11/14/2025

Holiday Cheer CE was dubbed long ago as the unofficial start of the holiday season— a familiar and enjoyable night that combines continuing education with good company. This year’s program will once again take place at The Trap Brew Pub & Grill, offering a relaxed and festive setting to close out the year together.

Perenniel Holiday CHEER CE attendees may have noticed that we’ve given the event image a small refresh to keep it warm and inviting while holding on to the tradition that helps make this gathering special.

It’s a comfortable, easy night of CE and connection (and cheer!) — a great way to wrap up the year with colleagues and friends.

Save the date and plan to join us on December 3rd!

Lecturer - Dr. Mengli Han (Associate Professor, MCPHS)

Amblyopia: the old and the new - This course is going to discuss what amblyopia is and the different types. It will discuss the traditional treatment approach based on randomized clinical trials, and also the new binocular treatment options. (99541-FV, 1 hour)

Lecturer - Dr. Thomas Andrea (Attending Optometrist of Primary Care, NECO)

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and Central Serous Chorioretinopathy - More to follow. (COPE Submission & Approval Pending, 1 hour)

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING (GMM) PRIOR TO HOLIDAY CHEER CE

Full Agenda to Follow

Mission Statement Update

A mission statement defines who we are and what we stand for - it should clearly reflect the purpose and values that unite our members and guide our work. The proposed revision modernizes the language to better capture RIOA’s role in advancing and supporting optometry in delivering comprehensive eye care for Rhode Islanders.

RIOA members will vote on an updated mission statement approved by the Board of Directors. Your participation ensures the association’s vision and direction remain aligned with the needs of today’s profession and tomorrow’s opportunities.

Dues Policy Update

The AOA Board of Trustees has approved its 2026 budget, reflecting continued growth in advocacy, public awareness, affiliate support, and student engagement through the AOA+ initiative at Optometry’s Meeting® in Phoenix.

For only the second time since 2019, the budget includes a dues adjustment—an increase of $27 (3%), bringing total annual dues to $1,023, inclusive of the $85 public awareness assessment.

Consistent with RIOA past practice to align state dues changes with AOA adjustments (when appropriate), the RIOA Board of Directors voted to increase annual dues by $27, or 2.71% at it's November 6, 2025 Q4 meeting.

This results in a combined dues increase of $54 for full active members in 2026.

The RIOA dues measure, among other items, will appear on the 12/3/2025 GMM agenda.

The RIOA leadership remains hyper-focused on maintaining a lean, forward-thinking operation that is efficient, intuitive, and delivers exceptional value to members. Raising state affiliate dues is never taken lightly.

Even with this modest adjustment, RIOA dues remain firmly in the middle of member obligations when compared to other New England affiliates—providing effective advocacy efforts, high-quality CE, and responsive member services that consistently outperform our size.

Please join us on December 3, 2025!

The Optometry Cup Final Results

The Year End Push was a friendly fundraising competition between Rhode Island and New Hampshire designed to cap off our Game Day CE program with some spirited giving.

Each state rallied support for its respective political action committees — RIOAPAC, NHOA-PAC, Optometry Forward, and AOA-PAC - with every dollar earned translating into “yardage” toward victory.

Following the day’s activities, Rhode Island held a narrow $100 lead, though final results would depend on AOA-PAC contributions collected throughout the week. The contest highlighted the dedication of both associations in advancing optometry’s advocacy efforts.

At the start of the day, RIOA's fundraising when compared to the 2025 goal set by the RIOA Board of Directors stood as follows:

RIOA members responded. We moved the needle, giving us a puncher's chance to meet our 2025 goal.

THE RIOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING MEMBER-DOCTORS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE DAY'S SUCCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION AND SUPPORT OF THE PROFESSION!

IF YOU HAVE NOT DONATED IN 2025 AND WOULD LIKE TO DO SO, THANK YOU!

LET'S FINISH 2025 STRONG.

RIOA CE: Always Timely, Always Relevant

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING RIOA PROGRAMMING!

Limited-Time Offer: AOA Members Can Earn Additional $400 Cash Back* on Top

of Other Benefits with the AOA Business Card



For a thriving practice, optimizing every dollar spent is a core strategy. With the right

business credit card, AOA members can simplify their practice or other business

spending, earn valuable rewards, and even earn money back for the purchases they’re

already making.

For a limited time, new AOA Business Card members who apply by December 18, 2025

can qualify for a $400 cash back bonus*, on top of the card’s already impressive

benefits, including:

• Reimbursement of AOA dues*
• Up to 2% unlimited cash back rewards on all purchases, with no spending caps

or categories to track*

• No annual fee*
• Unlimited employee cards at no additional cost, with customizable spending

allowances to simplify staff purchasing

• Access vendor offers and discounts

The AOA Business Card is designed specifically for the needs of independent ODs. Its

powerful online dashboard streamlines spending tracking, purchase delegation, and

informed financial decisions.

Don’t miss the chance to earn an extra $400 cash back*. Apply by December 18, 2025

to take advantage of this limited time offer and start maximizing your practice’s financial

efficiency.

Learn more about how the AOA Business card can benefit your practice at

aoacard.com.

*Visit about.card.aoa.org for full terms and conditions.


This credit card program is issued by Hatch Bank pursuant to a license from

Mastercard. All terms are subject to change.

The Rhode Island Optometric Association Board of Directors laucnhed earlier this week our 2025 Member Survey. This short, limited-question survey is designed to help us listen, learn, and respond to the needs of Rhode Island’s primary eye care providers.

We want to hear from you.

Your feedback helps guide programs, CE offerings, and advocacy priorities for the year and years ahead. When the survey arrives early next week, please take a moment to share your thoughts — it only takes a minute or two. Thank you!

2026 Calendar

Free Classified Advertising is a Member Benefit. Members of the RIOA can post an ad at no cost.

INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT JOB / CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN RHODE ISLAND? Contact the RIOA at 401-949-0433.

Often times by talking out your needs and wants we can hone in on a great fit for you.

Essilor Stellest lenses are the first FDA market authorized spectacle lenses in the USA, clinically proven to slow myopia progression in children. Clinical data shows that these lenses can reduce myopia progression by 71% on average over two years. They are designed for children aged 6 to 12 years and are 

effective for correcting myopia with or without astigmatism. The lenses are available for use in the USA,

making them a significant advancement in pediatric eyecare. 

Email or call Fran Lynch from Essilor for details, fitting protocol, price etc.

AVAILABLE NOW!

603-724-1568

flynch@essilorusa.com

ABOUT THE RIOA: We help optometrists practice optometry. 

The Rhode Island Optometric Association is the state affiliate of the American Optometric Association (AOA). A professional association representing Rhode Island optometrists, the RIOA works to ensure state-of-the-art vision and medical eye health care to the public through professional and personal development, continuing education programs and public policy monitoring and advocacy.

Vision Matters is a weekly email newsletter dedicated to communicating important Association-related news, industry updates and matters relating to practicing optometry in the Rhode Island healthcare landscape. Some will be longer than others; all will be informative. It is a members-only weekly communication.

Member submissions for publication in Vision Matters are welcomed and appreciated. Kindly email us.