Association of Optometrists

{{Infobox organization

| name = Association of Optometrists

| logo = Association of Optometrists UK logo.png

| abbreviation = AOP

| founded = {{Start date and age|1946|02|20}}

| formerly = Association of Optical Practitioners

| membership = 17,000

| location = London, {{postcode|EC|1}}
United Kingdom

| website = {{URL|https://www.aop.org.uk}}

}}

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading representative membership organisation for optometrists in the United Kingdom.

It supports over 82% of practising optometrists (members) to fulfil their professional roles to protect the nation’s eye health.

Activities and services

The Association provides a range of professional services and products to its members, including:

Indemnity insurance
Legal representation and advice
Continuing education and training (CET)
Annual conferences, events and webinars
News, online and print, under the brand title Optometry Today
Political lobbying

History

The organisation traces its history back to 1946.{{cite web|url=https://www.aop.org.uk/about-aop/media-centre/press-releases/2016/08/02/changing-faces-of-optometry-aop-marks-70-years|title=AOP marks 70 years|website=aop.org.uk|date=2 August 2016|accessdate=25 February 2017}} when the Institute of Ophthalmic Opticians (formed in 1904){{cite web|url=https://www.sochealth.co.uk/national-health-service/the-sma-and-the-foundation-of-the-national-health-service-dr-leslie-hilliard-1980/memorandum-concerning-the-optical-profession|title=Memorandum concerning the optical profession|website=www.sochealth.co.uk|date=17 June 1943|accessdate=25 February 2017}} and the Joint Council of Qualified Opticians (founded in 1923), were incorporated into The Association of Optical Practitioners.{{cite web|url=https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-prod/docs/cWOONAlALUCUNB1wIwe_F_jsexIuLqlJocuFm7_pBp8/application-pdf|title=Certificate of incorporation|date=20 February 1946|accessdate=25 February 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/eea77c5a-c6f5-4d36-86e9-748d1581ebd3|title=Joint Council of Qualified Opticians, later Association of Optical Practitioners (insurance correspondence)|date=13 November 1940 – 4 December 1947|accessdate=25 February 2017}}

In 1986, the organisation renamed to the Association of Optometrists.{{cite web|url=https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-prod/docs/2m6Sm_Uf5c_XOuMSYJNE_lcCCHAIjPUstw9ifpLnQUg/application-pdf|title=Certificate of incorporation on change of name – 20 November 1986|date=1 January 1986|accessdate=25 February 2017}} The organisation retains use of the 'AOP' acronym.

In 2017 the organisation reported it had grown to "17,000+ members", "representing 80% of UK optometrists".{{cite web|url=https://www.aop.org.uk/~/media/files/about-aop/aop-annual-report-2017.pdf|title=AOP Annual Report 2017|website=www.aop.org.uk|date=21 April 2017|accessdate=25 July 2017}}