United Opticians Association

United Opticians Association UOA is the only national voice for opticians, advancing the profession through advocacy, education, and a united community.

Missed our latest episode? We’ve got you covered. We sat down with Alysse Henkel to discuss the data on what consumers a...
05/29/2026

Missed our latest episode? We’ve got you covered. We sat down with Alysse Henkel to discuss the data on what consumers actually think about the opticians who serve them.

Swipe through for the top 4 takeaways you can apply in your practice today.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation: https://www.opticians.org/missionoptician

4 weeks left. Time is flying! 💡 Pro Tip: UOA members save the most on registration. In fact, joining UOA today + regist...
05/28/2026

4 weeks left. Time is flying!

💡 Pro Tip: UOA members save the most on registration. In fact, joining UOA today + registering for the conference still costs less than the standard non-member rate. (But only for a few more days!)

Get the member benefits, join the community, and save your seat all at once.

🔗 Join and Register: https://www.uoaleadership.org

05/26/2026

What do patients think an optician does? Do they assume opticians are licensed and certified? And how does that impact trust, policy, and the future of the profession? 

In 2025, the United Opticians Association partnered with The Vision Council to commission a national survey exploring consumer attitudes toward optician licensing and professional qualifications. 

In this data-driven episode of Mission:Optician, host Gwen Cooper, executive director of UOA, is joined by Bob Alexander, UOA’s director of education, and special guest Alysse Henkel, former vice president of research and inSights at The Vision Council, to unpack the findings from this consumer attitudes survey. 

They discuss the gaps between patient expectations and reality in opticianry and share key findings to inform lawmakers.   

Plus, hear what this data means for education pathways and elevating the opticianry profession — while celebrating the high satisfaction rates opticians already achieve. 

In this episode, you will learn: 
👉 What consumers understand (and misunderstand) about opticians 
👉 What patients expect from opticians in terms of certification and qualifications 
👉 Why opticians earn high satisfaction ratings and how to keep building on that success 
👉 How UOA and The Vision Council transformed “anec-data” into research-backed findings that can drive advocacy  

Explore the consumer attitudes survey results at https://www.opticians.org/consumer-attitudes 

🎧 Listen to the full conversation: https://www.opticians.org/missionoptician

Link in bio.

If you’ve been planning to join us in Chicago for the One Vision | One Voice | One UOA Leadership Conference, now is the...
05/24/2026

If you’ve been planning to join us in Chicago for the One Vision | One Voice | One UOA Leadership Conference, now is the time to make it official.

Register by May 31 to lock in the current rates before they go up on June 1.

Why pay more later for the same incredible experience? Secure your spot today for the labs, the tours, breakout sessions, panel conversations, awards dinner, and the movement that is shaping the future of opticianry.

🔗 Lock in your savings here: https://www.uoaleadership.org

Missed our latest episode? We’ve got you covered. We sat down with Steve Alexander, vice president of industry and strat...
05/23/2026

Missed our latest episode? We’ve got you covered. We sat down with Steve Alexander, vice president of industry and strategic partnerships at Anagram, to discuss the complexities of vision care benefits and the future of the profession.

Swipe through for the top 4 takeaways you can apply in your office today.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation: https://www.opticians.org/podcast

The National Academy of Opticianry (NAO) and the United Opticians Association (UOA) announced today that the NAO Fellow ...
05/22/2026

The National Academy of Opticianry (NAO) and the United Opticians Association (UOA) announced today that the NAO Fellow Members, and the UOA Board of Directors, each voted to authorize the beginning of the formal merger or asset transfer process between the two organizations. These actions follow the Letter of Intent jointly approved by both Boards in April and represent a coordinated commitment to advance the next phase of due diligence and planning.

“This vote allows the process to continue responsibly and transparently,” said Gwen Cooper, Executive Director of UOA and Chair of the Joint Steering Committee. “Both organizations remain committed to a thorough review that ensures any final decision is in the best interest of the profession, the members we serve, the students of the Ophthalmic Career Progression Program (OCPP) and the long term sustainability of opticianry education and advocacy.”

As the due diligence process continues, both NAO and UOA emphasize that all current operations, member services, and educational programs, including the Ophthalmic Career Progression Program (OCPP), will continue without interruption. Nothing in this process will disrupt ongoing work, and both organizations are committed to ensuring a seamless integration of processes, membership systems, educational offerings, and program delivery now and in the future.

During this due diligence period, the Joint Steering Committee will continue its structured evaluation of:
• Financial and legal obligations
• Programmatic integration opportunities
• Operational and staffing considerations
• Member services and educational continuity

“NAO and UOA share a long standing commitment to strengthening the opticianry profession,” said Diane Drake, NAO’s Board President. “This process is designed to ensure that our future alignment is thoughtful, well planned, and grounded in the best interests of our members and the communities we serve. Our members can be confident that their programs, benefits, and educational pathways will remain strong and uninterrupted throughout this transition.”

For questions, please reach out to [email protected].

5 WEEKS TO GO!Our profession is strongest when we speak with one voice. Join us for sessions focused on advocacy strateg...
05/21/2026

5 WEEKS TO GO!

Our profession is strongest when we speak with one voice.

Join us for sessions focused on advocacy strategies and leadership skills that elevate you and our industry. We’ll also celebrate excellence at our Eye on Impact Awards dinner, featuring Keynote Speaker

Your perspective is the missing piece. See you in Chicago!

🔗 Register Today: https://www.uoaleadership.org/

05/20/2026

Conversations like this are shaping the future of this industry!

Thank you to Joshua Park and Globe Biomedical for contributing to the OptiCon General Session at Vision Expo and sharing how AI is expanding what’s possible in eye health monitoring and eyewear innovation.

At , we’re taking education out of the conference room and into the heart of the industry. We are proud to spotlight ou...
05/20/2026

At , we’re taking education out of the conference room and into the heart of the industry. We are proud to spotlight our Onsite Tour Sponsors, who are opening their doors for an exclusive look at how the future of eye care is built.

Swipe to see where we’re heading:

📍 Eyewear : Step inside the headquarters of an independent powerhouse. See the craftsmanship, design, and distribution process that makes Europa Eyewear a staple in optical lens designs across the country.

📍 MEI Systems: Get a front-row seat to the pinnacle of lens processing technology. From their state-of-the-art facility, you’ll see the precision engineering behind the world’s most advanced edgers and lab solutions.

These tours are a rare opportunity to see the scale and innovation of our profession up close.

🔗 Claim your spot: https://www.uoaleadership.org/agenda

05/19/2026

What are vision benefits, and what do opticians need to understand about how they work?

In this episode of Mission:Optician, Steve Alexander, vice president of industry and strategic partnerships at , sits down with Gwen Cooper, executive director of United Opticians Association (UOA), to unpack vision benefits, insurance, and the systems that shape today’s optical industry.

Steve shares a candid look at how vision plans work, why reimbursements haven’t kept pace, and how this impacts day-to-day optical practices based on his 25 years of experience across opticianry, practice management, and healthcare technology.

In this episode, you will learn:

✅ What vision benefits cover and how they differ from traditional insurance
✅ Why patients often struggle to understand (and use) their benefits
✅ The underlying reasons why vision plan reimbursements have remained stagnant
✅ How tools like Anagram help opticians verify eligibility, streamline workflows, and improve patient access

This episode is brought to you by Anagram.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation: opticians.org

UOA is on the move! We’re hitting the road to ensure the voice of opticianry is heard at every major table in the indu...
05/16/2026

UOA is on the move!

We’re hitting the road to ensure the voice of opticianry is heard at every major table in the industry. Swipe to see where we’ll be:

🔹 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference: We’re heading to Atlanta to support the brightest students in the country.

🔹 American School Counselor Association | Amplify Success: We’re joining the American School Counselor Association in New Orleans to engage with education leaders and highlight Opticianry as a premier career path. We want to ensure that every student knows about the incredible opportunities within our profession.

🔹 American Optometric Association | Optometry’s Meeting: We’re connecting with our partners at the American Optometric Association to strengthen the bond between our professions and advocate for the patient experience.

🔹 One Vision | One Voice | One UOA Leadership Conference: We’re gathering to set the priorities for our profession. If you only pick one event this year… This is the one!

Will we see you at any of these stops? Let’s connect in the comments! 👇

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Lexington, KY

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Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm

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