(PRESS RELEASE) WASHINGTON, DC — The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) has announced details for two digital events that explore the intersection of inflation and eye care, presenting data and insights from new U.S. consumer research. Taking place on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 6 pm ET and 9 pm ET, the live online panels are open to all members of the eye care community. Free registration is now available here.
The Remarkable Resilience: Eye Care Insights for a Challenging Economy webinars center on center on the recently published CLI report surrounding patient beliefs and behaviors about eye care choices, discretionary spending, and contact lens habits. The work polled 2,439 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, with 251 active contact lens wearers answering a series of detailed questions.
Contact Lens Institute Board Member Charissa Lee, OD, MBA, FAAO, will moderate the live discussions. Four panelists—all 2022 CLI Visionaries—will interpret the in-depth data to provide valuable clinical and practice management guidance, helping attendees navigate shifts being driven by economic pressures. They include:
- Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD, FAAO, FCOVD, FIAOMC, an optometrist at Bright Eyes Family Vision Care in Tampa, Fla. He received his doctorate from Illinois College of Optometry, where he also completed his residency specializing in pediatric and binocular vision. Owing to his passion for improving the vision of children, Dr. Bonilla-Warford has received his fellowship in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control.
- Melanie Denton Dombrowski, OD, a graduate of the Michigan College of Optometry and former resident in ocular disease at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Dr. Denton is passionate about medical eyecare and education and hosts Eye School with Dr D on YouTube. Specializing in interventional dry eye treatment, she opened Salisbury Eyecare & Eyewear–an integrated dry eye center and ocular esthetics practice. She is a board examiner for the North Carolina State Board of Optometry and works extensively with industry.
- Chris Lievens, OD, MS, FNAP, FAAO, the chief of internal clinics and professor at Southern College of Optometry. He is an industry consultant and researcher, has been employed in private practice, and served in the United States Air Force. Dr. Lievens’ published works have covered eye disease, contact lens solutions and optometric management. He is the co-creator of the funduscopic grading card.
- Caitlin J. Morrison, OD, FAAO, FSLS, the owner of In Focus: Specialty Contact Lens & Vision Solutions, a private practice in Scottsdale, Ariz. that specializes in contact lenses for advanced ocular conditions and comprehensive care for difficult visual cases. After graduating from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Dr. Morrison completed a cornea and contact lens residency at SUNY College of Optometry and later specialized in corneal diseases and complications at Mount Sanai’s New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.
The digital learning events are designed for participation by a broad range of eye care industry professionals, including practicing optometrists and ophthalmologists, opticians and technicians, executive and administrative staff, retailers, educators, and students.
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 here.