2023 Award Recipients

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IACLE honors the recipients of the 2023 awards

IACLE is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2023 IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards, which recognize and reward achievement in contact lens education. Three winners will attend a major international meeting this year.

Contact lens educators from three countries – Colombia, Jordan and India – are recognized with prestigious awards from IACLE for their outstanding contributions to contact lens education.  

Thanks to the generous sponsorship from CooperVision, and co-sponsorship from the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA), three IACLE Contact Lens Educators of the Year Award winners will attend the BCLA’s Clinical Conference & Exhibition (9-11 June) and receive their awards during the Gala Dinner at the 4th IACLE World Congress in Birmingham, UK. 

‘Inspiring a future generation of eye care professionals is at the heart of the IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Award,’ said Karen Walsh, CooperVision Director, Global Professional Affairs – 1 Day & FRP Brands. ‘Passionate educators, committed to evidence-based contact lens practice, are a crucial part of this process. We are delighted to sponsor these awards and congratulate the 2023 recipients.’

BCLA President Neil Retallic commented, ‘The BCLA is delighted to see well-respected educators receive the recognition they deserve through the IACLE awards. I look forward to hearing more about their outstanding contribution to our profession and the chance to get to know the winners more at both the BCLA conference and the awards dinner during the 4th IACLE World Congress. 

The 2023 IACLE Contact Lens Educators of the Year are:

IACLE Americas Contact Lens Educator of the Year
Dr Myriam Teresa Mayorga
La Salle University, Bogotá, Colombia

‘Many thanks to IACLE for granting me this recognition – it represents a lot to me. IACLE has played a significant role in my professional and teaching performance. I will always remember with great gratitude Dr Brien Holden and Dr Gina Sorbara (rest in peace), Professor Desmond Fonn, Professor Debbie Sweeney, and Dr Percy Lazon, who profoundly influenced my vocation as a contact lens teacher. They left their legacy to those who continue the admirable work of IACLE, led by Professors Philip Morgan and Shehzad Naroo and Dr Etty Bitton. I sincerely thank Bonnie Boshart, Guillermo Carrillo, and Martín Giraldo for their permanent support. A very special mention to CooperVision and the BCLA for their contribution to this award. This distinction as the 2023 Contact Lens Educator of the Year for the Americas is dedicated to my family and all those committed to contact lens teaching. I invite all to keep exploring and improving as educators to benefit both our students and our patients.’


IACLE Europe, Africa and Middle East Contact Lens Educator of the Year
Dr May Bakkar

Jordan University of Science and Technology, Ar-Ramtha, Jordan

‘It is a great honor to be awarded the 2023 IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Award. I am sincerely grateful to the IACLE team, who has nominated me for the award. On this occasion, I feel indebted to show gratitude to IACLE and its sponsors for their distinguished effort and support in providing us with outstanding teaching material, webinars, and conferences. All of these have assisted us in raising the standards of contact lens education in Jordan and the Middle East. I want to extend my gratitude to all IACLE Fellows and colleagues with whom I have worked and from whom I have learned enthusiasm, determination, and discipline in running the IACLE organization. On behalf of all contact lens educators, practitioners, and students in the Middle East, thank you IACLE.’



IACLE Asia Pacific Contact Lens Educator of the Year
Isha Dave

Lotus College of Optometry, Mumbai, India

‘It’s an absolute honour and privilege to win this award. I have to dedicate it to Lotus College of Optometry, Mumbai, for the continuous support over the years, and I am very grateful to IACLE for providing the resources to take contact lens education to the next level.’


IACLE President Professor Philip Morgan commented, ‘It is wonderful to be able to announce this year’s Educator of the Year Awards. I would personally like to congratulate our three winners – this is a great accolade for them all and an acknowledgement of their commitment, enthusiasm, and skills. We are lucky to have them working in our field. Thanks to CooperVision and the BCLA for sponsoring these awards and indeed to all our sponsors for their ongoing support of our work.’


For more information on the IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards


IACLE IS SPONSORED BY

Global Member Newsletter May 2023

MEMBERSHIP PERKS IN MAY

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Registration for the Fellowship Exam closes next month

The IACLE Fellowship Exam takes place every two years, and a successful outcome of the exam qualifies members to apply for Fellow of IACLE (FIACLE) status. The upcoming 2023 exam will take place virtually via IACLETOP on Wednesday 22 November in English, Chinese, Spanish, Korean and Bahasa. If you are interested in taking this year’s Fellowship Exam, please register by following the link below. Please note, members must hold IACLE membership for at least one year before applying for FIACLE status. Registration closes on 30 June.

Register for the Fellowship Exam. For more information

Less than a month until the 4th IACLE World Congress

As the excitement builds, we look forward to welcoming our members from all over the world who will be attending our 4th World Congress in Birmingham next month. Over the four days, our program features keynote speakers, workshops led by leaders in the contact lens industry, and networking opportunities that will enable educators to return to their institutions to share their learnings with colleagues and students – the contact lens practitioners of the future.

Read the program. Look out for more details in the coming weeks.


IACLETOP UPDATES

Fellowship Exam Area launches

We are pleased to announce that the Fellowship Exam Area is now available for paid-up candidates of the Fellowship Exam. This dedicated space will host a series of monthly workshops leading up to the exam aimed at providing valuable guidance and support. IACLE members are invited to join the first webinar titled ‘An introduction to the Fellowship Exam’ on 24 May at 11 am (BST)

Register for the Fellowship Exam


GLOBAL WEBINAR IN MAY

Exploring contact lens opportunities for patients over the age of 40

Join us on Wednesday 24 May at 12 noon UK (BST) for a webinar with IACLE Vice President Professor Shehzad NarooDr Manbir Nagra and FIACLE Neil Retallic

Improved optical designs in modern multifocal contact lenses provide a viable alternative for patients with presbyopia. With an ageing population, there is a significant opportunity to increase the adoption of contact lenses by managing these patients more effectively. However, multifocal contact lenses have low market penetration. 

In this webinar, the authors will reveal their findings on the perceptions and awareness of presbyopes towards contact lenses in established contact lens markets across countries. 

The webinar will be introduced by IACLE Platinum Sponsor Alcon and chaired by Professor Shehzad Naroo.

Members can watch live online via Zoom, and the event will be live streamed to our Facebook page for students and eye care practitioners to tune into. 

Find out what time the webinar begins in your time zone


NEWS IN MAY

Image of the Month

Karpagavalli Subramanian from Sankara Nethralaya Medical Research Foundation in Chennai, India, captured the above images using a Topcon photo slit lamp. A 31-year-old male who underwent OD: PK surgery five years ago reported having trouble driving at night and experiencing ghosting of images and letters. Upon examination, his BCVA was found to be OD: 6/36 OS: 6/6. To improve his vision, he was fitted with a well-fitted PROSE lens (A) with a fluid reservoir of 250 microns (B), which significantly improved his visual acuity to 6/9 in OD and improved binocular comfort. Additionally, the doubling and ghosting of letters were reduced considerably, thereby enhancing his quality of life. 

Would you like to feature in next month’s Image of the Month? Submit your image


RESOURCES

Mapping contact lens comfort over time

A study aimed to map contact lens comfort in asymptomatic to minimally symptomatic soft contact lens wearers over a full wear day and one month of wear. Participants wore the study contact lenses for 16 hours daily and completed a visual analog scale (VAG) survey at various intervals. The results showed that although comfort scores decreased over the wear day, comfort change was minimal, and comfort scores were consistent across one month of wear.

Read the full study


COVID-19 RESOURCES

A UK study analyzed vision screening data collected over several years, including post-COVID, from a large cohort of schools to explore a potential trend towards increased myopia among children aged 4-5. The findings revealed a concerning pattern of decreased vision, with the proportion of children failing to meet the screening criterion rising from 7.6% in 2015/16 to 9.3% in 2021/22. The data indicate a trend towards reduced vision in recent years among young children in the UK and highlight the importance of early eye care interventions in this group.

Read the full text


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR REGIONS?

AMERICAS

Catch up on the latest Spanish-speaking webinars

The IACLE Americas office hosted four ‘Miércoles de Lentes de Contacto’ (Contact Lens Wednesdays) webinars with 224 attendees in the past month. The speakers discussed topics such as presbyopia and contact lenses, using technology to register graphic information from patients, and 3D printer technology for diagnostic aids. Americas Regional Coordinator Guillermo Carrillo also hosted a Journal Club discussion on myopia control. 

Read the full Americas report

ASIA PACIFIC

Indian university receives free trial lenses from Alcon

FIACLE Dr Ankit Varshney from Shree Bharatimaiya College of Optometry in Surat, India, collaborated with IACLE to receive free trial lenses from IACLE Platinum Sponsor Alcon. The joint efforts of IACLE and industry allowed the institution’s optometry students to experience and gain exposure to various contact lens materials. In addition, the trial lenses provided valuable practical training in insertion and removal techniques and enhanced the students’ ability to assess and recommend the appropriate contact lenses for patients. 

If you are interested in receiving trial lenses for your students, please get in touch with IACLE Asia Pacific Operations Administrator Kavitha Jayanna at k.jayanna@iacle.org.

Chinese university team up with Bausch + Lomb

In April, IACLE Bronze Sponsor Bausch + Lomb held an advanced training program on contact lens fittings at Tianjin Vocational Institute in China, providing practical guidance to students. IACLE China National Coordinator Professor Wang Haiying and other IACLE members gave lectures on contact lens fittings, including spherical and toric lenses and complications. As a result, the participants reported gaining a deeper understanding of contact lens fitting, confidence in dispensing functional lenses, and proficiency in eye examinations and evaluating toric lens fittings. 

Read the full Asia Pacific report

EUROPE / AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST

EAME Leadership Meeting

IACLE Vice President Professor Shehzad Naroo and EAME Regional Director Dr Fabrizio Zeri, along with FIACLEs Dr Raquel Gil-CazorlaDr May BakkarDr Elizabeth ChettyDr Stefan Bandlitz and member Philippe Seira, met virtually to discuss upcoming opportunities and events in the EAME region. Dr Chetty discussed her plan for a potential country meeting during the Contact Lens Society of South Africa. Fabrizio announced that he would introduce IACLE at the Alcon Experience Academy in Barcelona. 


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

IACLE TLC (Teach. Learn. Connect) WEBINARS 

Visit the IACLE Webinars area on IACLETOP to view the schedule for upcoming webinars.

GLOBAL MEETINGS IN THE COMING MONTHS 

23rd Asia Pacific Optometric Congress (APOC), New Delhi, India, 2-4 June. Details.

IACLE 4th World Congress, Birmingham, UK, 5-8 June. Details

BCLA Clinical Conference & Exhibition, Manchester, UK, 9-11 June. Details

4th World Congress of Optometry (WCO4) and O=MEGA23, Melbourne, Australia, 8-10 September. Details

American Academy of Optometry, New Orleans, USA, 11-14 October. Details


IACLE IS SPONSORED BY

Global Member Newsletter April 2023

MEMBERSHIP PERKS IN APRIL

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DLP2023 goes live next month

We are excited to announce that the Distance Learning Program 2023 is now live. Access the DLP2023 via IACLETOP, where you will find 13 assessments spread across 4 ICLC-based phases. The DLP is a self-study program designed to improve the contact lens knowledge of educators, assist in contact lens teaching endeavors, and prepare candidates for the Fellowship Exam. We encourage all those registered for the Fellowship Exam to complete the DLP2023. 

Access the DLP2023

Are you a Fellow of IACLE?

The IACLE Fellowship Exam takes place every two years and a successful outcome of the exam qualifies members to apply for Fellow of IACLE (FIACLE) status. The upcoming 2023 exam will take place virtually via IACLETOP on Wednesday 22 November in English, Chinese, Spanish, Korean and Bahasa. If you are interested in taking this year’s Fellowship Exam, please register following the link below. Please note, members must hold IACLE membership for at least one year before applying for FIACLE status.

Register for the Fellowship Exam. For more information

Fellowship Exam Area launches next month

We are pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the Fellowship Exam Area in May, exclusively for paid-up candidates of the Fellowship Exam. This dedicated space will host a series of monthly workshops leading up to the exam aimed at providing valuable guidance and support. All IACLE members are invited to join the first webinar titled ‘An introduction to the Fellowship Exam’ on 24 May at 11 am (BST).  

Register for the Fellowship Exam


CATCH UP ON LAST MONTH’S GLOBAL WEBINAR

Last month, authors of the paper ‘Effect of material and care system combination on subclinical inflammation of the ocular surface in soft contact lens wear’ hosted a global webinar to discuss the ocular subclinical inflammatory response in two soft contact lens materials when combined with two different care systems (multipurpose solution and hydrogen peroxide). Noor Haziq SalimanProfessor Philip Morgan and Dr Carole Maldonado-Codina answered questions from the audience. 

Catch up on the webinar


NEWS IN APRIL

Image of the Month

Dr Atanu Samanta from Nagar School of Optometry in Gujarat, India, captured the above images using an iPhone 13 Pro Max ultra-wide camera and a 13mm f/1.8 lens with a 12 MP camera. The images show a 35-year-old female who presented with a corneal opacity in her right eye caused by a previous corneal ulceration 10 years ago. The brightness acuity test showed that she was not suitable for a corneal transplant. As an alternative, she was fitted with a prosthetic contact lens to improve her vision. 

Would you like to feature in next month’s Image of the Month? Submit your image

Student Area feedback from member in Pakistan

IACLE member Memoona Arshad from the Green International University in Lahore, Pakistan, recently expressed her appreciation for the Student Area, a space for educators to offer their students a unique teaching environment for learning and assessment opportunities. Memoona has been using the Student Area for three months and has found it to be an invaluable resource that has not only benefited her as an educator but has also been thoroughly enjoyed by her students. Among the various tools available, the Case Report Series has become the students’ favorite as it ‘provides a fantastic opportunity to conduct an interactive contact lens tutorial without needing a contact lens clinical set up.

To give you a chance to try the area and see if this resource enhances your teaching, we are offering complimentary access for one year to our members who haven’t yet registered for a Student Area. 

For more information

IACLE members collaborate on EBT report

Last summer, a team led by EAME Regional Director Dr Fabrizio Zeri and Vice President Professor Shehzad Naroo invited IACLE members to contribute to an evidence-based teaching report specific to contact lens education. The team, consisting of Dr ZeriProfessor NarooProfessor Craig WoodsDr Frank Eperjesi, and IACLE members Dr Stefan BandlitzAjay Kumar BhootraDr Mahesh Raj Joshi, and Helmer Schweizer utilized their expertise to complete a comprehensive literature review of current evidence of teaching methods in contact lens training.

Read the outcomes of the report

Dr Rick Weisbarth retires as VP of Professional Affairs

After a career of over four decades in the optometric industry, Dr Rick Weisbarth Vice President of Professional Affairs at Alcon, has announced his retirement. Dr Weisbarth’s commitment to collaborating with eyecare professionals has played a crucial role in shaping the future of contact lenses and eyecare more generally. As a longstanding member of IACLE and Fellow since 2009, we are grateful for Dr Weisbarth’s guidance and insights over many years. Dr Carla Mack will be transitioning to a combined role of Global and US Head of Professional Education and Development at Alcon.


RESOURCES

IACLE survey leads to most downloaded article

A research paper authored by IACLE staff and officers, which focused on changes to contact lens education during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been recognized as one of the most downloaded articles in the journal Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics within its first 12 months of publication. In response to the global health crisis, IACLE conducted a comprehensive survey in 2020 to assess the impact of the pandemic on contact lens education, with members worldwide confirming a shift towards online teaching and modified practical sessions. 

Read the paper


COVID-19 RESOURCES

A recent paper explored the socio-emotional consequences of COVID-19 in people of Latin American origin or descent. The study examined the psychosocial impact of the pandemic on adults in California and Florida through online focus group interviews. Influential factors affecting their mental health were identified, informing efforts to increase support and resources to address their psychological difficulties during the pandemic. 

Read the full text


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR REGIONS?

AMERICAS

Latest webinars in Latin America

In March, the IACLE Americas office hosted five ‘Miércoles de Lentes de Contacto’ (Contact Lens Wednesdays) webinars with 285 attendees, including IACLE members and ECPs. Speakers from Latin America shared their expertise on contact lens fittings, including scleral lens fitting, hygiene and care, technology and apps, choosing between spherical and toric landing zones in scleral lenses, and rotation assessment in soft toric lenses. 

Read the full Americas report

ASIA PACIFIC

Indian institution awarded Certificate of Affiliation

On World Optometry Day, Executive Manager of Global Education Lakshmi Shinde visited Hari Jyot College of Optometry in Gujarat (23 March). The visit covered various aspects of optometry, including soft skills, different application methods and the evolution of optometry. In addition, Lakshmi shared insights on career opportunities, and there were discussions surrounding postgraduate and PhD options and settling overseas after completing an optometry degree in India. During the day, Lakshmi awarded Hari Jyot College of Optometry with a Certificate of Affiliation from IACLE and presented this to FIACLE Dr Nirav Mehta (pictured above). 

Read the full Asia Pacific report

EUROPE / AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST

BCLA invites you to its upcoming webinar

The British Contact Lens Association invites IACLE members to its upcoming webinar on ‘An overview of modern contact lens fitting #TechnologyRocks’ on Wednesday 19 April at 6:30 pm (BST). FIACLE David Berkow and Brian Tompkins will discuss modern technologies used in specialty contact lens fitting, including topography, slit lamp imaging, OCT, and profilometry. The webinar will emphasize the importance of screening patients before fitting, analyzing tears, and grading dry eye issues, and using technology for comparison and monitoring. 

For more information and to register


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

IACLE TLC (Teach. Learn. Connect) WEBINARS 

Visit the IACLE Webinars area on IACLETOP to view the schedule for upcoming webinars.

GLOBAL MEETINGS IN THE COMING MONTHS 

49th EFCLIN Congress and Exhibition, The Hague, The Netherlands, 20-22 April. Details.

23rd Asia Pacific Optometric Congress (APOC), New Delhi, India, 2-4 June. Details.

IACLE 4th World Congress, Birmingham, UK, 5-8 June. Details

BCLA Clinical Conference & Exhibition, Manchester, UK, 9-11 June. Details

4th World Congress of Optometry (WCO4) and O=MEGA23, Melbourne, Australia, 8-10 September. Details

American Academy of Optometry, New Orleans, USA, 11-14 October. Details


IACLE IS SPONSORED BY

2022 Newsletter Archive

January IACLE Global Member Newsletter
January IACLE Special Notice – 2022 Awards
January IACLE Special Notice – Membership Renewal
February IACLE Global Member Newsletter
February IACLE Special Notice – 4th IACLE Virtual Conference
February IACLE Special Notice – FIACLE
March IACLE Global Member Newsletter
April IACLE Global Member Newsletter
April IACLE Special Notice – BCLA Member Discount
May Global Member Newsletter
May IACLE Special Notice – 4th IACLE Virtual Conference
June IACLE Global Member Newsletter
June IACLE Special Notice – 2021 Activity Summary
June IACLE Special Notice – IACLE AGM
June IACLE Special Notice – IACLE Award Winners
July IACLE Global Member Newsletter
July IACLE Special Notice – EBT Report
August IACLE Global Member Newsletter
September IACLE Special Notice – CORE Knowledge at the AAO
September IACLE Special Notice – IACLE 5th Virtual Conference
October Special Notice – IACLEs 2022 Awards Ceremony at AAO
November Global Member Newsletter
November IACLE Special Notice – 5th IACLE Virtual Conference
December IACLE Global Member Newsletter
December IACLE Special Notice – 4th IACLE World Congress

Return to main directory

Global Member Newsletter March 2023

MEMBERSHIP PERKS IN MARCH

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DLP2023 goes live next month

The IACLE Distance Learning Program (DLP) is a self-study program designed to improve the contact lens knowledge of educators, assist in contact lens teaching endeavors, and prepare candidates for the Fellowship Exam. The DLP is a phased study aid for the IACLE Contact Lens Course and we encourage all those registered for the Fellowship Exam to complete it. The updated version of the DLP goes live in April.

Look out for a Special Notice for more details

Register now for the Fellowship exam

Last month, we opened registration for the 2023 IACLE Fellowship Exam that is taking place on Wednesday 22 November, virtually via IACLETOP, in English, Chinese, Spanish, Korean and Bahasa. Members who achieve a successful outcome of the exam become eligible to apply for Fellow of IACLE (FIACLE) status. The fee for the Fellowship Exam is the same cost as your membership. For example, if your membership fee is $100, the exam fee will also be $100. If you have already registered but haven’t yet paid, a reminder that making payment for the exam confirms registration. Please note, Members must hold IACLE membership for at least one year before applying for FIACLE status. 

Register for the Fellowship ExamFor more information


THIS MONTH’S GLOBAL WEBINAR

Effect of material and care system combination on subclinical inflammation of the ocular surface in soft contact lens wear

Join us on Wednesday 22 March at 12 noon (GMT) for a webinar with Noor Haziq Saliman and a question and answer session with co-authors Professor Philip Morgan and Dr Carole Maldonado-Codina relating to work on the subclinical inflammatory response to contact lens wear.  

Previous work conducted by Dr Saliman and colleagues investigated the subclinical inflammatory response (or ‘parainflammation’) of the ocular surface in contact lens wear. It showed that wearing daily disposable lenses produced a minimal inflammatory response. The authors observed that the inflammatory response was upregulated with reusable lenses compared with daily disposable and no lenses.  

In this webinar, the authors will discuss ocular subclinical inflammatory response in two soft contact lens materials when combined with two different care systems (multipurpose solution and hydrogen peroxide).

Members can watch live online via zoom, and the event will be live streamed to our Facebook page for students and eye care practitioners to tune into. 

Find out what time the webinar begins in your time zone


NEWS IN MARCH

Image of the Month

Maruee Pahuja from Natasha Eye Care and Research Centre in Pune, India, captured this image using the macro lens on an iPhone 13 Pro. The image shows a patient who, on day three after undergoing penetrating keratoplasty in the left eye, had a dense corneal opacity with spheroidal degeneration as the reason for needing the operation.

Would you like to feature in next month’s Image of the Month? Submit your image

IACLE members collaborate on EBT report

Last summer, a team led by EAME Regional Director Dr Fabrizio Zeri and Vice President Professor Shehzad Naroo invited IACLE members to contribute to an evidence-based teaching report specific to contact lens education. The team, consisting of Dr ZeriProfessor NarooProfessor Craig WoodsFrank Eperjesi, and IACLE members Dr Stefan Bandlitz, Ajay Kumar BhootraDr Mahesh Raj Joshi, and Helmer Schweizer utilized their expertise to complete a comprehensive literature review of current evidence of teaching methods in contact lens training.

Read the outcomes of the report


RESOURCES

CL Update 70 features dry eye management

IACLE member Professor Jennifer Craig authors the latest Contact Lens Update editorial on dry eye management. The review highlights that although there is no cure, there are numerous therapies available, including patient-applied treatments and in-office procedures. Clinicians should consider a multimodal approach to manage dry eye disease and customize treatment based on the identified deficiencies.

Read the editorial

The latest Cochrane systematic review

The latest Cochrane systematic review on myopia management is available now. It is a ‘living systematic review’ which means it will continuously be updated as this is a fast-evolving market and new clinical trial results are published regularly. Its current conclusion is that, although there are pharmacological and optical interventions which effectively reduce refractive change and axial elongation, the sustained effects > one year of treatment are uncertain. This also applies to combination therapies and adverse effects.

Read the full text


COVID-19 RESOURCES

A recent study from China concluded that children treated with 0.01% atropine had slower myopia progression during the lockdown period in Shanghai compared with children who discontinued the therapy.

Read the full text


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR REGIONS?

AMERICAS

Spanish-speaking webinars in February

Every week, Americas Regional Coordinator Guillermo Carrillo hosts a webinar series ‘Miércoles de Lentes de Contacto’ (Contact Lens Wednesdays), where speakers and IACLE members from across the Latin America region discuss different contact lens-related topics. In February, there was a total of 207 attendees, including 49 IACLE members and 158 ECPs. The webinars covered topics including proactive contact lens fittings, binocular vision, scleral lens fittings, and IACLE’s Research Update.

Catch up on Spanish-speaking webinarsRead the full Americas meeting report

ASIA PACIFIC

South Korean member awarded Honorary Membership

IACLE Korea National Coordinator Professor Kyounghee Park recently visited Eulji University in Daejeon, South Korea, and presented an Honorary Certificate to Lifetime FIACLE Professor Koonja Lee, who has been an IACLE member since 1995, a Fellow of IACLE since 2000 and served as the president of the Korean Society of Vision Science. Professor Lee has been devoted to contact lens education for over 35 years, published four contact lens books and 70 related theses, and was instrumental in introducing IACLE’s educational materials for contact lens education in Korea. She has become an honorary member of IACLE ahead of her retirement.

Read the full Asia Pacific report

EUROPE / AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST

Upcoming BCLA webinar on ideal tear ingredients

The British Contact Lens Association invites IACLE members to its upcoming webinar on ‘Ideal tear ingredients for comfortable contact lens wear’ on Wednesday 29 March at 6:30 pm UK (BST). The webinar focuses on maintaining a healthy tear film to avoid dry eye symptoms, which is essential for successful contact lens wear. It covers diagnostics, key parameters to monitor, acceptable limits, management, and future developments.

For more information and to register


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

IACLE TLC (Teach. Learn. Connect) WEBINARS 

Visit the IACLE Webinars area on IACLETOP to view the schedule for upcoming webinars.

GLOBAL MEETINGS IN THE COMING MONTHS 

14th Annual Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology, Lisbon, Portugal, 24-25 March. Details

49th EFCLIN Congress and Exhibition, The Hague, The Netherlands, 20-22 April. Details.

IACLE 4th World Congress, Birmingham, UK, 5-8 June. Details

BCLA Clinical Conference & Exhibition, Manchester, UK, 9-11 June. Details

4th World Congress of Optometry (WCO4) and O=MEGA23, Melbourne, Australia, 8-10 September. Details

American Academy of Optometry, New Orleans, USA, 11-14 October. Details


IACLE IS SPONSORED BY

Global Member Newsletter February 2023

MEMBERSHIP PERKS IN FEBRUARY

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2023 Awards deadline closes next week

Three IACLE members will travel to the 4th IACLE World Congress and the British Contact Lens Association’s (BCLA) Clinical Conference & Exhibition this year as winners of the 2023 IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards. The 2023 awards ceremony will take place during the Gala Dinner at our 4th World Congress in Birmingham, UK. To apply, please submit an entry using the application form. To nominate a colleague, please fill out their details in the form hereEntries close on Friday 24 February at midnight (EST)

For more information

Would you like to become a Fellow of IACLE?

The 2023 Fellowship Exam will take place on Wednesday 22 November 2023, virtually via IACLETOP, in English, Chinese, Spanish Korean and Bahasa. Members who achieve a successful outcome of the exam become eligible to apply for Fellow of IACLE (FIACLE) status. The fee for the Fellowship Exam is the same cost as your membership. For example, if your membership fee is $100, the exam fee will also be $100. Payments must be received by 30 June. Existing FIACLEs can also sit the Fellowship Exam – free of charge – to refresh their knowledge and keep abreast of the latest contact lens developments. 

Please note, new members must hold IACLE membership for at least one year before applying for FIACLE status. 

Register nowFor more information

WC4 stipends

Applications for travel stipends for our 4th World Congress have now closed. Those who have applied for a stipend have been notified by the IACLE Team. Registration for WC4 remains open to all IACLE members.

Register for WC4For more information


IACLETOP

Complimentary access to a Student Area for members

In 2021, we introduced the Student Area, a space on IACLETOP with the tools to allow educators to produce individual teaching content and assessments while streamlining and integrating IACLE resources, acting as your own online Learning Management System.

To give you a chance to try the area and to see if this resource enhances your teaching, we are offering complimentary access for one year to our members who haven’t yet registered for a Student Area. 

Read a Special Notice for more information

Read the fact sheets in: Bahasa – Chinese – English – Korean – Spanish

In our February global webinar, Professor Nathan Efron argued that contact lens wear is intrinsically inflammatory and that this response of the ocular surface is inherently ‘good news’. In an authoritative presentation, Professor Efron reflected on his career in clinical research to discuss this interesting hypothesis and answered questions from the large online audience of mainly IACLE members.

Catch up on the webinar via IACLETOP


NEWS IN FEBRUARY

Image of the Month

Karpagavalli Subramanian from Sankara Nethralaya Medical Research Foundation in Chennai, India, captured these images using a Topcon photo slit lamp of a 27-year-old male patient who reported to the specialty contact lens department following a firecracker injury which resulted in multiple studded foreign bodies on the cornea. His main complaints were blurred vision and photophobia. His BCVA was OU 6/60 which improved to OU 6/9 with PROSE scleral lens. Photophobia was significantly reduced with the lens, and he was able to open his eyes. 

Share your photographs with us for the 2023 IACLE Image Library and enter our Image of the Year competition for the chance to win a year of free IACLE membership and a US$100 Amazon voucher. 

Would you like to feature in next month’s Image of the Month? Submit your image here

Alcon and WCO dry eye series continues

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon have opened registration for their third complimentary global dry eye disease webinar titled ‘Dry Eye Spotlight 3: Management’. The webinar takes place on 14 March and will explore the importance of being choiceful and methodical in different approaches available to manage dry eye. Professor Lyndon Jones is leading the session and features Professors Jennifer Craig and James Wolffsohn.

For more information and to register

Virtual Perspectives with CooperVision next month

CooperVision’s Virtual Perspectives event returns on Sunday 5 March themed ‘Improving lives, one person at a time’. The half-day virtual conference features presentations and panel discussions on successful contact lens wear, myopia management and presbyopia. IACLE President Professor Philip Morgan and Lifetime FIACLE and Director at the Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE) Professor Lyndon Jones are moderating the event. The agenda also features IACLE colleagues and members Dr Byki Huntjens and Professor James Wolffsohn.

For more informationRegister here

Renew your IACLE membership

Thank you to all our members who have renewed their membership for 2023. We are looking forward to delivering more programs, resources, and events in the coming year. This is a kind reminder that access to our full range of membership benefits – including the resources and programs within IACLETOP and all resources and events under the Teach. Learn. Connect. Initiative – is exclusively available for IACLE members. IACLE membership runs on an annual cycle and expires when payment is not received. Access to full membership benefits ended on 31 January if payment had not been received, and a late fee will be payable for members failing to pay by the end of February

Please note without active membership, FIACLE status is not valid. Membership renewal is not required for Honorary Members.

More information on how to renew your membership


RESOURCES

Read the latest from Contact Lens & Anterior Eye

The February issue of Contact Lens & Anterior Eye is devoted to specialist contact lenses and features papers on scleral lenses, orthokeratology, and myopia control contact lenses.  

Read the issue

3rd Catania’s Primary Care of the Anterior Segment launches soon

The 3rd edition of Catania’s Primary Care of the Anterior Segment, authored by Dr Louis Catania and co-authored by Dr Brian Armitage, launches next month (20 March). The original chapters have been updated, with chapters on the management of pre and postoperative cataract and refractive surgery patients added to the third edition. The publisher is offering a 20% discount on pre-orders starting from 27 February using the discount code ‘AFL01’.

For more information


COVID-19 RESOURCE

In a recently published randomized clinical trial, wearing glasses in the community did not have a protective effect on the primary outcome of a reported positive COVID-19 test result. However, study results were limited by small sample sizes and other issues, hence more trials are needed to investigate further.

Read the full paper


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR REGIONS?

AMERICAS

Catch up on the latest Latin American webinars

Every week, Americas Regional Coordinator Guillermo Carrillo hosts the radio program ‘IACLE in the World’ interviewing IACLE members from across the Latin America region. In the past month, 166 IACLE members and eye care practitioners joined our Latin American webinars. We heard from Professor John Jairo Valencia who presented ‘Back surface toric RGPs – a great option’, and Professor Alejandra Martinez who spoke on ‘Perception and assessment: success of failure in fitting children and adolescents with contact lenses’.

Catch up on all Spanish-speaking webinars

ASIA PACIFIC

Industry seminar in India

Around 40 students from Sankara Nethralaya and the Elite School of Optometry in Chennai, India, attended an interactive industry session (21 January). CooperVision Professional Services Manager Rashmi Kanojiya and Professional Services Consultant Sowmya Kumarkrishnan gave an update on the latest CooperVision products. The students learned how to compare anterior segment grading scales using CooperVision’s OptiExpert app and how to determine an individual’s digital usage to promote the Biofinity Energys Lenses. 

EUROPE / AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST

BCLA invites IACLE members to upcoming webinar

The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) invites IACLE members to its upcoming member-only webinar on Wednesday 1 MarchDr Sònia Travé Huarte, IACLE member, postdoctoral researcher and optometrist at Aston University in Birmingham, UK, presents ‘Bringing evidence-based dry eye diagnostics and management into your practice’.

Register for the webinar here


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

IACLE TLC (Teach. Learn. Connect) WEBINARS 

Visit the IACLE Webinars area on IACLETOP to view the schedule for upcoming webinars.

GLOBAL MEETINGS IN THE COMING MONTHS 

14th Annual Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology, Lisbon, Portugal, 24-25 March. Details

49th EFCLIN Congress and Exhibition, The Hague, The Netherlands, 20-22 April. Details.

IACLE 4th World Congress, Birmingham, UK, 5-8 June. Details

BCLA Clinical Conference & Exhibition, Manchester, UK, 9-11 June. Details

4th World Congress of Optometry (WCO4) and O=MEGA23, Melbourne, Australia, 8-10 September. Details

American Academy of Optometry, New Orleans, USA, 11-14 October. Details


IACLE IS SPONSORED BY

2023 IACLE Educator of the Year Awards

Apply or nominate a friend or colleague for the 2023 IACLE Educator of the Year Awards

Three contact lens educators from around the world will travel to IACLE’s 4th World Congress and the British Contact Lens Association’s Clinical Conference & Exhibition this year as winners of the 2023 IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards. 

IACLE is offering educators the chance to become IACLE Contact Lens Educators of the Year and travel to the BCLA’s biennial conference in Manchester, UK. The 2023 awards ceremony will take place during the Gala Dinner at our 4th World Congress in Birmingham, UK, which immediately precedes the BCLA, so we hope all winners can attend. Fees to attend WC4 are waived for all IACLE members. For more information about WC4, please visit our website.

The title of the 2023 IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year will be awarded to three individuals, one from each of IACLE’s three global regions:

  • Asia Pacific
  • Europe, Africa and Middle East 
  • Americas

These awards recognize achievements in contact lens education and are sponsored by Gold Sponsor CooperVision. The winners will each receive a bursary of up to US$3,000 towards the cost of attending the BCLA this year (including free registration for the conference) and the right to use the title 2023 IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year for their region.  

The IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards are open to all IACLE members who have been paid-up members for at least three years. Members can either nominate themselves, be nominated by another member or IACLE staff. Applicants must demonstrate the use of IACLE resources, engagement with IACLE, impact on their institution and how they inspire their students to become future contact lens practitioners. 

Director, Global Professional Affairs at CooperVision Karen Walsh said: ‘The IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards provides a great opportunity for those involved in teaching the next generation of eye care professionals to be recognized for their work on the international stage. CooperVision, as long-term supporters of these awards, look forward to celebrating with the successful nominees later in the year.’

IACLE President Professor Philip Morgan commented, ‘On behalf of IACLE, I am pleased to announce that applications and nominations for our Educator of the Year Awards are open. One Award is made for each IACLE region – Asia Pacific, Americas and Europe, Africa, Middle East – with the awardees scheduled to receive their awards at our 4th World Congress. I encourage our members to consider nominating themselves or a colleague to be recognized in this way. Thanks to CooperVision for once again sponsoring the IACLE Educator of the Year Awards.’

The deadline for entries for the 2023 awards is midnight (EST) on Friday 24 February.

Entries must be submitted using the application form. If you would like to nominate a friend or colleague, please fill out their details in nomination form and we will contact them directly to inform them about their nomination. You may nominate more than one member if you wish. 

If you have any questions or would like any additional information, please contact IACLE Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Boshart.


Apply for the IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Award

or

Nominate a friend or colleague


IACLE IS SPONSORED BY

2023 Fellowship Exam Registration

Would you like to become a Fellow of IACLE?

We are pleased to announce that registration for the 2023 IACLE Fellowship Exam is now open. 

The Fellowship Exam will take place on Wednesday 22 November 2023, virtually via IACLETOP, in English, Chinese, Spanish, Korean and Bahasa. 

After completing the registration form, your IACLE representative will be in touch to confirm the receipt of your registration and will send an invoice for the payment of the exam. The fee for the Fellowship Exam is the same cost as your membership. For example, if your membership fee is $100, the exam fee will also be $100. Payments must be received by 30 June.

Existing FIACLEs can also sit the Fellowship Exam – free of charge – to refresh their knowledge and keep abreast of the latest contact lens developments. 

Preparing for the Fellowship Exam

Distance Learning Program

Our Distance Learning Program (DLP) is a series of assessments designed to guide members through the IACLE Contact Lens Course, module by module, and was specifically designed to help members prepare for the Fellowship Exam. An updated version – DLP2023 – goes live in April and will be available in English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish. 

Fellowship Exam Area

The Fellowship Exam Area is a space within IACLETOP dedicated to those sitting the Fellowship Exam, allowing members to join study groups, understand different methods of assessment, sit mock exams, and chat with other members who are also taking the exam. The Fellowship Exam Area launches in May.

Monthly Workshops

From May, the Education Team will host monthly workshops to help members prepare for the exam and answer any questions or concerns you may have. The monthly workshops begin in May

For more information, please visit our website

IACLE IS SPONSORED BY

4th IACLE World Congress – Registration is closing soon

Read this email in

عربي – 中国人 – Français – 한국인 – Português – Español

Dear IACLE Members, 

We have had a great response from our members for our upcoming 4th IACLE World Congress and look forward to sharing more exciting details over the coming weeks. The WC4 Team will be in touch with registered members over the next few weeks regarding travel stipend applications. 

The 4th IACLE World Congress will take place at Conference Aston in Birmingham, UK, from 5-8 June 2023 and is timed to precede the British Contact Lens Association’s (BCLA) 2023 Clinical Conference & Exhibition in Manchester (9-11 June 2023).

Congress fees for IACLE members are free of charge (worth over $1,400 per person) thanks to the generous support of our industry sponsors. This includes:

  • Participation on all four days, including the workshops, plenary sessions, and keynote presentations (normally $525)
  • Four nights’ hotel accommodation, including buffet breakfast (normally $165 per night per room, based upon two people sharing a room). Attendees who would prefer a single occupancy room will pay a supplement of $70 per night. 
  • Lunch on all four days (normally $35 per day)
  • Gala dinner ticket (normally $75)
  • Luxury coach travel from Birmingham to Manchester in time for the BCLA (normally $35)

IACLE members will also receive an exclusive registration rate for the BCLA’s Clinical Conference & Exhibition (full registration rate is £750 and IACLE members pay £500). Look out for a discount code in the coming weeks. 

Registration

There is still time to register for WC4. However, applications for travel stipends have now closed:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZWVJSFX

Workshops

The workshops will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday of the Congress. There will be eight 90-minute workshops on both days with approximately 15 delegates rotating through each workshop. 

Schedule

  • Monday 5 June – welcome lunch, plenary session, keynote speaker, drinks reception, tour of Aston University’s School of Optometry 
  • Tuesday 6 June – hands-on workshops
  • Wednesday 7 June – hands-on workshops, Gala Dinner
  • Thursday 8 June – plenary session, keynote speaker, transport to Manchester for BCLA attendees

A fully detailed program will be shared with attendees in the coming weeks.  

Abstracts

We have also had a great response to our call for abstracts. Thank you to all our members who have submitted an abstract. The WC4 Team will be in touch over the coming weeks to let you know if your abstract has been successful. Abstract submissions are now closed.


For more information visit our website


Proud Sponsors of the 4th IACLE World Congress on Contact Lens Education