity, annual conference purpose, audience mix, education scope, Boston 2027 dates, and professional positioning | High |
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