ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The AOA and Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation announced the 2017 National Optometry Hall of Fame inductees. Since 1998, the National Optometry Hall of Fame has recognized and honored doctors of optometry who have made significant and long-lasting contributions to the optometric profession.

The three inductees—Paul Berman, OD, from New Jersey (posthumous); John Casto, OD, from West Virginia; and James Sandefur, OD, from Louisiana—will be honored at a ceremony during Optometry’s Meeting in Washington D.C. on June 22.

The late Dr. Paul Berman was the founder of the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes Program. Dr. Berman advocated for the need for vision care for intellectually disabled children and adults worldwide. Dr. Berman originally developed the program as a project for the former AOA Sports Vision Section (SVS) during his term as president of the section in 1991.

Dr. John Casto served as chief of eye services in the U.S. Army in Verdun, France after completing his optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry. He then returned home to St. Albans, West Virginia and began his private practice as well as service to the West Virginia Association of Optometric Physicians (WVAOP). Dr. Casto later became the oldest practitioner in his state to successfully pass the injections course mandated by the state board of optometry to practice the highest level of care for his patients.

Dr. James Sandefur provided eyecare to the citizens of his community for 30 years, and has served as executive director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana since 1997. During his tenure, membership has nearly doubled. Working with his membership, Dr. Sandefur has spearheaded dozens of bills helping doctors of optometry better serve their patients. He also helped defeat other proposed legislation and resolutions that would have been detrimental to the profession and the public's access to eyecare.

Visit www.optometrysmeeting.org to register for Optometry’s Meeting, which takes place Jun. 21 to 25. For more information on the National Hall of Fame, click here.