CooperVision is once again sponsoring the Academy 2024 International Reception for eye care professionals (ECPs) from around the world. Scheduled for Friday, November 8, at 5 pm ET, this year’s gathering will celebrate the collaborative spirit of the global myopia management community and highlight the widespread global impact of the fifth anniversary of MiSight^® 1 day approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The evening will also underscore CooperVision’s commitment to advancing optometry through education, research, and partnerships. This will include the presentation of the CooperVision-sponsored Educator of the Year awards by the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) as well as the awarding of travel grants to ten international ECPs, enabling them to attend the Academy meeting.

“We are deeply committed to advancing collaboration with industry partners to establish myopia management as the standard of care, as well as advancing interventions that address this global epidemic. That includes our MiSight^® 1 day contact lens, the first and only FDA-approved* soft contact lens proven to help slow the progression of myopia in children, aged 8-12 at the initiation of treatment.^{† 1} This reception also extends our tradition of celebrating outstanding contact lens educators—a vital role that shapes the future of the eye care profession and patient care of tomorrow.”

Elizabeth Lumb, BSc (Hons) MCOptom, FIACLE, FBCLA, Director, Global Professional Affairs, Myopia, CooperVision

This year’s IACLE Educator of the Year Awards recipients are Dr. Aldo Ortiz (Americas Region-Guatemala), Madhumathi Subramanian (Asia Pacific Region-India), and Dr. Stefan Bandlitz (Europe/Africa/Middle East Region-Germany). Established in 2014, the program honors  educators who clearly demonstrate impact on contact lens education in their institutions, including how they inspire their students to become future contact lens practitioners.

In addition, Academy Travel Grants will be formally awarded to ten ECPs, enabling them to participate in key educational experiences and professional development opportunities. They include Samson Darrah (Ghana), Tamunominabo Edah (Nigeria), Ekeoma A. Edemeraro (Nigeria), Justin Eghaghara (Nigeria), Lucy A. A. Karikari (Ghana), Chukwuemeka Jr. Obinwanne (Nigeria), Stephen Ocansey (Ghana), Grace Ogbonna (Malawi), Soumen Sadhu (India), and Asad Ullah (Pakistan).  

“The 2024 CooperVision International Travel Fellowship Award provides me with an opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world, while also staying updated on new trends in optometry,” said Dr. Tamunominabo Edah, Commander Nigerian Navy. “Most importantly, it gives me the platform to enhance my ability to mentor young optometrists by improving their leadership skills, clinical knowledge, research methodology, and the quality of their healthcare delivery.”

Guest speaker Dr. Sandra Block, President of the World Council of Optometry (WCO), will conclude the program by encouraging attendees to strengthen their commitment to making myopia management the standard of care. She will also highlight the critical role of industry partnerships in driving innovation, such as the recent launch of the WCO CooperVision Myopia Management Navigator.

For more information about Academy 2024, including details on attending the International Reception, visit https://aaopt.org/meetings/academy-2024-indianapolis.

Click HERE for the full press release.

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* Indications for use: MiSight^® 1 day (omafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses for daily wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 to -4.00 diopters (spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal.

^† Compared to a single vision 1 day lens over a 3 year period.

References

1 Chamberlain P, et al. A 3-year randomized clinical trial of MiSight^® lenses for myopia control. Optom Vis Sci. 2019; 96(8):556-567.