Jan. 2, 2025 — Art Optical Contact Lens Inc., in collaboration with Contamac, has announced the recipients of the 2025 Specialty Contact Lens Travel Grants. These grants support professionals who have used Art Optical lens designs to address unique patient challenges, enabling them to attend the Global Specialty Lens Symposium, hosted by EB’s sister publication Contact Lens Spectrum, in Las Vegas Jan. 15-18.

Launched in 2022, the travel grant program recognizes students, residents, and early-career optometrists committed to advancing specialty contact lens practice. To date, 15 individuals have received grants to attend professional meetings.

This year’s recipients include:

• Gillian Uldrich, O.D., cornea and contact lens resident at Indiana University School of Optometry, presenting “When Scleral Lenses Won’t Do: Corneal GP for Post Refractive Ectasia” featuring AKS
• Reneta Simeon, O.D., ocular disease and primary care resident at Illinois College of Optometry, presenting “Challenges with Scleral Lenses for Patients with INTACS” featuring Ampleye
• Mary Avisado, O.D., MS, cornea and contact lens resident at Pacific University College of Optometry, presenting “Drug Delivery and ‘Round-the-Clock Scleral Lens Wear for Recalcitrant Neurotrophic Keratopathy” featuring Ampleye
• Megan Cruce, a fourth-year student at Salus at Drexel University, presenting “Precision Vision: The Advantages of GP Multifocals in Astigmatic Presbyopes” featuring Renovation

Also receiving travel grants are Josh Normandeau, O.D., and Diana Masolak, O.D., cornea and contact lens residents at Illinois College of Optometry, for their case reports featuring Ampleye and Thinsite.

Past submissions, details on eligibility, and application information for future grants are available here. Individuals interested in specialty contact lenses are encouraged to apply for upcoming opportunities in 2025.