Dear Colleague,
As AOA members, we know that our profession and the care we provide has been under attack. That’s why our AOA and state associations work 24/7/365 to educate and inform policymakers, payers, the news media and the public. Of course, the day before Thanksgiving is no exception.
Today, in spite of our best media advocacy efforts in recent weeks, an uninformed and attention-seeking opinion writer chose to go ahead with an online article that is the latest example of extreme anti-optometry bias and harmful health care misinformation. I’m reaching out to you tonight to let you know directly that the AOA is fighting back against this irresponsible and dangerous message, and we are calling out both the opinion writer and the opinion publication for exactly what they’re doing.
Today I sent a letter of protest to the editor which detailed the article’s many flaws and calls for it to be immediately retracted. Instead of giving this writer more clicks by sharing his story or tagging him on social media, join me in getting our message out. This letter represents the truth and our determination to stand up to those who believe they’re above any accountability. I urge you to read my letter and, if you agree with the message, help us circulate it further. Post it on your social media and share this link instead of giving this writer undeserved attention.
On most days, our aggressive and proactive media advocacy earns favorable coverage promoting our essential and expanding role in the health care system. We reach tens of millions of families with Think About Your Eyes, the national advertising campaign built around optometry’s message on annual eye exams. We expose abusive plan policies, securing changes when possible and outlawing them when necessary. We modernize outdated state practice and patient safety laws. We fight for our full physician recognition at the Federal level. We press for enforcement action against 1-800 Contacts. We do what it takes to hold the now-shuttered Visibly (formerly Opternative) accountable under the law.
As member doctors of our AOA and state associations, we are the leaders in fighting back whenever and wherever optometry is attacked, and we always will be. Whether our opponents are motivated by fear, greed or ignorance, we will respond rapidly with our collective power.
Thank you for your support tonight. There’s more to come.
As always, please contact me at president@aoa.org on any AOA matter.
Sincerely,
Barbara L. Horn, O.D.
AOA President
President@aoa.org
