Ophthalmology, Optometry academies join forces

San Francisco and Orlando-The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Optometry have announced a joint initiative to work together to prepare and better support their members in delivering the highest quality eye care.

The two organizations will be engaging with each other in an effort to foster a mutual approach to serving a growing population of patients in the United States who are expected to require eye health services in the near future.

This effort marks the first-ever large-scale, organized effort within the optometry and ophthalmology professions in support of joint educational initiatives, according to both organizations.

By working together, the two organizations anticipate being better positioned to assist their respective members in being able to manage the rapidly growing demand for eye care efficiently due to many chronic eye disease increasing in prevalence in the United States related to the aging Baby Boomer population.

They also expect that health-care reform will result in a significant increase in the number of Americans seeking eye care.

“More and more, ophthalmologists are practicing with optometrists in the same point-of-care environment and are seeking information and models that will optimize the impact for patients,” said Bernard J. Dolan, OD, MS, president of the American Academy of Optometry. “It is refreshing to embark on this cooperative initiative in the area of continuing education to improve patient care in a collegial environment of mutual respect.”

The organizations anticipate that these programs will be developed over the next 12 to 8 months, with a formal launch in 2015.

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