Some animals, like zebrafish, can regenerate parts of their retinas—but humans and other mammals, that kind of repair has long seemed impossible.
Now, scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) have made a discovery that could change that. Their research, published in Nature Communications, may offer a way to restore vision by prompting the retina to regenerate nerve cells lost in degenerative diseases like retinitis pigmentosa.
The team focused on Müller glia—support cells in the retina that can transform into new neurons in fish, but not in mammals. The reason? In mammals, a protein called PROX1, produced by damaged retinal nerve cells, enters Müller glia and blocks regeneration. In fish, PROX1 isn’t present in these cells—allowing regeneration to occur.
To overcome this barrier, the KAIST team developed an antibody therapy that blocks PROX1 from entering Müller glia. In mouse models of retinitis pigmentosa, the treatment reactivated the cells’ regenerative ability and led to the return of both retinal structure and visual function.
The potential therapy is now being further developed by biotech company Celliaz, which plans to continue preclinical studies with the goal of advancing to human clinical trials in the future.
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The Vision Council announces the release of the Consumer inSights Canada Q1 and Q2 2025 report, offering a comprehensive overview of Canadian consumer behaviors and attitudes related to vision correction, eye exams, managed vision care, and eyewear purchasing. Based on survey responses from over 3,000 Canadian adults, this report delivers critical insights for industry professionals looking to understand and serve the Canadian optical market.
The findings highlight the impact of socioeconomic factors on access to vision care, with vision insurance coverage notably higher among younger and higher-income Canadians. While eye exam rates have improved since previous waves, a significant share of adults, especially those without insurance, have gone more than two years without an eye exam. The preference for in-person eyewear purchases continues to be strong, reflecting the value consumers place on personalized service, product fit, and immediate fulfillment.
“From eyewear purchasing preferences to vision insurance usage, this report sheds light on how Canadians are navigating their vision care,” said Alysse Henkel, Vice President of Research and inSights at The Vision Council. “We’re seeing improvements in eye exam rates and continued strong in-person purchasing, with 47 percent of prescription glasses wearers making a purchase in the last year, with most buying from their exam provider. These insights are essential for businesses that want to remain competitive and responsive to the evolving expectations of Canadian consumers.”
Key Findings from Q1 and Q2
82 percent of respondents use some form of vision correction, with 50 percent having had an eye exam in the past year.
43 percent report having vision care insurance, most commonly through employer-sponsored plans, and the majority used their benefits to offset eyewear and contact lens costs.
47 percent of prescription glasses users purchased eyewear within the last year.
While in-person shopping dominated (87 percent), a significant portion of online buyers (34 percent) returned to physical retail for their most recent purchase.
Contact lens users were more likely to buy online (29 percent), though many limited purchases to short-term supplies.
Among recent purchases of plano sunglasses, 55 percent spent under $50, and Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Foster Grant were the most cited brands.
Findings from the Consumer inSights Canada Q1 and Q2 2025 report are based on a nationally representative survey of 3,077 Canadian adults aged 18 or older. The survey collected detailed information about consumer behaviors across key categories such as eye exams, vision insurance, optical product preferences, and purchase patterns.
The full report is available in The Vision Council’s Research Download Center as a complimentary download for members of The Vision Council, with a paid option for non-members to download.
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Testing visual acuity in young children has long been a challenge, as traditional eye charts rely on letter recognition. For children too young to read, subtle vision problems often go undetected until later years — reducing opportunities for early intervention.
Dr. Susan Leat, a professor at the University of Waterloo, is aiming to change that. With funding from Fighting Blindness Canada, Dr. Leat and her team have developed the Waterloo Differential Acuity Test (WatDAT), designed specifically for children under the age of three. The test is currently in Beta trials.
Instead of reading letters, children play a simple “odd-one-out” game: they are asked to point to the picture that looks different from the others. This approach has proven both intuitive and effective for very young patients.
In recent studies, 96% of children between 18 months and 4 years old were able to complete the test, and results closely matched the gold-standard tests used in adults. WatDAT may be capable of detecting up to 96% of vision deficits at an earlier age than ever before.
Both digital and printed versions of WatDAT have been created, and independent optometrists across Canada are now evaluating the tool in real-world clinics. If successful, the test could soon be widely available to eye care professionals.
Dr. Leat notes that early detection of vision problems is critical: untreated vision loss in early childhood can affect motor skills, learning, and long-term opportunities. She emphasizes that the project would not have been possible without the support of Fighting Blindness Canada.
WatDAT represents a potential breakthrough in pediatric eye care — giving optometrists the ability to identify and address vision concerns in children long before they can say, “I can’t see.”
The Vision Council has released new research examining eyecare provider sentiments on practice operations, industry trends, and the U.S. economy during the first half of 2025. The report, Provider inSights Q1 and Q2 2025, explores providers’ expectations and the effects of key economic factors, including tariffs, inflation, staffing, and the adoption of new technologies such as telehealth and smart eyewear.
Findings show that economic pressures remain top-of-mind for eyecare providers. More than half of respondents (56 percent) said the U.S. economy performed worse in the first half of 2025 compared to the second half of 2024. Tariffs and inflation are major concerns: 62 percent of providers report tariffs have already affected their practices, and two-thirds (66 percent) expect continued or worsening impacts through the end of the year. Meanwhile, 69 percent said inflation has influenced their business in 2025.
“This survey provides valuable insight into how eyecare practices are navigating tariffs, inflation, and other economic challenges,” said Alysse Henkel, Vice President of Research and inSights at The Vision Council. “Many providers are responding by maintaining the status quo—delaying investments, not expanding services, and holding off on introducing new products such as smart eyewear.”
Key Findings:
Tariffs and Pricing: Nine in ten providers report tariffs have most strongly impacted wholesale eyewear prices. Eight out of 10 also noted tariffs are affecting wholesale practice supplies.
Inflation: 69 percent of providers said inflation influenced their practice in the first half of 2025, and 30 percent expect continued impacts for the rest of the year.
Staffing and Hiring: Hiring challenges persist for 72 percent of practices, with little improvement expected in 2025. Staff retention has improved by eight percentage points compared to 2024 but is projected to remain steady for the remainder of the year.
Telehealth: 76 percent of providers do not currently offer telehealth services.
Smart Eyewear: Four out of ten providers offer smart eyewear to their patients.
The study was conducted online from June 30 to July 7, 2025, using The Vision Council’s eyecare provider research panel.
The full report is available now: members of The Vision Council receive free access, while non-members may purchase it for $250.
For more information about the Provider inSights report or The Vision Council’s research program, visit thevisioncouncil.org.
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Nominations are now being accepted for the third annual Contact Lens Institute™ (CLI) Culture Awards through October 1. The program honors eye care professionals who foster a positive contact lens culture, demonstrating behaviors that elevate patient experiences and support business success, as reflected in CLI’s recent See Tomorrowresearch reports.
Individuals within the U.S. and Canadian eye care community who prescribe or support soft contact lenses are eligible for consideration. Self-nominations are allowed and encouraged. Previous winners will continue to be celebrated and do not need to reapply. Complete nomination information is available at contactlensinstitute.org/awards.
“Over the past two years, our Culture Award honorees have shown how everyday actions—whether through patient care, staff engagement, or innovative practice approaches—create thriving contact lens cultures,” said Stan Rogaski, executive director of Contact Lens Institute. “As we enter the third year of this program, we look forward to celebrating more eye care professionals whose leadership and dedication help patients embrace the many benefits that contact lenses bring to their vision, lifestyle, and overall confidence.”
Nominators simply need to provide a concise response (750 words or less in total) that addresses at least two of the following questions:
How has the nominee enhanced patient outcomes using soft contact lenses?
What initiatives, processes, or projects has the nominee put into place in their practice that enhances a positive culture for recommending soft contact lenses and patient wear?
How does the nominee engage practice staff to take an active advocacy role for healthy, healthy, safe use, and happy soft contact lens wear?
Can you describe a particular nominee-patient interaction that exemplifies how soft contact lenses have changed or improved a patient’s life, and which may inspire colleagues?
To improve the chances of being recognized, nominators may reference positive contact lens behaviors identified in recent See Tomorrow reports, which are available for on-screen reading and/or download from https://www.contactlensinstitute.org/resources/see-tomorrow/.
Nominations must include the name/location/practice name/contact information of the candidate(s), as well as the name/affiliation/contact information for the nominator. Groups are eligible as long as all individuals are named, with a clearly designated leader. Entries must be emailed no later than October 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET to cli@contactlensinstitute.org. The submission can be written within the body of the email or attached as a Word or PDF document. Questions may be sent to the same address.
Selection will be at the sole discretion of the CLI Board of Directors. Honorees will be announced by Contact Lens Institute in November 2025, with ongoing recognition into the following year.
Previous Culture Award Winners include:
2024 Honorees
Jennifer Liao, OD, FAAO, FSLS, New England College of Optometry (NECO) Center for Eye Care, Boston
Chandler Mann, OD, Stone Oak Vision Source, San Antonio
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Miss. – Roya Attar, OD, MBA, DHA
Winchester Optical, Winchester, Mass. – Joseph Deering, OD
West Point Optical Group / Family First Vision Care, Roswell, Ga. & Jacksonville, Fla. – John Womack, OD
*Note: The Contact Lens Institute of Seattle is not affiliated with CLI
Contact Lens Institute advances the latest innovations in safe and effective contact lens and lens care products and services that provide unique benefits to patients while satisfying the evolving needs of eye care professionals. CLI undertakes activities that properly assess, enhance, promote and balance contact lens and lens care industry welfare and growth, including the safe use of products in the marketplace. Its members include Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision. For more information, visit contactlensinstitute.org.
Vision Expo 2026 celebrated its 40th anniversary in Orlando with more than 8,000 attendees, over 220 hours of education, and a show floor packed with innovation and industry activity.
Myopia management has become an essential part of modern pediatric eye care. For many practices, the challenge is no longer why it matters, but how to integrate it into everyday clinical workflows.
CUSTOMEYES, the luxury eyewear customization platform by MIO Group, will open its first global Atelier at Eyes On Sheppard in Toronto on April 10, 2026.
EssilorLuxottica and Dolce&Gabbana have announced a long-term extension of their licensing agreement through 2050 for prescription frames and sunglasses worldwide.
SightGlass Vision has made two leadership appointments to strengthen its medical and professional affairs teams supporting DOT myopia control spectacle lenses.
Vision Expo 2026 celebrated its 40th anniversary in Orlando with more than 8,000 attendees, over 220 hours of education, and a show floor packed with innovation and industry activity.
Myopia management has become an essential part of modern pediatric eye care. For many practices, the challenge is no longer why it matters, but how to integrate it into everyday clinical workflows.
CUSTOMEYES, the luxury eyewear customization platform by MIO Group, will open its first global Atelier at Eyes On Sheppard in Toronto on April 10, 2026.
EssilorLuxottica and Dolce&Gabbana have announced a long-term extension of their licensing agreement through 2050 for prescription frames and sunglasses worldwide.
SightGlass Vision has made two leadership appointments to strengthen its medical and professional affairs teams supporting DOT myopia control spectacle lenses.
Vision Expo 2026 celebrated its 40th anniversary in Orlando with more than 8,000 attendees, over 220 hours of education, and a show floor packed with innovation and industry activity.
Myopia management has become an essential part of modern pediatric eye care. For many practices, the challenge is no longer why it matters, but how to integrate it into everyday clinical workflows.
CUSTOMEYES, the luxury eyewear customization platform by MIO Group, will open its first global Atelier at Eyes On Sheppard in Toronto on April 10, 2026.
EssilorLuxottica and Dolce&Gabbana have announced a long-term extension of their licensing agreement through 2050 for prescription frames and sunglasses worldwide.
SightGlass Vision has made two leadership appointments to strengthen its medical and professional affairs teams supporting DOT myopia control spectacle lenses.
Vision Expo 2026 celebrated its 40th anniversary in Orlando with more than 8,000 attendees, over 220 hours of education, and a show floor packed with innovation and industry activity.
Myopia management has become an essential part of modern pediatric eye care. For many practices, the challenge is no longer why it matters, but how to integrate it into everyday clinical workflows.
CUSTOMEYES, the luxury eyewear customization platform by MIO Group, will open its first global Atelier at Eyes On Sheppard in Toronto on April 10, 2026.
EssilorLuxottica and Dolce&Gabbana have announced a long-term extension of their licensing agreement through 2050 for prescription frames and sunglasses worldwide.
SightGlass Vision has made two leadership appointments to strengthen its medical and professional affairs teams supporting DOT myopia control spectacle lenses.
