Museum Exhibits

The museum is part of the Archives and Museum of Optometry at the American Optometric Association (AOA). Visitors to the AOA headquarters in Saint Louis may view exhibits of selected items from the Museum collection in the first floor Archives area.  These items reflect represent the history of eyewear, the optical industry, and the American Optometric Association, as well as the changing methods of vision testing and care.

Many interesting items are included in the collection, including eyeglasses, contact lenses, instruments and tools, photographs, and other historical artifacts.   Different categories of collections can be viewed through the virtual museum:

• Eyewear Cases and Containers
• Contact Lenses
• Decorative Items, Art, Photos
• Eyeglasses and Spectacles
• Four Lens Spectacles
• Instruments, Equipment, Tools & Training
• Lorgnettes
• Martin's Margins
• Miscellanea
• Pince-nez, Folding, & Quizzers
• Recreational and Safety Eyewear