Women Leaders
in Eye Care History
Visionworks Celebrates Women Who Made Eye Care History
At Visionworks, we're on a mission to make eye care simple, effective and accessible. We believe that improving vision care means investing in a diverse team of talent. As we enter Women's History Month, we want to take time to recognize some of the women pioneers through eye care history who paved the way for other women in vision care today. Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of women leaders in eye care.
Gertrude Stanton
(1863—1931)
Gertrude Stanton was the first woman to receive a license to practice optometry in the United States. She was born in Iowa in 1863 and began her early career as a teacher. Dedicated to helping others, she moved to Minnesota to learn optometry to help people achieve visual clarity. In 1899, Stanton applied for her optometry license and was the first woman to gain licensure in the United States. After receiving her license, she worked as an in-store optometrist at Dayton's Department Store, saving money to establish her own practice. Stanton went on to run her own optometry business, employing a team of women. She gained success through her perseverance, dedication to the field and creative marketing that garnered statewide attention.
Mollie Wright Armstrong
(1875—1964)
Mollie Wright Armstrong became the second licensed woman optometrist in the United States and the first in Texas in 1899, shortly after Gertrude Stanton. She began her own practice in Brownwood, Texas and became a leader in her field. Some of her accolades in optometry include:
- Playing an active role in passing the first optometry laws in Texas.
- Serving as board vice president of the Texas Board of Examiners in Optometry.
- Serving as president of the Texas Optometric Association from 1923 to 1925.
- Serving as editor of Texas Optometrist magazine.
- Becoming a trustee of the American Optometric Association.
- Organizing the Texas Woman's Auxiliary to the American Optometric Association and becoming its regional director in 1927.
Amstrong's role in the community paved the way for future female optometrists in Texas and throughout the United States.
Patricia Bath
(1942—2019)
Patricia Bath became the first Black woman ophthalmologist in the United States in 1973. She was a leader in her field and in 1988 became the first Black woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention. She invented the Laserphaco Probe, a laser that removes cataracts with minimal invasion and risk. Her medical device has been instrumental in helping individuals recover from cataracts, a disease that clouds and limits vision. Some of Bath's other accomplishments include:
- In 1975, becoming the first woman faculty member in UCLA's ophthalmology department.
- In 1976, co-founding the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, which established eyesight as a fundamental human right.
- In 1983, becoming the first U.S. woman to chair an ophthalmology residency training program.
Bath not only opened the way for women in ophthalmology, but inspired a generation of women entering the fields of medicine, education and entrepreneurship.
Other Notable Women in Eye Care History
Other women who influenced optometry include:
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Edith Gallup: Edith Gallup was a charter member of the American Optometric Association (then American Association of Opticians) in 1898. She made it her mission to encourage other women to join the profession and provide resources to help them succeed, including guides on attire, conduct and business. She was elected vice president of the AOA in 1907.
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Elva Cooper: Elva Cooper became the first female interim presiding officer of the AOA in 1911 after both the male president and vice president became ill and could not perform their duties.
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Mae Booth-Jones: Mae Booth-Jones became the first female president of an optometry school in 1920. She served as president of the Washington School of Optometry in Spokane, Washington.
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Joan Exford: Joan Exford became the first female president of the American Academy of Optometry in 1993.
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Carol Rymer: Carol Rymer was the first female optometrist to become a colonel in the U.S. Army in 2010.
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Dori Carlson: Dori Carlson became the first elected female president of the AOA in 2011.
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Jennifer Smythe Coyle: Jennifer Smythe Coyle became the first woman president of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry in 2013.
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Andrea Thau: Andrea Thau became the second woman president of the AOA in 2016.
Facts About Women in Eye Care
Women in optometry and eye care have come a long way since Gertrude Stanton got her license in 1899. However, there are still strides to be made. In the early 1900s, there were only a handful of female optometrists in the United States. By the late 1960s, there were still less than 400 women optometrists in the country, accounting for less than 2% of all active optometrists at the time. Still, women members of organizations like the AOA made efforts to pave the way for future generations. In the 1970s, women's enrollment in optometry programs began to rise and more women entered the profession. Today, women make up about 40% of optometrists. That number is expected to grow as female students now outnumber male students in U.S. schools and colleges of optometry.
March is Women's History Month
March is Women's History Month, a time to highlight women's contributions to United States history and progress. It is clear to see that women have had a significant role in shaping vision care as we know it today. From conducting vision exams to inventing lasers to remove cataracts, women have worked to protect our vision. The Visionworks team today comprises many amazing women—and we celebrate them this month and year-round for their contributions.
Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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