Contact Lens Institute Opens Nominations for 2026 Culture Awards

Thursday, July 9 2026 | 09 h 21 min | News

The Contact Lens Institute is accepting nominations for its fourth annual Culture Awards, which recognize eye care professionals who help foster a positive contact lens culture in clinical practice.

Nominations are open through October 1, 2026, and individuals in the U.S. and Canadian eye care community who prescribe or support soft contact lenses are eligible. Self-nominations are also accepted.

The program honours professionals whose behaviours and initiatives support patient experiences, practice success and team engagement, reflecting themes identified in CLI’s See Tomorrow research reports.

“Each year, the Contact Lens Institute Culture Awards highlight eye care professionals who are making a lasting difference through the way they recommend, support, and champion contact lens wear,” said Stan Rogaski, executive director of the Contact Lens Institute.

Nomination submissions should include a response of 750 words or less addressing at least two of the program’s questions. Topics include how the nominee has enhanced patient outcomes with soft contact lenses, introduced practice initiatives that support contact lens recommendations and wear, engaged staff in advocacy for healthy and safe contact lens use, or helped improve a patient’s life through contact lenses.

Groups are eligible, provided all individuals are named and a leader is clearly identified. Submissions must include the nominee’s name, location, practice name and contact information, along with the nominator’s name, affiliation and contact information.

Previous Culture Award Winners from Canada include:

2025 Honoree

 Sheila Morrison, OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS, FCCSO, Mission Eye Care, Calgary, AB.

2024 Honoree

Wes McCann, OD, Central Optometry & Upper Richmond Optometry, London, ON.

Entries must be emailed by October 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET to cli@contactlensinstitute.org. Submissions may be included in the body of the email or attached as a Word or PDF document.

Honorees will be selected by the CLI Board of Directors and announced in November 2026, with recognition continuing into the following year.

Complete nomination information is available at:

https://www.contactlensinstitute.org/awards

Click HERE for the press release.

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