(PRESS RELEASE) CORAL SPRINGS, FL — ABB Optical Group announced that the company’s 11th Annual Optometry Student Challenge is now open for registration for third and fourth-year optometry students. Participants will be required to submit an abstract on a student-based case report or research study project for a chance to win a $1,500 travel grant to attend the 2026 Global Specialty Lens Symposium.
“I’m excited to share that registration is now open for our 2025 Optometry Student Challenge,” said Dede Reyes, Manager of Consultation & Education, Specialty Contact Lens. “This event holds a special place in my heart each year. There’s something really special about seeing optometry students find their clinical voice while tackling challenging cases. The hands-on experience they gain here goes beyond textbooks and classrooms, building the kind of confidence and problem-solving skills that will make them great eye care providers someday.”
Optometry students must register to participate in the challenge by August 31, 2025 at abboptical.com/OptometryStudentChallenge and will have until October 14 to submit their abstract on a topic restricted to contact lenses and may include, but not limited to, contact lens applications for presbyopia, keratoconus, corneal topography, post penetrating keratoplasty or related irregular corneal surface, myopia control, lens care/solutions, custom soft lenses, ortho-k instrumentation for measurement of the ocular surface and sports/performance vision. Based on the judge’s decision, 6 abstracts will be selected, and all finalists will be notified by October 20, 2025.
Authors of the top 6 abstracts selected will be asked to convert each of their submissions into the required poster PDF format and must submit their posters by November 27, 2025. The 6 finalists will be presenting their posters live via a virtual meeting on December 11, 2025.
“The Optometry Student Challenge represents ABB’s commitment to the future of optometry. By supporting these talented students, we’re not just celebrating innovative clinical thinking—we’re actively strengthening the foundation of eye care,” said Daniel Liberman, Chief Executive Officer of ABB Optical Group. “Watching these bright minds tackle complex cases with such creativity reminds us why we’re passionate about this profession and reinforces our dedication to nurturing excellence in eye care from the very beginning of a practitioner’s journey.”
“My experience with the challenge was great. Since the beginning of the process, everybody on the ABB team was so helpful, so supportive. Even after GSLS, ABB is still here to support us. It’s really nice to meet everyone – it was such a great networking opportunity, and I would definitely do it again if I could, it’s fantastic,” said Suzanna Hui, New England College of Optometry student and 2024 challenge winner.
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Tune into a special episode of Dede Talks where all of the 2024 Optometry Student Challenge winners share their journey and the valuable insights they gained throughout the competition: https://youtu.be/s0mrVEtmE10?si=-wut0_k_bgKDGlXR
