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# AOA Meets with FDA on Opternative Concerns
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/aoa-meets-with-fda-on-opternative-concerns/
- Published: 2016-11-29T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T21:51:13.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Devices, #legacy-id-D5137446

Leadership of the American Optometric Association (AOA) met with FDA 11/4 to discuss the group’s concerns with online vision “exams” such as Opternative. “FDA is taking our concerns seriously and is investigating Opternative based on the expansive and detailed complaint AOA filed,” the group says in an online [statement](http://www.aoa.org/news/advocacy/aoa-complaint-focuses-fda-sights-on-opternative?refer=rss&sso=y&ref=fdaweb.com).

The report says that AOA team members detailed the lack of credible evidence supporting the use of unsupervised, self-administered vision tests. The association also cited a persistent effort by online vision tests to evade federal oversight and regulation, as well as continued, deceptive marketing tactics that mislead patients and potentially jeopardize their eye and vision health.

“It is the AOA’s view that patients will incorrectly believe that these ‘FDA-regulated’ tests provide them with results similar to what they would get from their eye doctor, when in fact, tools like Opternative allow potentially serious eye, vision, and health issues to fall through the cracks,” says AOA president-elect **Christopher Quinn**.

The association reported that there are no peer-reviewed studies of the online device and that media investigations have found that the online technologies are not always accurate and can miss sight-threatening and life-saving diagnoses. It said that further investigation and regulation is needed to uphold FDA’s duty to patients and the public to ensure safe and effective care.