It Shall be de Ideal, the Resolve, and the Duty of Members of the American Optometric Association:
To keep the visual welfare of the patient uppermost at all times;
To promote in every possible way, in collaboration with the Association, better care of the visual needs of mankind;
To enhance continuously their educational and technical proficiency to the end that their patients shall receive the benefits of all acknowledge improvements in visual care;
To see that no person shall lack visual care, regardless of his financial status;
To advice the patient whenever consultation with an optometric colleague or reference for other professional care seems advisable;
To hold in professional confidence all information concerning a patient and to use such data only to the benefit of the patient;
To conduct themselves as exemplary citizens;
To maintain their offices and practices in keeping with professional standards;
To promote and maintain cordial and unselfish relationships with members of their own profession and of other professions for the exchange of information to the advantage of mankind.
American Optometric Association, 1944.
