The World Council of Optometry (WCO) has announced the official theme for World Optometry Week 2026, which will be observed from March 22 to 28, 2026. The theme, “A Shared Vision: Collaboration in Global Eye Care,” highlights the importance of cross-sector cooperation in addressing growing global vision and eye health needs.
World Optometry Day, held annually on March 23, recognizes the essential role optometry plays in global health and emphasizes efforts to expand access to eye care as a fundamental human right. In 2026, the week-long celebration will focus on collaboration as a critical driver of sustainable and equitable eye care worldwide.
According to WCO, challenges identified in the 2019 World Report on Vision, including population growth, aging demographics, and increasing urbanization, continue to place pressure on health systems globally. As demand for vision and eye health services rises, the organization notes that no single profession can meet these needs alone.
“Collaboration is fundamental to the future of eye care,” said Cindy Tromans, President of the World Council of Optometry. “Optometrists are important primary vision and eye health providers, and our greatest impact comes when we work with others across the health system. This theme reflects both the reality of modern eye care and our shared responsibility to ensure no one is left behind.”
The 2026 theme aligns with broader global health priorities, including the World Health Organization’s call for integrated, people-centred eye care and collaborative approaches to improving access, quality, and sustainability of services. WCO emphasized that placing people at the centre of eye care also requires collaboration to be central to how eye care professionals work together.
WCO is encouraging optometrists and organizations worldwide to make use of its multilingual World Optometry Week social media resources to support advocacy and awareness efforts. Additional materials will be released in the coming weeks. Organizations are also invited to share details of their World Optometry Day and World Optometry Week 2026 activities by contacting WCO directly.
What Online Search Trends Reveal About Today’s Contact Lens Patients
Patients are searching online for answers long before they see their eye doctor, changing how trust, education, and care begin.
The Contact Lens Institute’s 2025 Digital Discovery report dives into thousands of real-world searches from across North America including Google queries, TikTok reels, voice-assistant prompts, and AI-generated answers to uncover what contact-lens wearers (and would-be wearers) really want to know.
The results offer valuable lessons for eye-care professionals: how to anticipate patient questions, fill the information gaps that online sources leave behind, and strengthen in-office trust in an AI-powered world.
Price First, Value Second
The study found that 65% of all contact-lens-related Google searches focus on buying—price comparisons, retailers, rebates, and “cheap contact lenses.” That means many patients come to their exam with a pre-set idea of what lenses should cost based on what they’ve seen online.
Clinics can turn that to their advantage. Discuss rebates, insurance coverage, direct shipping, easy exchanges, and personalized service early in the visit and not as an afterthought at checkout. Showing the full value proposition helps move the conversation from “How cheap can I get them?” to “Why should I get them from you?”
Automated reorder reminders and in-office or online purchasing portals also keep patients from drifting toward online retailers when it’s time to restock.
A Removal Problem, Not an Insertion One
One of the most surprising findings: searches for how to remove contact lenses outnumber how to insert by more than 2-to-1. It’s a reminder that removal anxiety, not insertion, could be driving frustration and dropout among new wearers.
Make removal part of every fitting conversation. Printed guides, short explainer videos, and structured follow-ups can dramatically reduce anxiety. Even better, send patients your own trusted video link so they don’t have to scroll through questionable TikToks for help.
Patients Want Contact Lens Removal Guidance
Shifting the “Either-Or” Mindset
Search behavior also shows a major misconception: only 6% of comparative searches used the word “and” (as in contacts and glasses), while 94% used “or.” Many consumers still believe they have to choose one or the other.
That’s a missed opportunity. Ask every patient about “life moments” that could benefit from both: vacations, sports, weddings, or even long workdays. Offering in-office trial experiences, where the optometrist inserts and removes the lenses, can help hesitant patients imagine contact lenses as part of their everyday routine, not a replacement for spectacles.
Voice Search and AI: The New Front Door
Up to 20% of all contact-lens searches now happen through voice assistants such as Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant. Phrases like “eye doctor near me” dominate.
For clinics, that means visibility depends on digital housekeeping: complete your Google Business profile, use location-specific keywords, and include “eye doctor” or “optometrist” on your site pages.
Practices that publish credible local content, blogs, service pages, and videos, are more likely to be cited or surfaced by these AI summaries.
Google’s new AI-driven summaries (via Gemini) often answer a query without users ever scrolling down. Practices that publish credible local content, blogs, service pages, and videos, are more likely to be cited or surfaced by these AI summaries. In other words, digital authority begins with your own website.
Countering Misinformation—Gently
Patients trust AI assistants, but that trust is misplaced more often than not. When the Contact Lens Institute asked major AI platforms where consumers should go for lens information, results ranged from the American Optometric Association to, surprisingly… Forbes.com.
Rather than dismissing what patients read online, invite the discussion: “That’s interesting, where did you find that information?”
This simple question opens the door to clarify misconceptions and reinforces your role as the most reliable source for personalized guidance.
Meeting Patients Where They Search
The CLI Digital Discovery report offers a clear takeaway: the online behavior of today’s patients can help shape better real-world care. When optometrists view digital channels as extensions of their exam lanes, they can anticipate concerns before they’re voiced, provide trustworthy education, and make every interaction, online or in-office, count.
By embracing proactive education, promoting dual wear, and optimizing for digital discoverability, eye-care professionals can ensure that Dr. Google leads patients right back to where they belong, in your exam chair.
About the Author:
Dr. Harbir Sian, OD
Dr. Harbir Sian, OD, is an optometrist, entrepreneur, and award-winning advocate. Co-owner of multiple clinics in British Columbia, he specializes in myopia management and dry eye care. A TEDx speaker and host of Canada’s most downloaded optometry podcast, he is a trusted Key Opinion Leader and sought-after educator.
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Centennial Optical has announced a new collaboration with Ió:ken Designs to develop and distribute a culturally inspired designer eyewear collection created in partnership with Indigenous artists and community leaders in Akwesasne, Canada.
Ió:ken Designs Inc.™ is a newly established eyewear brand featuring original artwork by Mohawk artist Bruce Boots. The collection draws on cultural symbols and visual storytelling rooted in the history, values, and resilience of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people and other Indigenous Nations.
The name Ió:ken, pronounced Yo:kenh or Yo:gah, translates to “It’s Clear” in the Kanien’keha (Mohawk) language. The brand was developed through a collaboration between artist Bruce Boots, optometrist Danielle Dubuc, and project manager Gail Mc Donald, with the shared goal of creating eyewear that honours Indigenous identity through authentic design.
Centennial Optical was selected as the frame development, manufacturing, and distribution partner for the collection. According to Centennial Optical President Allen Nightingale, the collaboration represents more than a conventional product launch. He noted that the collection brings together craftsmanship and storytelling, resulting in frames designed to stand out through both aesthetic appeal and cultural significance.
Dr. Dubuc, who has worked in the Akwesasne community for more than three decades, said the project reflects a long-standing desire to see eyewear that meaningfully represents the people she serves. Mc Donald added that Centennial Optical was chosen for its alignment with the project’s values, including respect for community, history, and cultural integrity.
Each frame in the Ió:ken Designs collection features illustrated temple artwork by Bruce Boots, incorporating symbolic elements such as the Hiawatha Belt, Eagle Feather, Clan imagery, Berries and Beads, Seven Generations, and Celestial Sky Domes. These designs are paired with contemporary frame shapes available in a range of colours and sizes.
The first Ió:ken Designs collection is scheduled to launch across Canada in February 2026.
Source: Centennial Optical
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Menicon announced a strategic update to the distribution of ROSE K lenses in Canada.
In response to evolving market conditions, the ROSE K licensing agreement with Blanchard Contact Lenses concluded on December 31, 2025. ROSE K lenses will continue to be available through Menicon’s trusted partner, Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc.. Menicon is confident that Art Optical will uphold the exceptional standards of quality and service required to ensure continued success with ROSE K in Canada.
The company expressed its sincere appreciation to Blanchard Contact Lenses, a CooperVision company, for its many years of partnership and dedication in supporting the delivery of ROSE K lenses. Blanchard’s contributions have enabled countless eyecare professionals to provide life-changing vision solutions to patients with irregular corneas.
Menicon remains deeply committed to the ROSE K brand and its legacy of excellence in specialty lens care. The company will continue to work closely with its partners to ensure that every lens meets the highest standards of quality, precision, and performance—providing eyecare professionals with the confidence they need and patients with the vision they deserve.
The Vision Council has announced the publication of ANSI ASC Z80.1–2025, Prescription Ophthalmic Lenses – Recommendations, a revised technical standard governing prescription ophthalmic lenses in the United States.
Issued under the oversight of the Accredited Standards Committee Z80 (ASC Z80), the 2025 revision supersedes the previous 2020 standard and reflects five years of collaborative work by industry experts across ophthalmic manufacturing, optometry, and standards development.
The revision was led by ASC Z80 Chair Dick Whitney, Vice Chair Rick Tinson, Secretary Dr. Karl Citek, OD, PhD, representing the American Optometric Association, and Michael Vitale, ABOM, of The Vision Council, which serves as the Secretariat Administrator for ASC Z80.
According to The Vision Council, the updated standard incorporates a number of technical modifications and additions designed to ensure alignment with current industry practices and technological advancements. Key updates include clarified lens verification points, expanded descriptions of localized power errors, revised tolerances for claims related to visible light transmittance attenuation, new tolerances for prescribed prism, and a fully updated Optical and Mechanical Tolerances summary table.
ASC Z80 is the only body accredited by ANSI to develop national standards in the field of ophthalmic optics. Its scope includes prescription and non-prescription eyewear, contact lenses, ophthalmic instruments, and medical devices such as intraocular lenses and laser systems.
A copy of ANSI Z80.1–2025 is available for purchase through the ANSI webstore.
Source: The Vison Council
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Explore how Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and charity transform eye care. Learn to build patient trust, reduce burnout, and strengthen your team dynamics.
The U.S. optical industry reached $69.5 billion in 2025 despite declines in product volume and eye exams, according to Market inSights from The Vision Council.
The Contact Lens Institute has named 17 optometrists and opticians from the U.S. and Canada as its 2026 Visionaries, recognizing leaders in contact lens education and best practices.
BonLook ranks first among eyewear retailers in the 2026 Léger WOW Study, earning top marks for customer experience and digital performance across Canada.
Launching February 2026, Ió:ken is a new eyewear collection created with Centennial Optical, featuring original artwork by Mohawk artist Bruce Boots and authentic Indigenous symbolism.
Explore how Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and charity transform eye care. Learn to build patient trust, reduce burnout, and strengthen your team dynamics.
The U.S. optical industry reached $69.5 billion in 2025 despite declines in product volume and eye exams, according to Market inSights from The Vision Council.
The Contact Lens Institute has named 17 optometrists and opticians from the U.S. and Canada as its 2026 Visionaries, recognizing leaders in contact lens education and best practices.
BonLook ranks first among eyewear retailers in the 2026 Léger WOW Study, earning top marks for customer experience and digital performance across Canada.
Launching February 2026, Ió:ken is a new eyewear collection created with Centennial Optical, featuring original artwork by Mohawk artist Bruce Boots and authentic Indigenous symbolism.
Explore how Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and charity transform eye care. Learn to build patient trust, reduce burnout, and strengthen your team dynamics.
The U.S. optical industry reached $69.5 billion in 2025 despite declines in product volume and eye exams, according to Market inSights from The Vision Council.
The Contact Lens Institute has named 17 optometrists and opticians from the U.S. and Canada as its 2026 Visionaries, recognizing leaders in contact lens education and best practices.
BonLook ranks first among eyewear retailers in the 2026 Léger WOW Study, earning top marks for customer experience and digital performance across Canada.
Launching February 2026, Ió:ken is a new eyewear collection created with Centennial Optical, featuring original artwork by Mohawk artist Bruce Boots and authentic Indigenous symbolism.
Explore how Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and charity transform eye care. Learn to build patient trust, reduce burnout, and strengthen your team dynamics.
The U.S. optical industry reached $69.5 billion in 2025 despite declines in product volume and eye exams, according to Market inSights from The Vision Council.
The Contact Lens Institute has named 17 optometrists and opticians from the U.S. and Canada as its 2026 Visionaries, recognizing leaders in contact lens education and best practices.
BonLook ranks first among eyewear retailers in the 2026 Léger WOW Study, earning top marks for customer experience and digital performance across Canada.
Launching February 2026, Ió:ken is a new eyewear collection created with Centennial Optical, featuring original artwork by Mohawk artist Bruce Boots and authentic Indigenous symbolism.
