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University of Waterloo

HOYA Vision Care Pledges Support to the WEI to Support Clinical Education and Vision Care

HOYA is making a significant contribution to help build the Waterloo Eye Institute (WEI) as Canada’s premier centre for optometric patient care, research and clinical education.

The gift aligns with HOYA’s commitment to evidence-based solutions and the WEI’s mission to help people see through comprehensive, evidence-based eye care. The support will enable the WEI to enhance facilities for the pediatric service while integrating the latest techniques and technologies to manage myopia (nearsightedness) in children.

“HOYA’s support empowers us to enhance our clinical services and clinical education to future optometrists,” said Dr. Andre Stanberry, clinic director at the Waterloo Eye Institute. “This partnership allows our teams to provide the highest level of care while mitigating the impact of myopia on children’s vision and eye health.”

In addition to clinical advancements, the pledge will support educational initiatives, providing optometry students with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art myopia management tools. This practical training is essential for preparing future optometrists to address the growing prevalence of myopia, which is projected to affect nearly 50 percent of the global population by 2050.

“Our collaboration with the Waterloo Eye Institute reflects HOYA’s dedication to advancing pediatric eye care through innovation and education,” said Steven Haifawi, president of HOYA Vision Care Canada. “By combining our technological expertise with the WEI’s clinical excellence, we aim to make a meaningful impact on children’s vision health.”

UWaterloo HOYA visit-Steven Haifawi
Steven Haifawi (third from left), president of HOYA Vision Care, visits the Waterloo Eye Institute with director Dr. Stanley Woo (left), incoming director Dr. Ben Thompson (third from right), associate director of advancement Kelsey Gagnon (right) and students (in blue scrubs).

In the last several years, techniques to slow the progression of myopia have advanced tremendously. Now, the standard of care in Canada includes these techniques, which use special glasses, contact lenses or eye drops to prevent children’s myopia from progressing to the point where they would be at risk of sight-threatening eye diseases in the future.

Beyond myopia management, HOYA continues to advance the standard of vision care with a comprehensive portfolio of innovative ophthalmic solutions, including iD MyStyle 3, HOYA’s fully personalized progressive lens optimized with advanced 3D Binocular Vision technology; Super HiVision Meiryo EX4, the company’s most durable and transparent anti-reflective coating for long-lasting clarity and protection; and MySV, a digitally optimized single vision lens delivering sharper vision and wider fields of view.

These and other innovative solutions exemplify HOYA’s dedication to delivering precision optics, advanced lens technologies and personalized vision solutions.

With these innovations, HOYA empowers eyecare providers to deliver tailored visual experiences—helping elevate patient satisfaction, strengthen loyalty and advance the overall standard of care.

The Waterloo Eye Institute is part of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science. The building, currently under construction, is a $53 million, 68,000-square-foot renovation and expansion that will modernize patient care facilities and add space for cutting-edge research. As an entity, the WEI will bring together new and existing research groups with clinicians, students and patients, enabling research to move more effectively from the lab to the clinic.

To learn more about the Waterloo Eye Institute or contribute to the project, visit our campaign website.

Source: University of Waterloo

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