New Collaboration to Produce Opticianry-Focused Educational Panel at OptiCon ’26

The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) and the United Opticians Association (UOA) announced a new collaboration to co-produce "Vision for Growth: Consumer Perspectives on Opticianry & Contact Lens Success," an educational panel exclusive to OptiCon ’26 @ Vision Expo. The program will be presented twice, on Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13, during the Orlando-based event.

The joint initiative brings together two national organizations with a shared goal of advancing understanding, recognition, and growth opportunities for the opticianry profession—particularly in the context of contact lens care. The panel will feature insights drawn from newly commissioned research with US and Canadian contact lens wearers, alongside bespoke research conducted among opticians.

As part of the partnership, CLI will center its 'Spring 2026 See Tomorrow' initiative on opticianry. The effort will examine how opticians contribute to contact lens success within the broader eye care ecosystem and identify high-potential opportunities for enhanced education, professional recognition, and celebration of opticians’ vital roles.

Panelists will emphasize actionable strategies and future-facing insights designed to support market growth and practice success. Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLEM, FCLSA, of ASB Opticianry Education Services, will moderate both sessions. Additional participants will be announced in the coming days.

“Prior CLI research has illustrated opticians’ importance to contact lens patient experiences as part of the broader ecosystem of care, working closely with the optometry and ophthalmology communities,” said Stan Rogaski, executive director of Contact Lens Institute. “We’re excited to dig deeper, generating data and insights that could shape market growth and practice success.”

Registration for OptiCon ’26 @ Vision Expo is now open at www.visionexpo.com/en-us/register-now.html.

Originally published online on Eyewire+.