Abbreviation AOP Membership 16,500 | Website www.aop.org.uk | |
Founded February 20, 1946; 71 years ago (1946-02-20) Formerly called Association of Optical Practitioners | ||
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading professional organisation for optometrists in the United Kingdom.
Contents
The organisation is a company limited by guarantee operating in a similar way to a trade union to "protect, support and represent" the interests of the practising professional as it's primary concern.
It is one of the five representative bodies that make up the Optical Confederation.
Services
The Association provides a range of professional services and products to members, including:
History
The organisation traces it's history back to 1946. when the Institute of Ophthalmic Opticians (formed in 1904) and the Joint Council of Qualified Opticians (founded in 1923), were incorporated into The Association of Optical Practitioners.
In 1986, the organisation renamed to Association of Optometrists. The organisation retains use of the 'AOP' acronym.
In 2016, the AOP reported over 16,500 members, including optometrists and dispensing opticians, "representing 80% of UK optometrists".
Publishing
The organisation publishes a monthly trade journal, Optometry Today.