UOA's NEW Executive Director Gwen Cooper joins the UOA and the Optical Community and the OAAK and Alaska Opticians look forward to partnering with her on our mission to unify Opticianry in Alaska and throughout the nation! Please click on the announcement below and join your fellow Alaska Opticians in welcoming Gwen to the community!

The 2025-26 OAAK Board Nominations form submission closed today and preparations are being made to present the current 2024-25 Board and the NEW Nominated Board members will be sworn in at the Association Meeting at the 2025 Annual Convention on 3/29/25 from 11:15-12pm. Thank you to everyone who sent nominations and the the OAAK members willing to serve for the future of the OAAK and all of Alaska Opticians!

Are You Aware of the Potential Impact of Recent Tariffs on Your Business and Your Patients?  The United Opticians Association (UOA) and The Vision Council are working together to minimize the impact of newly proposed 301 tariffs on the optical industry. Our shared mission is to ensure you can continue to provide accessible and affordable vision care to your patients.

A recent Vision Monday article laid out how these tariffs could lead to higher costs for eyewear, optical materials, and lab services. Opticians may have a more difficult time delivering the quality vision solutions their patients rely on. Seniors, children, and low-income individuals would be disproportionately impacted.

UOA’s advocacy efforts related to tariffs focus on:

1. Fighting for key exclusions to protect optical products as essential medical devices.
2. Reducing financial strain on consumers and optical businesses.
3. Exploring alternative sourcing for critical ophthalmic components.

Help us ensure you can continue to focus on what matters most—helping people see clearly and live better.
Visit our social media channels. Let's get the word out about opticianry! 

We are working for you and your profession! Vision Monday Article - Highlights 5 Reasons Opticianry Is Critical to Your Community! 

The United Opticians Association (UOA) is dedicated to ensuring that you receive the recognition you deserve as critical members of the vision care team. In a recent Vision Monday article, “Opticians Are a Critical Part of the Vision Care Team”, our CEO and General Counsel, James Morris highlighted the role you play in your communities on behalf of patients:

1. Opticians are often the most frequent vision care provider patients see, you ensure they receive the right eyewear for their needs.
2. Opticians fit and dispense eyewear, identify serious eye conditions, and play a key role in patients’ eye health and overall well-being.
3. Opticians play an important role in underserved communities where economic, geographic or systemic barriers to vision care are prevalent.
4. Opticians are critical to closing the gap between optical shops, clinics and mobile vision & community outreach programs to ensure eyecare is delivered to those who need it most.
5. Opticians have a positive impact on workplace safety, productivity, and educational outcomes.

Through advocacy efforts, professional development, and initiatives that expand access to vision care, the Government Relations Committee of the UOA is pushing for regulatory recognition, consumer rights, and prescription accessibility—all while promoting the essential role of opticians.
You are more than eyewear experts—you are essential healthcare providers. Join us in celebrating and promoting the profession!  Share the Vision Monday article link to your social media channels and let people know how important you are to eye care and eye health!

OAAK Board Nomination forms have now been issued to ALL OAAK 2024 and 2025 members. These have been emailed and also mailed. Please return your nomination forms to Paul Holman at [email protected] by 3/15/25. Exercise your voting rights today and help select the next leaders of your association! Need an extra copy to fill out? Please click the link below to access. Please note that nomination forms are ONLY open to current OAAK members.

​The 2025 OAAK Convention Schedule has been launched!! Please click on Annual Convention today to view the official schedule. Not registered yet? There is still time! Please also access the Annual Convention Link today to register as an attendee and get your OAAK 2025 membership or also renew your 2025 OAAK membership if not attending the annual convention. Vendors please fill out the vendor request form to sponsor and have a table at the trade show to meet our members!  Deadline for registration is 3/1/25!! Register today!!

In December of 2024 the State of Alaska purposed to repeal Dispensing Opticians Regulation 12 AAC 30.900. While the OAAK supports the end to notarization for incoming Opticians to practice in Alaska when documents are transferred state to state, as this would speed up the time table for the individual to practice in Alaska, we had concerns about the repeal of notarization for supervisors as this would mean there would be no legal obligations to the supervisors for the process of signing and sending documentation to the State of Alaska for Opticians to become licensed. The OAAK worked with UOA's Jim Morris and both associations send a reply within the time table of response 1/16/25. We did receive a reply from the state letting us know our concerns would be taken into consideration before any action was taken. The OAAK and the UOA will continue to monitor this matter and others that come up in the future. For a copy of the response sent to the State of Alaska please email: [email protected]  and we would be happy to share with you. Also, consider becoming a member today (this can be done through the membership link on the website) so you can receive notifications and have a voice on legislative action for our profession! United we stand together!

​ATTENTION!!! LAST CHANCE FOR OAAK 2025 CONVENTION REGISTRATION AT EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT RATE!!! SPECIAL PRICE ENDS 1/15/25!! REGISTER TODAY!!

​Join Fellow Opticians and Techs for FREE Online ABO/NCLE Credits!
-Join SECO/NAO and Opticians from all over the world on this virtual event on Saturday 12/7/24 for 6 FREE ABO and NCLE Credits. Please go to NAO 2024 Pre-Registration | SECO University today to register!