AOA
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | American Optometric Association |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Organizations & Companies |
AOA has two meanings. It stands for American Optometric Association (professional association and labor union) or American Osteopathic Association (professional association and labor union).
Meanings of AOA at a glance
| # | AOA stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Optometric Association | Organizations & Companies › Professional Association and Labor Union |
| 2 | American Osteopathic Association | Organizations & Companies › Professional Association and Labor Union |
1. American Optometric Association
Organizations & Companies · Professional Association and Labor Union Abbreviations
Professional association of doctors of optometry in the United States, which advocates for eye care, sets clinical guidelines and awards a Seal of Acceptance to eye care products.
Example: The contact lens solution carries the AOA Seal of Acceptance.
Founded in 1898, it represents optometrists, students and paraoptometric staff through state affiliates. Optometrists are licensed eye doctors who examine eyes and prescribe lenses, unlike ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors. The same initials are used by the American Osteopathic Association.
2. American Osteopathic Association
Organizations & Companies · Professional Association and Labor Union Abbreviations
Professional organization for osteopathic physicians (DOs), which accredits osteopathic medical schools through its Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and oversees osteopathic board certification.
Example: Her specialty certification comes from an AOA board rather than an MD board.
Founded in 1897 by students and colleagues of Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathic medicine. Since 2020, residencies for DOs and MDs have been accredited under a single system. DOs make up a growing share of US physicians. AOA can also mean the American Optometric Association.
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