The mission of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (AOPT) is to serve as a global forum for the exchange of information about ocular pharmacology to meet the needs of vision scientists and eye care professionals for the advancement of vision research and the treatment of ophthalmic disorders worldwide.

Our vision for this organization is to be recognized throughout the world as the premier scientific society and forum for pharmacology of the eye. AOPT uses innovative techniques for publication and dissemination of research findings through its journal, the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and biennial meetings. AOPT has a diverse leadership and membership and is recognized for its collegiality, responsiveness, and community spirit.

Our primary strategic directions to fulfill our mission and realize our vision are to:

• Regularly reassess the structure, scheduling, and location of our biennial meetings and recruit sponsorship support.
• Evaluate changing the composition of the Executive Board Officers and committees to make them more representative of the membership, including international members.
• Pursue closer collaborations with other organizations on meetings.
• Evaluate current publications and explore other options to meet the needs of our members around the world.
• Use new technology to obtain input and feedback from members and enhance two-way communication with them.
• Develop an ongoing program to support recruitment, retention, and education of young scientists to ocular pharmacology.

Our goals include:

• Biennial meeting as the pre-eminent forum for presentation of the results of ocular pharmacology research, for the dissemination of knowledge, and for scientific and social interaction that will provide a foundation for ongoing communication and collaboration among vision scientists, pharmacologists, and eye care professionals around the world.
• Publications to produce a high quality, state-of-the-art journal that will make the results of ocular pharmacology research available and accessible globally.
• Membership communications and services to support the needs of vision scientists, pharmacologists, and eye care professionals for obtaining the knowledge and skills needed to do effective research.

We welcome you to join, participate, and enjoy AOPT!

Sincerely,
David A. Lee, M.D.
Past President AOPT