Darline Graham Nordone, a Certified Optician, Appointed to the U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Darline Graham Nordone, a certified optician from South Carolina, has been appointed to the United States Senate, the first time in history an optician has served in Congress. She fills the seat left vacant by the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, in July, and will serve using the name "Graham" during her time in office.

The appointment puts opticians in Congress alongside optometry and ophthalmology for the first time, completing what the industry calls the "three Os" in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Graham joins Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, an ophthalmologist, and Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas, an optometrist. In the House, Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks of Iowa also brings an ophthalmology background to federal lawmaking.

A Career Rooted in Vision Care 

Before entering government, Sen. Graham built her career as a working optician, serving patients directly with their eyecare needs. She has a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling and is a longtime advocate for the blind and visually impaired. In 2019, she was named commissioner and agency head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, overseeing the state's vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and blindness-prevention programs. Earlier this year, she was elected president of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, a term set to begin in January 2027. 

She is also the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. Her current term runs through January 3, 2027, and it remains to be seen whether she will seek a full six-year term. 

What It Means for Opticians 

United Opticians Association Board President Aarlan Aceto, OD, called the appointment a meaningful opportunity for the profession's advocacy efforts. He noted that Sen. Graham brings firsthand understanding of an optician's clinical judgment, technical training, and the importance of strong standards around education, certification, and state licensure – background that should help move conversations on professional standards, patient safety, and vision care policy forward more efficiently. 

Dr. Aceto also pointed to a longstanding gap in Washington, D.C.: opticians, despite being among the most patient-facing professionals in eyecare, have historically had little visibility in federal policy discussions. He emphasized that opticians play a central role in translating prescriptions into functional vision, educating patients, and ensuring safe, personalized care – work that has too often gone unrecognized at the legislative level. 

According to 20/20 magazine's Pro to Pro column, written by managing editor Linda Conlin, federal lawmakers with eyecare backgrounds are rare, and opticians rarer still – Sen. Graham may be the first to ever serve in Congress. Conlin noted the appointment represents an opportunity not just for UOA, but for the broader opticianry community, including The Vision Council and the National Academy of Opticianry. 

UOA's Path Forward 

UOA views this appointment as a call to action. Building direct relationships with lawmakers, educating policymakers on the realities of opticianry practice, and ensuring the profession has a consistent voice in legislative discussions remain top priorities for the association as it works to advance opticianry and protect the patients and communities opticians serve. 

Darline Graham Nordone, a Certified Optician, Appointed to the U.S. Senate Source reporting: Vision Monday / 20/20 Magazine, "With Appointment of Darline Graham Nordone, an Optician Heads to the Senate," Aug. 4, 2026. 

About United Opticians Association (UOA)  

Founded in 2024 through the unification of the Opticians Association of America and the National Federation of Opticianry Schools, UOA is the national organization representing opticians and accredited college programs across the United States. Dedicated to advancing the profession through education, credentialing, and advocacy, UOA serves as a unified voice for spectacle and contact lens opticians. By supporting national policy efforts and expanding professional training, UOA strengthens the workforce essential to quality vision care and advocates for the high standards necessary to ensure patient safety and public trust.