All of our information services, including referrals and patient education, are available for free to the public -- no registration required. And, thanks to our Members, Optometrists Network has been advertising-free and without commercial affiliations since its inception.

Optometrists Network began in 1996 when its flagship web site vision3d.com was published on the Web. One month after its launch, vision3d.com won the Internet Medical Site of the Week Award and was receiving over 10,000 visitors a month. Visitor traffic has continued to grow ever since.

In late 1997, our FIND A DOCTOR searchable directory was launched and the public began receiving free immediate referrals to optometrists over the Internet. Prior to that, free referrals were sent out one-at-a-time via hand-typed email messages! Our automated system has allowed us to serve many more people. And it has given our eyes and fingers much needed rest, too! Our FIND A DOCTOR referral system now processes over 1200 free referrals per week!

Optometrists Network was founded by Rachel Cooper. As a child, Rachel Cooper was diagnosed with untreatable lazy eye. As an adult, she discovered the visual health care choice called optometric vision therapy and, under the care of an optometrist, gained the ability to use both eyes together for sight (binocular vision)!

Optometrists Network aims to:

• Help people find eye doctors (developmental or behavioral optometrists who provide in-office vision therapy).
  
  
• Provide trustworthy advertising-free visual health and pediatric eye care patient education -- free to the public -- no registration required -- no vendor advertising -- no direct marketing or cross-marketing -- no cookies -- no adware, etc.
  
  
• Inform the public about lesser known visual health care choices.
  
  
• Connect optometrists with the people they serve.
  
  
• Increase communication and collaboration between optometrists, health care providers, teachers, and therapists in the best interests of the patient and/or student.
  
  
• Increase communication within the profession of optometry.
  
  
• Encourage cooperation between ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) and developmental optometrists (vision therapists) in the best interests of the patient (i.e., similar to the cooperation between orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists)

To fulfill our public health mission, we publish advertising-free educational content via the internet. And every year we update and/or add patient education links and web pages to incorporate new scientific research and address the growing information needs of patients and parents served by optometric care.

Optometrists Network would like to take this opportunity to thank its many generous contributors' of royalty-free and advertising-free patient education content and links, such as:

1. Non-profit optometric associations, colleges, and societies, e.g., Optometric Extension Program, American Academy of Optometry, American Optometric Association, College of Optometrists in Vision Development, etc.;
   
   
2. Non-profit public health organizations and joint ventures, such as AOA's InfantSEE: Free Well Baby Eye Exams for Infants, Learning Disabilities Worldwide, New England Eye Commonwealth, Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group, NIH, Vision First Foundation, Kids Eyes Count Campaign, etc.;
   
   
3. Government agencies, e.g., National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Scientific Research on Pediatric Eye Vision Conditions, such as Amblyopia, Convergence Insufficiency, etc., National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities, Office of Special Education programs, etc.;
   
   
4. Publishers of "Licensed Content," e.g., consumer health information publishers All About Vision and Developmental Delay Resources;
   
   
5. Private Health Care Clinics, such as Mayo Clinic, Studt Center for Vision Therapy, Southern California College of Optometry - SCCO, etc;
   
   
6. Educators, School Nurses, PTA Position Statement on Children's Vision, etc.;
   
   
7. Parents of Patients, Patients Themselves and Patient Advocates.