An organization established by a group of practicing optometrists of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in June 1958 at the White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Its purpose is sixfold: to aid in spiritual development of its members; to promote greater missionary activities through their offices and their churches; to encourage active participation in foreign mission service; to encourage students in SDA academies and colleges to study optometry; to stimulate members in current scientific developments; to encourage members to attend the annual meetings for spiritual and social development.
The members of this organization are confined to individuals that subscribe to the code of ethics of the American Optometric Association and who are members in good standing in the SDA Church. Student membership may be granted to individuals of accredited schools and colleges of optometry who also are members in good standing in the SDA Church. They may be entitled to all rights and privileges of regular members except the right to vote or hold office. Meetings of the association shall be held annually during the months of June, July, or August, usually just prior to the annual meeting of the American Optometric Association or at such other time and place as shall be determined by the president and the board of directors. In August 1973 the first SDA optometrist, Dr. Robert Baker, was given mission appointment by the General Conference to the island of Guam in the Far Eastern Division. Since then, this clinic has been expanded with the addition of two more optometrists and an opthamologist. Eye clinics also have been established in Manzini, Swaziland; Lilongwe, Malawi; and on the islands of Palau and Saipan.
The organization is a member of the Health Advisory Commission for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. In 1993 Clarence D. Omans was serving as assistant director for vision affairs in the Health and Temperance Department of the General Conference.