Founded in 1997 as a non-profit, the Optical Women's Association is committed to supporting and promoting the professional de ... velopment of women involved in all facets of the optical industry. As the vision of the OWA evolves and expands, we maintain the focus of the OWA's founding principles and core mission. Mission Statement: To enhance and promote the leadership role of women in the optical industry through networking, education, and peer support. Our Work: We work diligently to create visibility throughout the eye care community in an effort to raise the level of awareness of the multi-faceted roles and contributions made by women in our industry. These efforts are supported by the programs offered by our organization, which include networking events, the annual award programs, our membership directory, Connection Series workshops, webinars, and mentoring tools. read more