The opening session of Optometry’s Meeting 2025 included the launch of an initiative to get pediatric patients the care they need and a look at the condition of the profession.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) Foundation and Johnson & Johnson announced they are collaborating on the See It Through initiative, which seeks to assemble eye doctors, educators, caregivers, community leaders, and policymakers to ensure pediatric patients who fail a vision screening get the care they need. AOA President Steven T. Reed, OD, noted that only 1 in 5 children who fail a vision screening receive the necessary follow-up care.

Johnson & Johnson company group chairman, vision said, “Today, I want to pledge that we are here together with you in the journey to advance eye health. There’s a lot more for us to accomplish for children.”

Regarding the state of the profession, Richard Edlow, OD, industry lecturer and author known as the “eyeconomist” said the total US ophthalmic market increased by more than 70% between 2015 and 2023, with medical eye care services steadily increasing over vision services (based on dollars spent).

He added that there had been an overall decline in full-time ophthalmologists, due to retirement and fewer graduates, but that new graduates from optometry schools were projected to counterbalance attrition by more than 4,000 full-time employees until 2035. OM

With reporting from AOA FOCUS