The University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science celebrated outstanding student achievement at its Fall Awards Ceremony on November 28, 2025. The event honoured learners who demonstrated academic excellence, clinical promise and leadership, made possible through the continued generosity of donors and supporting associations.
This year’s recipients included:
Major Awards & Scholarships • Barbara Sivak Memorial Award: Sara Zakhour, Taylor Chamoun El-Helou • Dr. David McKenna Memorial Scholarship: Rachel Murphy • Dr. Douglas H. Jenkins Memorial Scholarship: Hayley Rideout • Dr. Karen Tompa Nowy Third-Year Memorial Award: Tara MacKinnon • Dr. Reed Dawkins Entrance Award: Prableen Dhugga • Drs. Wensveen and Smith Award in Binocular Vision and Perception: Abarnaa Arithas • E.F. Attridge Award for Highest Achievement in Pathology: Reagan Myers • E.J. Chisholm Memorial Scholarship: Samra Brkic • EssilorLuxottica Eye Care Award: Kaitlyn Dufault, Adrianna Warren • Frederick T. Armstrong Scholarship: Benjamin Quilley • FYidoctors Academic Leadership Award: Shreya Jain • J. Pat Cummings Scholarship: Jordyn Matthews • Manitoba Association of Optometrists A.H. Basman O.D. Scholarships: Sarah Marks, Sophia Devinyak, Emma Coughlan • Monaghan Memorial Scholarship: Abby Walker • New Brunswick Association of Optometrists Scholarship: Elise Violet Hansen • Nova Scotia Association of Optometrists Scholarship: Katelyn Geddes • Reginald Williams Memorial Scholarship: Emily Lolita Wood • Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists Scholarship: Jon Raedeke • Steve de Pinto Awards: Fadi Naom, Carli Taylor Hemsworth • VSP and AAOF Canadian Practice Excellence Scholarships: Helen Liang, Paige Wagar
Summer Research Awards • Bobier/Fisher/Lyle Research Award: Julia Jin • Dr. Howard A. Backman Scholarship: Vicky Shah • H. Stein Summer Research Award: Helena Woo • Optometry Faculty Undergraduate Research Scholarship: Jordyn Matthews
The ceremony also highlighted the meaningful presence of donors and family representatives, including Dr. Jake Sivak, Britt Backman, and Zach Riley of EssilorLuxottica, underscoring the strong ties between the profession and the next generation of Canadian optometrists.
For more details, visit the University of Waterloo announcement.
Anders (ALS-1051) features a square silhouette in Renew Acetate, with hexagon pin detailing and bold temple bolts, inspired by the clothing rails of past AllSaints stores. A brushed silver flex hinge extends into the temples, combining functional hardware with architectural design. Available in Camo Tort, Gloss Black, and Milky Olive Horn.
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East Optical partners with the Opticians Association of Canada for the upcoming December webcast titled “Modern Myopia Management for Eye Care Professionals, practical clinic workflows and the MyoPro® solution.” The event will take place December 9, 2025, at 6:00 PM CST.
This two-hour education session has been accredited for:
1 EG credit in Ontario
1 Domaine Professionnel in Quebec
NACOR accreditation pending (anticipated as 1 EG with competencies 1.7.1, 1.7.3, 3.7.5, 3.7.6, 3.11.4)
About the Webcast
This high value training will provide opticians and eye care professionals with practical insights to better understand and implement modern myopia management. The session will cover:
A clinical overview of myopia and its long-term risks
Practical workflows to integrate myopia management into daily practice
How to communicate effectively with parents
An introduction to the MyoPro® solution for managing childhood myopia
Featured Speaker: Dr. Griffin Christenson, OD
Dr. Griffin Christenson grew up in Hudson, Wisconsin, and has always been passionate about serving his community. His desire to help people overcome vision challenges inspired him to pursue a career in optometry. Today, Dr. Christenson is known for his warm, engaging approach and his strong commitment to patient care.
One of the highlights of his daily routine is interacting with patients and collaborating with his practice team. Outside the clinic, he enjoys outings with his wife, spending time with their dog, Lambeau, and their cat, Oliver. While he once enjoyed playing football, he now proudly watches from the sidelines.
Dr. Christenson also recently completed his Master of Science in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, bringing a unique blend of clinical insight and technological expertise to the conversation on innovative myopia solutions.
The ZEISS Light 2 branded progressive and digital lenses are the latest addition to the ZEISS Progressive lens portfolio along with ZEISS SmartLife lenses. These new lenses are easy to adapt to, making them ideal for people who have just started to experience vision problems at close range, as well as for more experienced spectacle wearers who are accustomed to standard lenses. The ZEISS Light 2 portfolio provides eye care professionals with upselling opportunities as well as new strategies for acquiring and retaining customers in times of economic uncertainty.
New additions to portfolio against the backdrop of demographic changes, digitalization and economic uncertainty
Fast adaptation thanks to moderate-soft design
ZEISS EasyFocus technology for less blur in the periphery
New additions to ZEISS Progressive lens portfolio along with SmartLife lenses: Straightforward marketing and upselling opportunities
New additions to portfolio against the backdrop of demographic changes, digitalization and economic uncertainty
The world’s population is aging rapidly, presenting new opportunities for the ophthalmic industry. By 2050, the proportion of individuals aged 60 and older is expected to rise from 13% today to 21.5% (or 2.1 billion). The average age in Europe and North America will reach 42.5 years and 38.8 years, respectively.1 This demographic shift, coupled with increasing digital device usage, is driving demand for progressive and digital lenses tailored to evolving vision needs. The addition of ZEISS Light 2 lenses to ZEISS SmartLife portfolio will enable eye care professionals to target a wider range of customers, including price-sensitive individuals, by offering branded lenses optimized for their vision requirements.
ZEISS Light 2 progressive lenses are tailored for wearers recently diagnosed with presbyopia including first-time glasses users or those transitioning from single vision lenses – as well as experienced wearers of standard progressive lenses. The lenses feature a moderate-soft design that ensures a soft increase of blur across peripheral areas. This facilitates a comfortable transition between various viewing zones. It also allows wearers to adapt quickly and see clearly at all ranges. 68% of ZEISS Light 2 users said that they adapted to their new lenses in just a few hours. 94% found it easy to switch from their previous lens solution, while 96% agreed that with ZEISS Light 2 lenses their vision feels natural.2
Digital lenses are particularly useful for people between 30 and 40 years who experience tired eyes or blurred near vision at the end of the day. ZEISS Digital Light 2 lenses are specially designed for first-time glasses wearers or those not used to having different viewing zones in their lens.
The moderate-soft design combines the advantages of hard and soft designs, and therefore enables wide and clear distance zones, enlarged near zones, low peripheral distortion and easy access to the near zone.
ZEISS EasyFocus technology for less blur in the periphery
Made with ZEISS EasyFocus technology, ZEISS Light 2 considers the natural vertical movement of both eyes from distance to near, which targets at easy focusing, a smooth transition and comfortable access to the wide reading zone. The optical power profile of these lenses optimally matches the inclination of the eye, the distance of objects and the different zones. Calculations show that the ZEISS Light 2 lenses offer up to 69% larger binocular vision zones than ZEISS standard progressive lenses.3
The cutting-edge technology used in ZEISS Light 2 lenses also makes it easier for wearers to switch to ZEISS SmartLife lenses at a later date.
New additions to ZEISS Progressive lens portfolio along with SmartLife lenses: Straightforward marketing and upselling opportunities
Offering existing customers different solutions and effective customer retention strategies is crucial, especially in economically challenging times. The The new ZEISS Light 2 lenses will enable eye care professionals to offer branded lenses in the mid-price segment to consumers with varying disposable incomes, or to “upsell” solutions that are of a higher standard. They will also create opportunities for acquiring new customers who are attracted to the medium-soft lens design.
These new high levels of customer satisfaction as well as straightforward fitting and consultation for eye care professionals. 92% of wearers are happy with the value for money their ZEISS Light 2 lenses offer.4 In a nutshell, the ZEISS Light 2 lenses will encourage new and existing customers to use branded progressive or digital lenses, while paving the way for a seamless transition to the ZEISS SmartLife portfolio as their vision needs evolve.
Advantages of ZEISS Light 2 at a glance:
One lens for all everyday scenarios in the mid-price segment
Clear vision at all distances
Fast adaption
Easy reading on digital devices
Comfortable: thin and lightweight branded lenses
SmartLife is a registered trademark of Carl Zeiss Vision GmbH.
3 Calculation & Analysis by Technology & Innovation, Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH, DE 2023. ZEISS Progressive & Digital Light 2 3Dve lenses compared to synchrony Ultra HD, synchrony Easy HD, ZEISS Progressive GT2 semi-finished and ZEISS Progressive Choice lenses, (unpublished, data on file)
EssilorLuxottica announced the creation of its Scientific Advisory Committee, bringing together some of the world’s most sought-after scientists and thought leaders from the converging fields of science, technology and healthcare. This initiative will reinforce the Group’s enduring scientific foundation and its mission to empower patients and consumers around the world.
The Scientific Advisory Committee will provide strategic guidance and forward-looking insights, helping to maximize EssilorLuxottica’s lead agenda. Acting as a catalyst for transformative thinking, the Advisory Committee will collaborate with a global network of leading scientific institutions and advise on new frontiers in the Group’s core areas of research, like ophthalmology and oculomics, physics and optics, audiology, AI and ethics.
The Scientific Advisory Committee unites five world-renowned experts, each recognized for their pioneering contributions and leadership in their respective domains:
Pr. Alain Aspect, PhD, 2022 Nobel laureate in Physics and 2010 Wolf Prize. Professor at Institut d’Optique Graduate School – Université Paris Saclay and École Polytechnique; Emeritus CNRS Senior Scientist.
Pr. Alessio Figalli, PhD, 2018 Fields medal laureate. Chaired Professor and Director of the Institute for Mathematics Research at ETH Zürich.
Pr. Sharon Kujawa, PhD, 2017 Callier prize winner. Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School; Principal Investigator at the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Mass Eye and Ear.
Pr. José-Alain Sahel, MD, 2024 Wolf prize winner. Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Emeritus at Sorbonne Université.
Pr. Effy Vayena, PhD. Professor of Bioethics at ETH Zürich; Visiting Lecturer at the Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School.
“Building on EssilorLuxottica’s decades of pioneering research and technological breakthroughs, the creation of our first Scientific Advisory Committee marks a defining step in our innovation journey. Engaging with some of the most brilliant minds in science allows us to broaden our horizons, explore uncharted territories and translate knowledge into meaningful human impact. Their expert insights will guide our initiatives to advance ophthalmology, audiology, AI, neuroscience and beyond – amplifying the reach of our solutions across the life sciences. Together we’ll continue to shape the future of our industry, driving transformative progress and reaffirming our commitment to lead with purpose”, said Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO, and Paul du Saillant, Deputy CEO, of EssilorLuxottica.
Episode 10 of Eye on the Industry features Dr. Harbir Sian on scope modernization, social media, myopia management, clinic culture, and the future of optometry in Canada.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
Episode 10 of Eye on the Industry features Dr. Harbir Sian on scope modernization, social media, myopia management, clinic culture, and the future of optometry in Canada.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
Episode 10 of Eye on the Industry features Dr. Harbir Sian on scope modernization, social media, myopia management, clinic culture, and the future of optometry in Canada.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
Episode 10 of Eye on the Industry features Dr. Harbir Sian on scope modernization, social media, myopia management, clinic culture, and the future of optometry in Canada.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
