History

The New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA) was founded in 1895, primarily to secure legal recognition and licensure for the practice of optometry in New York. This founding was a critical step in the professionalization of optometry, both within New York and nationally.

Key Historical Milestones:

• Founding and Early Advocacy (1895): The immediate impetus for the association's formation came after New York optometrist Charles Prentice faced potential jail time for charging a fee for an eye exam, a charge of "practicing medicine without a license". This event highlighted the urgent need for legislation to define and protect the practice of optometry. The group, initially called the Optical Society of the State of New York, was formed in September 1895, with Charles Prentice as its president.
• National Influence: The NYSOA played a significant role in the development of the national profession. The formation of the Optical Society of the State of New York set the stage for the American Optometric Association (AOA), which was formally founded as the American Association of Opticians in New York in 1898.
• Legislative Efforts: While New York attempted to pass the first optometry law in 1897, Minnesota ultimately passed the first optometry licensure law in the United States in 1901. The NYSOA has historically maintained a strong presence in Albany, advocating for the interests of optometrists and the public with state legislators and various government agencies.
• Education and Professional Standards: The NYSOA has continuously worked to enhance the art and science of optometry, including promoting high educational standards. In later years, members advocated for the establishment of the State University of New York College of Optometry (SUNY Optometry), which was founded in 1971 in New York City.
• Evolution of Practice: Throughout its history, the NYSOA has adapted to the evolving scope of optometric practice. This includes advocating for optometrists' authority to diagnose, treat, and manage ocular diseases and injuries, including the use of diagnostic and therapeutic drugs. In a significant recent development, the AOA announced in 2021 that New York had gained oral medication prescribing authority for optometrists, a move that required the efforts of the NYSOA and grassroots advocacy.

Today, the NYSOA continues to operate as the sole advocate for the profession in New York, an affiliate of the American Optometric Association, and a resource for its members and the public.

This antique photograph was taken at the 1905 Optical Society of the State of New York banquet on historic Fulton Street in New York City. Many of optometry's VIPs are pictured including E. LeRoy Ryer, A.J. Cross, Albert Cohen, Frederick Boger, and New York State Optometric Association President George Applegate. This photograph, and others that document the history of optometry, are curated by The Archives & Museum of Optometry, a program of Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation.