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American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry

President Kenneth J. Myers, Ph.D., O.D.

Director Emeritus, Optometry Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Serving in Headquarters, Washington, DC., from 1974 to 1989, Dr. Myers led the implementation of PL 93-82 and PL 94-581 and deployment of optometrists into the VA’s physician-dentist personnel system and their appointments as medical staff members holding medical prescribing privileges. He developed national VA medical training rotations for optometry students, and originated national optometry residency programs and led their accreditation by ACOE. During his tenure, VA optometrists became leaders in published clinical articles, CE lectures and the training of students and residents.

A founder in 1978, and life member, of the National Association of VA Optometrists, he served as its Executive Director from 2005-2009 before founding ABCMO in 2009.

Dr. Myers served as dean and professor at the Michigan College of Optometry; chief optometrist at a VA medical clinic; editor of the Journal of the AOA Medical Abstracts Section and is the author of over 50 peer-reviewed papers. A past member of the AOA, Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and President of the AAO Michigan Chapter, he has served on a number of national advisory panels and was a leading advocate for the creation of the ACMO examination offered by NBEO to those completing accredited medical optometry residencies.

He received the M.Sc. in physics in 1969 and the Ph.D. in biological physics from The Ohio State University in 1972, where he was elected to the Sigma Phi Sigma physics honor society and taught optics at the College of Optometry. He was awarded the O.D. degree from the New England College of Optometry in 1974 while a faculty member and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Akron from which he earned undergraduate degrees in electrical engineering and physics-mathematics in 1963 and 1965.

Awards & Recognition

The New England College of Optometry awarded its Presidential Medal to Dr. Myers for furthering the clinical education of optometry students, originating optometry residency programs and developing the specialty of medical optometry.

Dr. Myers was also recently awarded the Doctor of Ocular Science honorary degree by the New England College of Optometry.

Email Updates

ABCMO News

  • ACMO Exam Scheduled for Thursday, June 22, 2023
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – May 2022
  • A Reminder to VA Residents
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – September 2021
  • Newsletter – ABCMO News and Updates – January 2021

Reflections – Articles of Interest and Editorials

  • 10 Administrators for Every Doctor
  • What is Medical Optometry?
  • A Letter to VA Optometry Residency Coordinators: Benefits of ACMO
  • Retail and Clinical Pharmacy
  • It’s Time to Rethink Board Recertification

Comments are welcome and can be sent to editor@abcmo.org for publication under the author's name.

Certification Requirements

The following are in addition to an O.D. degree from an accredited North American school or college of optometry and a current state license to practice.

Residency: Completion of a full-time, ACOE (or equivalent) accredited, postgraduate clinical residency training program having major emphasis on medical optometry.

ACMO Exam: Passage of the Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry exam (or equivalent) offered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.

Practice: Documented significant practice of medical optometry for a minimum of two years immediately prior to application for certification.

The Practice requirement is waived in the two years immediately following residency training.

Complete Application and Requirements

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