SAN DIEGO—The Mississippi Optometric Association (MOA) has selected Vision West as their preferred eyecare business and buying group. The partnership became effective Sept. 1, 2013.

"The MOA continually looks for the very best partnerships to provide value-added benefits for our members,” said MOA executive director Linda Ross Aldy, CAE. “After meeting with the leadership of Vision West this summer, we were convinced this will be an amazing partnership for saving money for our members while also benefiting the Association. This partnership is truly a win/win for our members and the Association."

Through the agreement, MOA has now become the 10th state optometric association to join Vision West. Since Vision West's inception in 1988, state optometric associations and eyecare groups have benefited in $8 million worth of non-dues revenue, the organization said. Groups such as MOA that collaborate with Vision West automatically receive a monthly royalty, which is calculated as a percentage of all purchases their members bill to their individual Vision West accounts.

“We truly value the MOA's decision to allow Vision West to help support the optometric profession in Mississippi,” Vision West CFO Josh Mesirow said. “Our mission is to provide the resources state optometric associations a way to help their members, and through this relationship MOA will be able to offer tools and education to its members. And in turn, every dollar its members spend on products and services will go directly to help support MOA.”

As part of its mission of helping independent optometrists and supporting the profession, MOA members will have access to Vision West's more than 250 vendor partners for some of the best discounts in the industry. Additionally, Vision West members have access to a number of tools to help them grow their practice, including education, online resources and live customer service.

The Mississippi Optometric Association (MOA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the eye health and vision care of Mississippians through the practice of optometry. Through its 225 member optometrists from across the state, MOA works to enhance, protect and promote the profession of optometry in Mississippi through education, advocacy and excellence in patient eyecare.

Based here, Vision West is a nation-wide membership based eyecare business group, providing practice management and buying group resources. Founded in 1988 by the California Optometric Association, Vision West is privately held.