(PRESS RELEASE) WASHINGTON, DC — More than a dozen eye care community leaders have been named as Contact Lens Institute 2022 Visionaries. The diverse group represents a range of practice settings, research interests, specializations, and educational pursuits, with members based in cities and towns across the United States.
Every Contact Lens Institute Visionary has committed to helping raise awareness of contact lens prescribing benefits, as well as encouraging healthy wear and care habits. Selected in part for their ability to connect with professional peers, they will participate in initiatives that promote best practices, tools, data, and clinical and practice management insights through the Contact Lens Institute’s The EASY Way program and See Tomorrow research.
2022 Visionaries include:
- Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, FIAOMC, Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
- Melanie Denton, OD, Salisbury Eyecare & Eyewear
- Darryl Glover, OD, Black EyeCare Perspective
- Klaus Ito, OD, University of Virginia Department of Ophthalmology
- Essence Johnson, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, Black EyeCare Perspective
- Elise Kramer, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, Miami Contact Lens Institute
- Chris Lievens, OD, MS, FNAP, FAAO, Southern College of Optometry
- Jennifer Lyerly, OD, TrueVision Eye Care and Defocus Media
- Caitlin Morrison, OD, FAAO, FSLS, In Focus: Specialty Contact Lens & Vision Solutions
- Mark Schaeffer, OD, MyEyeDr
- Bridgitte Shen Lee, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FEAOO, Vision Optique
- Jason Tu, OD, Invision Optometry
- Jennifer Wademan, OD, Bidwell Optometry
Earlier this year, the Contact Lens Institute announced an expansion of The EASY Way (Eyes, Awareness, Safety and You) program to promote healthy contact lens wear and care habits. The year-round initiative provides the eye care community with simplified tips, attention-grabbing infographics, and companion digital resources for use in practices, all available from EASYWayProgram.org.
On Thursday, March 3, four of the 2022 Visionaries will present “Making Contact Lens Compliance Stick: EASY Insights, Tips & Tools from Visionary Eye Care Pros.” Live sessions, including participant Q&A, will be offered at both 6:30 pm EST and 6:30 pm PST. Registration is available for the earlier session here and the later session here.
In the coming months, the Contact Lens Institute will share details regarding new components of its See Tomorrow initiative. The program debuted last summer with custom-fielded data about how pandemic-influenced consumer attitudes and behaviors were affecting purchasing preferences, lifestyle choices, and patient care.
The 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.