UOA is the only national voice for opticians, advancing the profession through advocacy, education, and a united community.
03/25/2026
Ever wonder how the industry’s leading tech and frames actually come to life? 👓
We’re taking you behind the curtain with exclusive tours of and MEI Systems at the 2026 Leadership Conference, powered by EssilorLuxottica!
See the precision engineering and design processes that power our field firsthand. These tours offer a perspective you simply can’t get from a showroom floor or a catalog.
Spaces for our off-site experiences are limited. Lock in your Early Bird registration by March 31 to ensure you’re first in line when tour sign-ups open.
Over the past few months, we’ve been building something designed specifically for this industry, giving you direct access to expert insight, emerging trends, and what’s actually shaping the future of opticianry.
We are proud to announce the launch of the Sightline Industry Panel, a first-of-its-kind think tank powered by . At the recent .expo in Orlando, executives from the industry’s most influential companies gathered for a transformative conversation on the future of our profession.
As one partner noted: “This has never been done before in the optician industry.”
Key takeaways from our kickoff:
🔹Prioritizing technology adoption to elevate patient care.
🔹Supporting the next generation of independent optician-owned practices.
🔹Driving professional evolution to meet the rapid advancements in vision care.
The conversation doesn’t stop here. Join us in Chicago, June 25–27, for the One Vision | One Voice | One UOA Conference to hear the panel’s first recommendations!
Partners of the inaugural Sightline Industry Panel at the Vision Expo kickoff in Orlando from left to right:
Brian Diener - Optical Training Institute
Bassem El-Hajal & Joel Wolf -
Kelly Piotti -
Judy Lew - EssilorLuxottica
Bill Ge**er -
Michael Gatti -
Gwen Cooper MPA CFRE - .uoa
Brooke Carrasco - EssilorLuxottica
Andrea Massignani - MEI Systems
Crystal Anthony -
Matteo Tinti - MEI Systems
Girisha Chandraraj -
Bob Alexander - .uoa
03/21/2026
Early bird pricing for the 2026 UOA Leadership Conference is ending soon!
Register by March 31 to save your spot in Chicago, June 25–27.
Be in the room where the future of opticianry is taking shape.
Our new joint research with proves what we’ve always known about opticians 👇
You are the heart of the patient experience.
Highlights from the See Tomorrow report:
✅ 85% of patients want YOU as their first point of contact for lens issues.
✅ 84% say their interactions with opticians increase their overall contact lens wear and care confidence.
✅ Over half of you want even MORE involvement in the contact lens patient experience!
We are thrilled to champion the essential role of opticians.
The UOA College Bowl, powered by EssilorLuxottica, is a Jeopardy-style competition where students put their knowledge to the test across eye anatomy and physiology, ophthalmic dispensing and fabrication, contact lenses, and optics.
Supporting the next generation of opticians is central to our mission, and it’s exhilarating to see students stepping into the profession with both knowledge and enthusiasm.
Congratulations to our winner from Durham Technical Community College. 👏
Watch the outstanding recap from Vision Expo below.
03/13/2026
At .expo this week?
Stop by Booth #2002 to meet UOA board members and staff and learn about what’s in store for opticians and the future of the profession. 👓
03/13/2026
Vision Expo is underway! 👓
UOA Executive Director Gwen Cooper tested smart eyewear that translates conversations in real time during a meeting with the China Optometric and Optical Association.
Stay tuned as Vision Expo continues!
03/12/2026
Did you catch this incredible session? 👓✨
How are you preparing for the rise of smart eyewear in your practice? Let’s discuss below! 👇
03/08/2026
The clock is ticking! ⏳
You have until Saturday, March 14, to submit your entry for the UOA & McCray Optical Supply Design Challenge.
We are looking for a design that captures the spirit of unity and the future of opticianry. Could your artwork be the one we reveal at the 2026 UOA Leadership Conference this June?
Don't miss your chance to have your work featured at events across the U.S. all year long.
We’re proud to continue partnering with the Opticians Association on this creative initiative that brings leadership, collaboration, and innovation together within the optical industry. 🎨
If you’re a member of the United Opticians Association and would love to participate, this opportunity is for you. With the submission deadline just two weeks away, now is the time to share your creativity and be part of this exciting industry initiative.
A special thank you to Bob Alexander and Gwen Cooper for helping make this possible. We’re looking forward to seeing the designs and talent this competition will showcase.
Course Title: Bringing Passion Into Focus: Seeing Your Career Through New Lenses
Instructor: Kelly Rosemann, North America Business Development Manager, Horizons Optical
Description: Passion may inspire you to enter the optical industry, but continuous learning is what keeps that passion alive. This course explores how curiosity and personal growth shape motivation, fulfillment, and success.
You will rediscover the purpose that first drew you to this profession and learn how knowledge can bring new excitement to your daily work. Together, we will look at how passion fades when learning stops and how to reignite that spark through growth and connection.
Leave this session with practical ways to strengthen your confidence, elevate your performance, and rediscover joy in helping others see the world more clearly.
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The OAA is the collective voice of the opticianry industry. The ongoing mission of the OAA is to work with members, partners and other professionals—both inside and outside of our industry—to assure that opticians receive the recognition, respect, opportunity and protection you deserve.
Likewise, we work tirelessly to further a positive and informed brand image for opticianry, in both local and national markets.
Our History:
Opticianry is a longstanding and noble field of practice—one, in fact, that dates back as far as the mid-1300s.
The Opticians Association of America is a well-established and integral part of that legacy. Established in 1926 as the Guild of Prescription Opticians, the OAA holds the distinguished honor of being the only national organization representing the professional, business, educational, legislative and regulatory interests of opticianry.
For over 90 years, the OAA has been dedicated to the advancement of the American optician.
OAA Executive Committee:
Bob Reynolds, HFOAA - President
Dibby Bartlett, HFOAA - 1st Vice President
Johnna Dukes, HFOAA, OGA Member - 2nd Vice President
Russ Fritz, Jr., HFOAA, OGA Member - Secretary/Treasure
Sandy Brown, HFOAA - Immediate Past President
OAA Board of Directors
Tom Barracato, HFOAA, Guild Member - Guild Council Chair.
George Bourque, Jr., HFOAA, OGA - Representing Firm Membership
Sue Shire, HFOAA, Member - Director Representing States
Ron Harbert, HFOAA, Guild Member - Representing Firm Membership
