PHONEIX—Optometry’s Meeting, the annual event for members of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), kicks off its 2026 edition this Wednesday, June 17, in Phoenix, Ariz., according to an announcement from the AOA. The event will bring together optometry professionals and industry leaders from across the eyecare community, Optometry’s Meeting said, offering attendees the opportunity to build their network, advance their careers, get involved with the AOA or AOSA and much more.
This year, Optometry’s Meeting will offer 198 courses, including 40 hands-on workshops and demonstrations from over 125 industry-renowned optometric leaders, experts and thought leaders, adding up to 300 hours of continuing education (CE) and professional development for ODs and practice staff. A full education schedule is available on the Optometry’s Meeting website. Covered topics include retinal disease and gene therapy, AI in eyecare, glaucoma diagnosis and management, diabetic eyecare, pediatric eyecare, ocular emergencies, migraine and eye heath, myopia management, low vision technologies, myopia management, sports vision, laser workshops, and mental health and optometry.
The AOA Innovation Hub will return this year, showcasing groundbreaking advancements “that are set to revolutionize patient outcomes and transform your practice,” Optometry’s Meeting said, including cutting-edge AI, advanced diagnostics, emerging therapies and more, all with a forward-facing vision for the profession. Events at the Hub will include a networking lunch, a series of panels and a closing networking session. Attendees can sign up to attend the AOA Innovation Hub online here.
The 2026 edition of Optometry’s Meeting will also host the inaugural AOA EyeQ Championship, supported by AOAExcel. This is the evolution of the Student Bowl, and it will feature over 2,600 optometry students in attendance to cheer on their school’s competitors. Brooke Major, OD, is the official master of ceremonies for the AOA EyeQ Championship, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at the North Building 100 Level Ballroom. More information and an interactive map is available online here.
Finally, AOA and AOSA are offering a comprehensive 2026 Conference & Education guide as a digital resource here. The guide compiles CE schedules, special event schedules, programming highlights and more.
Optometry’s Meeting 2026 is scheduled for June 17 through 20 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix. Registration is open online at OptometrysMeeting.org.
