FAIRFAX, Va.—Members of the Optical Laboratories Association have voted overwhelmingly to approve sweeping changes in the organization’s bylaws that redefine its membership, leadership, operating procedures and dues structure.

As a result of the moves, all Rx manufacturing optical lab companies are now in one category of membership regardless of ownership or market level. All lab member companies are equally eligible to hold positions in the OLA leadership. All lab member companies are assessed dues on the same basis – the volume of Rx eyewear production.

“These changes give OLA a sound, contemporary basis to chart the future direction of the association,” said OLA president Barney Dougher, who is also president of Hoya Vision Care North America.

Bylaws committee chairman Steve Sutherlin of Sutherlin Optical, who spearheaded the effort to re-engineer the OLA organization, said many of the bylaws were originally written 32 years ago, and did not reflect the current optical industry.

“At that time, there was almost no such thing as a retail lab or an HMO lab. There was very little penetration of insurance plans. There was no Wal-Mart or Target Optical, and no big lens companies buying up labs. Everything was ordered through independent wholesale labs by private ODs.

“Today, OLA is not just the voice of the independent lab, or the vertically integrated lab, large retail lab, or HMO lab," said Sutherlin. "It’s the voice of the manufacturing lab.”

View the OLA Bylaws Transmittal Letter.

View the OLA Bylaws Changes.

View the OLA Bylaws Ballot Results.