Connecting Vision Research and Optometry at Academy 2026

Alliance for Vision Research was pleased to join the optometry and vision science community in Anaheim for Academy 2026, the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry.

Throughout the meeting, we connected with optometrists, researchers, students, industry leaders and partners to discuss the importance of sustained federal investment in vision research and the role the entire vision community can play in advocating for science.

Bringing Research and Advocacy Together

Academy 2026 brought together more than 7,600 attendees for four days of education, scientific research, innovation and collaboration. For Alliance for Vision Research, it provided an important opportunity to connect the research taking place across the vision community with the federal policies and investments that help make that work possible.

We spoke with attendees about our work to protect and strengthen funding for the National Institutes of Health and National Eye Institute, preserve the integrity of the research enterprise, and ensure vision research remains a national priority.

These conversations are especially important at a time when decisions in Washington could have lasting implications for researchers, institutions and the future of scientific discovery.

Strengthening Partnerships Across Optometry

Academy also gave us the opportunity to reconnect with longtime partners while beginning new conversations about how we can work together in 2027 and beyond.

Optometrists have an important voice in vision research advocacy. They see firsthand how advances in research translate into better prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for patients. Bringing that perspective into conversations with policymakers helps demonstrate why continued investment in vision research matters.

We were grateful for the many conversations throughout the meeting about advocacy, partnership opportunities, Congressional education and ways to elevate the impact of vision research.

Looking Ahead

Scientific progress depends on more than what happens in the laboratory. It also requires sustained investment, strong public policy and a community willing to advocate for the research ecosystem that makes discovery possible.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth, shared ideas and talked with us about the future of vision research. We look forward to building on those conversations and continuing to strengthen the connection between research, advocacy and patient care in the year ahead.