Its membership of 32,000 medical doctors includes more than 90 percent of practicing ophthalmologists in the United States as well as over 7,000 members abroad.
[1] The academy's stated mission is "to protect sight and empower lives by serving as an advocate for patients and the public, leading ophthalmic education, and advancing the profession of ophthalmology.
Like most medical associations, the Academy collects dues, provides continuing education and seminars for its members, including its four-day annual meeting.
Also, like most other medical associations, the Academy takes public policy stances on issues through lobbying (carried out by its Washington, D.C.–based Governmental Affairs Division).
[2] In 2010, the academy sponsored the creation of EyeWiki, a wiki-model Internet encyclopedia of ophthalmology written and edited by ophthalmologists and "ophthalmologists-in-training".