Source: http://www.aoa.org/x5514.xml

AOA Seal of Acceptance

The Commission on Ophthalmic Standards evaluates the quality of ophthalmic products, devices, and instrumentation, and administers the AOA Seal of Acceptance program for the voluntary evaluation of ophthalmic products.

The American Optometric Association's Seal of Acceptance Program continues to identify ophthalmic products that conform to high standards. Expanding since its launch in 1992, the 2006 addition of the Ultraviolet Absorbing Contact Lenses category brings to ten the number of categories for which the AOA Seal of Acceptance may be granted. The Program's impartial evaluation and grant of a recognized mark of conformity offers many advantages that include:

Informing consumers that the products prescribed or purchased meet minimum standards or specifications;
Assisting practitioners in selecting products or equipment for use in their practices; and
Permitting manufacturers to represent that their products have been independently determined to meet certain standards or specifications.

The Seal of Acceptance Program is administered by the AOA's Commission on Ophthalmic Standards (CmOS). The CmOS selects the categories of products for evaluation and establishes the requirements for each category. Any manufacturer of an ophthalmic product is eligible to apply for evaluation. If the CmOS finds that the manufacturer has met all requirements for Acceptance, the manufacturer will be allowed to use the AOA's Seal of Acceptance in the marketing and labeling of its product.

Acceptance is defined as the procedure by which it is determined that a product conforms to an established, recognized and accepted standard (e.g. ANSI, ISO, ASTM); or, when established, recognized and accepted standards do not exist or do not fully meet the Commission's requirements, it is determined that a product meets particular specifications developed or modified, and adopted by the Commission.

A product is accepted based on independent analysis by an AOA Approved Third Party Testing Facility, and positive review of those results by the CmOS.

The AOA Seal of Acceptance may be awarded in the following product categories:

Categories Recently UNDER CONSIDERATION for the AOA Seal of Acceptance include:

Hand Sanitizers/Equipment Sanitizers
Microbiological Standard for Contact Lens Disinfection
Near Eye Displays
Oxygen Hyper Transmissibility of Contact Lenses
Prescription Inserts
Privacy Filters for Visual Displays
Reading Lamps

The AOA CmOS plans to continue expansion of the Seal of Acceptance Program, including the review of additional products (see process flow) for each established category, and the creation of new product categories for the program.

If you are interested in the AOA's Seal of Acceptance Program or would like to recommend or discuss new product categories, please contact:

AOA Commission on Ophthalmic Standards
Attn: Jeffrey L. Weaver, OD
243 N. Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 991-4100 Ext. 4244
jlweaver@AOA.org