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ISSN:1386 0194
12026 (102)
Technology
• Contact Lens
Drug Delivery
• 6 Vision Trends
Manufacturing
• True Excellence
Fitting Background
• DEEP Thoughts on
Soft Lens Fitting
• The Potential of
Scleral Lenses
Business & Marketing
• The Courage to
Raise Prices
Eyepress Fachmedien GmbH
Saarner Str. 151
45479 Muelheim a. d. Ruhr
Germany
WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE.
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®
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high oxygen permeability while preserving essential lens performance and surface wettability.
Boston XO ® and Boston XO 2
®
materials are ideal for a wide range of specialty lens designs
that address challenging visual needs, including:
• Spherical and aspherical contact lenses for myopia, hyperopia,
and irregular corneal conditions, including keratoconus
• Multifocal contact lenses for presbyopia
• Toric lenses to correct astigmatism in non-aphakic and aphakic patients
• Scleral lens designs indicated for use in patients with ocular surface
disease, including dry eye
Boston XO ® and Boston XO 2
®
are available in standard and large diameters
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Contact the experts at your authorized Boston Laboratory for ordering and fitting consultation.
*ISO/Fatt Method: Dk Units = x 10 -11 (cm 3 O 2
cm) / (cm 2 sec mmHg) @ 35°C (see package inserts)
Tangible and Hydra-PEG are trademarks of Tangible Science, used under license.
©2026 Bausch + Lomb. REV02092026EU
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Connected vision –
the future starts now
Only a few years ago, it was easy for the optical and contact lens
industry to dismiss smart vision solutions such as technological
gimmicks. Prototypes, pilot projects and spectacular
announcements shaped the narrative — often without creating
lasting market impact.
Today, however, there are clear signs of a more profound shift.
Let us first look at smart glasses: recent market data from the
United States shows that while smart glasses remain a niche
product, they are gaining noticeable momentum. More and more
consumers are no longer asking whether they will use these
types of vision solutions, but rather which device they will choose
to wear in the future.
What is strategically relevant is less the growth itself than the
direction of value creation. Smart glasses are increasingly
perceived and distributed as consumer electronics — discovered
via social media, purchased through online platforms or
electronics retailers, and integrated into the digital ecosystems
of major technology brands. Even when prescription lenses
are included, professional optical consultation often plays only
a minor role.
This development also directly affects the contact lens market.
While public discussion is currently focused largely on spectaclebased
solutions, parallel innovations are emerging in the field
of contact lenses that could bring about equally far-reaching
changes. As highlighted in this issue through the contribution
by Professor Lyndon Jones and our research section, intensive
global research is underway on so-called smart or functional
lenses. These include contact lenses with sensing capabilities,
display or LED elements, or therapeutic functions. Some research
approaches are already addressing key technological barriers
such as energy supply or signal transmission, while others are
exploring applications such as the continuous monitoring of
intraocular pressure.
incorporate electronic or optical components. Optical designs
must adapt to new visual demands. At the same time, regulatory
questions need to be clarified: Are these products medical devices,
electronic wearables – or a hybrid category? What wearing
schedules may be realistic? What safety profiles will be required?
And how will these solutions interact with external devices in
everyday use?
Connected vision is thus becoming an interdisciplinary field in
which optics, electronics and digital services converge. For the
contact lens sector, this creates significant opportunities — from
new applications and business models to a stronger role within
data-driven healthcare ecosystems. At the same time, there is a
risk that key user interfaces will be defined by players outside
the traditional industry if distribution channels, user experience
and platform strategies continue to evolve beyond established
professional structures.
In this context, smart glasses are less an isolated trend than
an early indicator. They demonstrate how quickly vision-related
markets can transform – and how essential it is for optical
and contact lens expertise to be actively embedded in these
developments.
The critical question is therefore not only how quickly new
technologies will reach market maturity, but also who will shape
their use — and who will control access to the user. Because the
future of connected vision solutions does not begin at some
point down the road. It begins now. ■
SILKE SAGE
Editor-In-Chief
silke@global-cl.com
For the contact lens industry, the challenge is not only technical
feasibility but also the systemic integration of such innovations.
New material platforms must be developed that can safely
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
3
HOAs made easy.
One platform.
Endless potential.
True innovation.
01_Titel.indd 1 24.03.26 09:22
CONTENT
ISSN:1386 0194
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
3 Connected vision – The future starts now
12026 (102)
Technology
• Contact Lens
Drug Delivery
• 6 Vision Trends
Manufacturing
• True Excellence
Fitting Background
• DEEP Thoughts on
Soft Lens Fitting
• The Potential of
Scleral Lenses
Business & Marketing
• The Courage to
Raise Prices
Silke Sage
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
6 All about you
10 All about products
12 All about markets
14 NCC 2026: Get connected
16 All about researchs
Eyepress Fachmedien GmbH
Saarner Str. 151
45479 Muelheim a. d. Ruhr
Germany
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Title: Contamac
www.contamac.com
Inside front cover: Bausch + Lomb Inc.
www.bausch.com
Page 4: Advance Medical Srl
www.advancemedical.eu
Page 7: SCHNEIDER GmbH & Co. KG
www.schneider-om.com
Page 9: K & Y Diamond Ltd.
www.kydiamond.ca
Page 13: EFCLIN
www.efclin.com
Page 15: LAMBDA-X S.A.
www.lambda-x.com
Page 25: Larsen Equipment Design Inc.
www.larsenequipment.com
Page 34: Optocraft GmbH & V-Optics SAS
www.optocraft.com, www.v-optics.fr
Page 35: Optocraft GmbH & V-Optics SAS
www.optocraft.com, www.v-optics.fr
Page 39: AMETEK Precitech, Inc.
www.precitech.com
Page 41: Larsen Equipment Design Inc.
www.larsenequipment.com
Inside back cover, Sponsors: EFCLIN
www.efclin.com
Outside back cover: DAC International, Inc.
www.dac-intl.com
REPORT
20 DEEP thoughts on soft lens fitting
Eef van der Worp
MANUFACTURING
26 True excellence
Erik Larsen
TECHNOLOGY
28 6 technology trends in ophthalmic optics
Silke Sage + Hanna Diewald
30 Contact lens drug delivery: current status, technologies, and future directions
Lyndon Jones
FITTING BACKGROUND
36 The potential of scleral lenses
Stefan Schwarz
BUSINESS & MARKETING
42 The courage to raise prices
Oliver Schumacher
HISTORY
NAMES TO NOTE
Jones, Lyndon 30
Larsen, Erik 26
Roth, Hans-Walter 46
Schumacher, Oliver 42
Schwarz, Stefan 36
van der Worp, Eef 20
46 The corneal lens
Hans-Walter Roth
MAGAZINE
48 Yellow Pages
50 Closing Words: Stathi Efthimiadis
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
5
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
All about you
Falco strengthens myopia management and keratoconus care
Contact lens specialist Falco reports an increased focus on myopia management
and specialty lens care. In the field of orthokeratology, the Dual Focus ortho-k
lens is gaining particular relevance, combining overnight corneal reshaping
with an additional focal zone designed to support myopia control. Clinical
data from the University of Auckland as well as practical fitting experience
indicate a reduced axial length progression compared with conventional
ortho-k treatments. At the same time, the company continues to expand its
activities in the areas of scleral lenses and keratoconus management. The
portfolio includes a range of designs tailored to different corneal geometries
and clinical indications, all based on a unified fitting philosophy. With the
“Falconus” initiative, Falco also provides consolidated information and support resources for keratoconus care. For
more than 40 years, the company has been developing rigid gas-permeable contact lenses and continues to emphasize
professional exchange, practitioner support, and education for clinicians and contact lens specialists.
Dr. Juan Carlos Aragón (left) and Dr. Scott Mundle (right),
board trustees, World Optometry Foundation (WOF)
New trustees at WCO charitable foundation
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and World Optometry Foundation
(WOF), WCO’s charitable arm dedicated to advancing global eye health and
reducing avoidable blindness, have announced the appointment of Dr. Juan
Carlos Aragón (Costa Rica) and Dr. Scott Mundle (Canada) to the WOF board
of trustees. Dr. Aragón and Dr. Mundle bring extensive professional experience,
global perspective, and a shared commitment to strengthening optometry
through education, public health initiatives, and sustainable systems of care.
“The WOF Board is excited to welcome Dr. Aragón and Dr. Mundle as new
trustees,” said Mr. Armin Duddek, president of the WOF. “Their dedication
to global optometry and improving access to eye care will be invaluable as we
continue our strategic planning and expand the Foundation’s impact.” “The World Optometry Foundation is crucial
to the success of WCO,” said Dr. Cindy Tromans, president of the WCO. “We are very fortunate to have Dr. Aragón
and Dr. Mundle join the Board, strengthening the organization at a pivotal time for global eye health.”
Contamac announces FDA premarket approval for ortho-k material
Contamac announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) premarket approval for the Optimum Infinite (tisilfocon
A) orthokeratology lenses II. The company says that outside the USA, this approval in one of the leading global ortho-k
markets will provide extra support to Contamac’s lens manufacturing partners as they market their lenses with additional
oxygen transmissibility, to support corneal health. These ortho-k lenses for overnight wear are indicated for use in the
reduction of refractive error in non-diseased eyes. They are indicated for overnight wear for the temporary reduction of
myopia up to 6.00 diopters with eyes having astigmatism up to 1.75 diopters. When worn overnight and removed upon
waking on a prescribed schedule, orthokeratology lenses provide a temporary reduction in myopia during all or most of
one’s waking hours. Their high oxygen permeability (180 Dk) helps to maintain corneal oxygenation. “FDA approval of our
Optimum Infinite (tisilfocon A) material represents a significant milestone for Contamac and for specialty lens practitioners,”
said Robert McGregor, Managing Director. “We are incredibly proud to achieve FDA premarket approval for the Optimum
Infinite (tisilfocon A) material for orthokeratology. This PMA approval reinforces our commitment to advancing high-oxygen
GP materials in support of clinicians delivering innovative orthokeratology and vision correction solutions.”
6
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Menicon production facility in Malaysia begins operations
Menicon has begun operations at a new production facility for silicone hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses at
Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Malaysia. With an investment of around 1 billion RM (approximately 215 million Euros), the
digitally networked plant integrates automated production, logistics, warehousing, and quality control to enable
high-volume manufacturing using the company’s proprietary technologies. Around 150 employees currently work at
the site, with a strong focus on technical training and workforce qualification for long-term high-precision medical
technology production. According to President and CEO Koji Kawaura, the new facility will significantly expand
Menicon’s global supply capacity for daily disposable lenses and support the company’s international growth and
eye-health objectives.
Alcon reports strong fourth-quarter 2025 topline growth
Alcon reported its financial results for the three- and twelve-month periods ending December 31, 2025. "2025 was a
pivotal and productive year for Alcon. Despite softer markets, we successfully launched a wave of innovative new products
that fueled sales acceleration as the year progressed," said David J. Endicott, Alcon's Chief Executive Officer. "As we look
to 2026, we're encouraged by the momentum we're carrying into the year and confident in our ability to continue to
deliver sustainable growth and long-term value. Our outlook reflects a balanced view of market conditions combined
with the progress made with new product launches, giving us a strong foundation as we move forward." Contact lenses
net sales were 683 million US-Dollar in the fourth quarter, an increase of 7%. For the full year, contact lenses net sales
were 2.8 billion US-Dollar, an increase of 6%. This growth was led by price increases and product innovation, partially
offset by declines in legacy products.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Art Optical awards Specialty Contact Lens Travel Grants
Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc., a provider of custom contact lenses, and material manufacturer Contamac have
announced the winners of their Specialty Contact Lens Travel Grants. The grants support clinicians who demonstrated
how Art Optical lens designs can address complex patient needs and provide financial assistance to attend the
Global Specialty Lens Symposium in Las Vegas. Recipients include Dr. Claire Chu (Pacific University), Dr. Annie
Dong (University of Missouri–St. Louis), Dr. Wincy Chung (Mission Eye Care), Dr. John Kuznia (Pennsylvania
College of Optometry) and Dr. Louis Ramirez (University of Houston), who presented clinical cases involving
scleral and orthokeratology lens applications. Since 2022, Art Optical and Contamac have offered travel grants to
students, residents and young optometrists to support education in specialty contact lenses. Further applications
are invited for remaining professional contact lens meetings in 2026.
Dr. Karen Carrasquillo receives GPLI Practitioner of the Year Award
BostonSight announced that Karen Carrasquillo, OD, PhD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, has
received the 2026 Naomi “Jo” Svochak GP Practitioner of the Year Award from the GP Lens
Institute (GPLI). The GPLI provides the award to a distinguished professional for outstanding
expertise in fitting customized contact lenses to benefit patients with improved vision and
corneal health, and to advance the contact lens field. “I’m deeply honored to be recognized
as practitioner of the year by the GPLI and my peers,” said Dr. Carrasquillo. “This award
reflects a shared commitment to advancing customized specialty lens care—expanding
access to life-changing technology while empowering practitioners worldwide with the
education and tools needed to elevate patient outcomes.” Dr. Carrasquillo is the chief innovation and education
officer at BostonSight. During her tenure she has treated patients, led a team of optometrists, developed a
standardized PROSE treatment fellowship program, launched specialty lens products, developed advanced lens
features, built global partnerships, and shared educational expertise to improve patient care.
Menicon celebrates 75th anniversary
Menicon celebrates its 75th anniversary and will implement various initiatives in Japan and overseas over the one-year
period from February 8, 2026 to February 5, 2027. In line with this, a special teaser website was launched in Japanese
and English. Designated founding day is February 8, 1951, when the company’s founder Kyoichi Tanaka successfully
commercialized a corneal contact lens. The 75th anniversary project theme is “Winds of Progress.” Menicon plans to
create a new standard of ‘Miru (sharing enjoyment and joy through the five senses)’ and pass it on to the company’s
100th anniversary. In a message on the 75th anniversary website (www.menicon.com/75th-anniversary) Koji Kawaura,
Director, President and CEO of Menicon expresses gratitude to customers, people engaged in medical care, research,
production, distribution, and local community members for “their support that they have provided to us for many years”.
Bausch + Lomb reports fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results
Bausch + Lomb Corporation announced its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results. “We didn’t just
grow in the fourth quarter – we grew smarter,” said Brent Saunders, chairman and CEO, Bausch + Lomb. “Meaningful
EBITDA margin expansion and operating leverage is a clear sign of our commitment to financial excellence, and
we plan to harness that momentum to deliver on our three-year plan.” The vision care segment revenue was 778
million US-Dollar for the fourth quarter of 2025, an increase of 8% compared to the fourth quarter of the previous
year and 2.923 billion US-Dollar for the full year of 2025, an increase of 7% compared to 2024. Performance in
the fourth quarter of 2025 and the full year of 2025 was primarily driven by growth in the contact lens business
and increased demand for over-the-counter dry eye products and eye vitamins in the consumer business.
8
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
BostonSight: Five-year roadmap to redefined ocular surface treatment
BostonSight announced a five-year strategic roadmap aimed at redefining ocular surface treatment through
advancements in clinical research, education, and specialty lens technology. The organization has designated
key leadership roles to lead initiatives that accelerate innovation and collaboration, with the goal of positively
impacting patient lives around the world. Dr. Karen Carrasquillo, OD, PhD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, Chief Innovation
and Education Officer and Andrew Heim, Chief Technology Officer, will spearhead BostonSight’s innovation
and technology strategy. They will be joined in these initiatives by Chirag Patel, OD, FAAO, Director of Innovative
Technologies, and Olga Tomashevskaya, Director of Engineering. The organization will seek to partner with
scientific, engineering, and clinical communities worldwide to revolutionize the way specialty lens treatment is
delivered through innovative platforms, tools, and education. Mr. Heim joined BostonSight in 2025 as the
organization’s first CTO, bringing more than 15 years of experience in software and technical development,
including nearly a decade of leading high-performing technical teams. “Andrew brings deep expertise in technology
as well as a strong understanding of BostonSight’s mission and goals,” said Sara Yost, MBA, BostonSight President
and CEO. “He will be dedicated to ensuring that BostonSight stays at the forefront of technological innovation,
so we not only meet, but exceed, customer expectations.”
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CONFERENCES & TRADE FAIRS 2026 / INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EFCLIN 2026
www.efclin.com
ECLSO 2026
www.eclso2026.com
ARVO 2026
www.arvo.org
EAOO 2026
www.eaoo.online
ISCLS 2026
www.iscls.net
BCLA Asia
www.bcla.org.uk
ICSC 2026
www.icscmeeting.com
American Academy of Optometry 2026
www.aaopt.org
American Academy of Ophthalmology 2026
www.aao.org
ICCLC 2026
www.cclsa.org.au
VBD 2026
https://aaomc.org/vbd/
SCC Europe 2026
www.thesummit-ssc.com
April 23-25
April 24-25
May 3-7
May 15-17
May 15-18
May 28-29
June 5 – 6
September 30 – October 3
October 10 –12
October 16 –18
October 21 –24
Nov 21-22
Sitges/Barcelona (Spain)
Vienna (Austria)
Denver, CO (USA)
Riga (Latvia)
Vilamoura (Portugal)
Tokyo (Japan)
San Diego, CA (USA)
Anaheim, CA (USA)
New Orleans, LA (USA)
Hobart (Australia)
Cleveland, OH (USA)
Rome (Italy)
Advertisement
All about products
BR-LENS: automatic contact lens deblocking and ultrasonic
cleaning with maximum precision
The BR-LENS series from BRIO Ultrasonics has been specifically developed for
RGP contact lens manufacturers seeking to optimize the final stages of their
production process with a safe and reproducible process. This fully automatic
multistage system deblocks lenses from the arbors, removes blocking wax and
final residues, replacing slow manual methods that carry a risk of lens damage.
The precise temperature control and working time ensure consistent results. The
process can integrate ultrasonic cleaning, DI water rinsing and drying, adapting
to each manufacturer’s needs. Controlled via PLC and touchscreen interface,
BR-LENS guarantees fast, repeatable cycles and outstanding final quality for both
corneal and scleral lenses. www.brioultrasonics.com/contact-lenses
10
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
All about products
Advertisement
C-NIMOevo: Automation-Ready Metrology for Contact Lens
Production
The C-NIMOevo by Lambda-X Ophthalmics is an advanced wavefront-based
metrology system designed for automated inspection of contact lenses in
production environments. Based on the proven NIMOevo optical technology,
it delivers accurate and reliable power measurements while offering a mechanical
design optimized for OEM automation integration. It generates dense power
maps for consistent evaluation of sphere, cylinder, toric axis, and power
distribution across all contact lens designs. State-of-the-art wavefront metrology
ensures high accuracy, excellent R&R (repeatability and reproducibility), and
robust measurement results in manufacturing conditions. Designed for
automation, the C-NIMOevo offers expanded workspace, flexible mounting options, and API-based connectivity, enabling smooth
integration into automated inspection and quality-control systems. www.lambda-x.net – sales@lambda-x.net
Shaping Vision Through Innovation
At Contamac, innovation drives everything we do, so we can deliver materials that
meet every challenge. Our Optimum GP range delivers flexibility in oxygen
permeability and excellent wettability, while Optimum Infinite rewrites the rules
of hyper Dk materials with balanced properties for scleral and ortho-k lenses. Our
newest breakthrough, Optimum Breathe, brings superior Dk levels to meet the
need of today’s scleral lens designs for high demand, complex corneas. Our soft
lens material portfolio includes the industry’s widest selection of soft and silicone
hydrogel materials to suit your needs. For the intraocular industry, our globally
renowned CI26 hydrophilic and HI56 hydrophobic materials provide the platforms
needed to support your IOL requirements. We’re committed to innovating with
you, to ensure your lab has the confidence and capability to achieve outstanding
results. www.contamac.com
FocalPoints enVisus HOA Correction Platform
enVisus® enables specialty contact lens labs to apply precise Higher Order Aberration correction to
any existing lens design without altering their manufacturing workflow. The proprietary Aberration
Correction Engine integrates open and closed aberrometry maps, including all leading technologies
like OVITZ, iTrace, WaveDȳn and NIDEK, fully integrated within FocalPoints. Labs can upgrade
their current lens design portfolio, use the same lathes and tooling, and validate results through our
integrated Power Map comparison. The result is a
production-ready HOA platform that enhances visual
®
performance while protecting operational efficiency
and prior investment. www.advancemedical.eu
ADVANCED HOA CORRECTION FEATURE
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
11
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
All about markets
Global electricity
demand from data centers
Electricity demand from data centers worldwide is projected to
more than double by 2030 to around
945 terawatt-hours. AI will be the most significant driver of
this increase, with electricity demand from AI-optimized data
centers projected to more than quadruple by 2030.
Worries about
AI job losses
Respondents to a survey from Statista Consumer Insights
expressed great concern that AI could replace millions of jobs
but less concern that their own job could be one of them. While
47% (UK), 41% (US) and 37% (Germany) feared job loss in
general, only 22% (UK), 23% (US) and 18% (Germany) were
worried about being replaced themselves.
Source: Statista
Source: International Energy Agency
U.S. optical industry
The U.S. optical industry grew in value in 2025 even as
Americans purchased fewer optical products and underwent
fewer eye exams, according to the report Market inSights 2025
with 2026 Forecast by The Vision Council. The industry is now
estimated to be valued at $69.5 billion, underscoring a
shift toward higher spending per purchase amid ongoing
economic uncertainty.
Source: The Vision Council
85%
Disruptions to critical energy
infrastructure
According to the World Energy Outlook report by the International
Energy Agency, power lines are particularly vulnerable to disruption,
with transmission and distribution grid damages accounting for
about 85% of incidents.
12
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
52nd
EFCLIN
CONGRESS
EXHIBITION
23RD – 25TH APRIL 2026
SITGES/BARCELONA,
SPAIN
EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF THE
CONTACT LENS AND IOL INDUSTRIES
ANCHORED IN
INNOVATION
DRIVEN BY
VISION
Back to beautiful Sitges, Barcelona, Spain
– and into the future of vision.
52nd EFCLIN Congress & Exhibition
23–25 April 2026
The place to connect, discover,
and shape the future of the Contact Lens
& IOL industry.
JOIN US AND
REGISTER NOW!
More Information
web www.efclin.com mail info@efclin.com phone +41 41 372 10 10
facebook search: EFCLIN X @EFCLIN#efclincongress
address EFCLIN | Winkelbüel 2 | CH-6043 Adligenswil | Switzerland
efclin.com/congress
or e-mail us on
info@efclin.com
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Photos: Silke Sage
NCC 2026: Get connected
Full lecture halls, hands-on formats and new impulses from science and clinic
From March 8-9, the contact lens community gathered in Veldhoven near Eindhoven for the Dutch Contact Lens Congress (NCC) – the
largest specialized meeting in contact lenses worldwide. Over the past decades, the NCC has developed into a key platform for education,
exchange and clinical inspiration. The 2026 edition once again combined an intensive scientific program with highly practical sessions
and interactive formats. GlobalCONTACT was on site. By Silke Sage
Held at the NH Conference Centre Koningshof in Veldhoven,
the NCC traditionally attracts a strong audience from the
Netherlands and Belgium. With more than 1,500 delegates in
previous years, the congress is widely regarded as the largest
dedicated contact lens meeting worldwide. While the majority
of participants came from the Benelux region, a number of
international visitors – including practitioners from neighbouring
Germany – were also present. GlobalCONTACT attended the
congress to gain first-hand impressions of key themes and trends.
The program was distributed across five parallel tracks. Three
large lecture halls hosted the main sessions, featuring
internationally recognized speakers such as Professor Lyndon
Jones, Professor Philipp Morgan and Dr. Eef van der Worp.
Many presentations were filled to capacity, underlining the strong
professional interest within the Dutch contact lens community.
Hands-on learning in a new setting
Alongside traditional lecture formats, the congress placed
increasing emphasis on interactive education. This was
particularly evident in the newly designed Demo Lab. Decorated
with lanterns, floral arrangements and small discussion tables,
the space created an informal atmosphere that encouraged
exchange and participation.
Sessions here focused on practical topics such as dry eye
management, hygiene and care strategies, and the growing relevance
of opto-cosmetics. BCLA President Byki Huntjens contributed
to several demonstrations, and also UK-based clinician Sarah
Farrant, who shared insights from her specialized dry eye clinic.
In addition to established treatment approaches, modern therapeutic
options such as IPL (intense pulsed light) were discussed.
Scientific track
In parallel, the scientific track delivered a continuous program
of short lectures presenting new research findings, clinical case
reports and emerging technologies. A dedicated session on
“Artificial Intelligence in Education and Research” attracted
particular attention. International speakers illustrated how AI
tools are increasingly used for data analysis, simulation of clinical
scenarios and decision support in both research and teaching.
Strong national base with international reach
As in previous years, lectures by Dutch speakers were especially
well attended and often fully booked. At the same time, the
overall number of UK-based contributions appeared slightly
lower compared to earlier editions. Nevertheless, the congress
maintained its international character and continued to serve
as a platform for cross-border exchange.
Overall, NCC 2026 once again demonstrated its unique strength:
combining scientific depth with a high level of practical relevance.
Interactive demonstrations, clinical discussions and forwardlooking
topics such as dry eye management, myopia control and
digital tools reflected the evolving challenges of modern contact
lens practice. For many professionals – especially in the Benelux
region – the congress remains a key fixture in the continuing
education calendar with growing international visibility.•
14
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
PR-Advert
Advanced Metrology for
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The NIMOevo from Lambda-X Ophthalmics is an
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advanced wavefront technology, the system enables
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Designed to support modern and increasingly complex
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The CLE-Mentor software provides advanced visualization
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The NIMOevo SAG helps laboratories enhance and
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across a wide range of contact lenses for both R&D and
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PRECISE & VERSATILE METROLOGY
www.lambda-x.net
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
All about research
Smart contact lenses, smart glasses
A recent review outlines the evolution of microfluidic contact lenses. Innovative smart contact lens
designs aim for continuous monitoring of intraocular pressure, monitoring of eye movement and wireless
eye-machine interaction. Several papers examined the effects of existing smart glasses technologies on
eye health. By Rebekka Nurkanovic
The evolution of microfluidic contact lenses
A recent review in Microsystems & Nanoengineering outlines
the evolution of microfluidic contact lenses (MCLs) from early
prototypes to near-clinical readiness. The review emphasizes
how advances in fabrication, such as soft lithography, femtosecond
laser engraving, and 3D-printed mold replication, are overcoming
challenges of miniaturization and lens curvature without
compromising vision or comfort.
According to the review, sensing and therapy are the two
primary applications of current research. For diagnostics,
embedded microchannels enable precise intraocular pressure
(IOP) monitoring, while integrated sensors detect tear
biomarkers like glucose, lactate, and proteins via smartphonereadable
colorimetric or fluorescent outputs. On the therapeutic
side, drug-loaded microchambers allow on-demand release
triggered by external stimuli (magnetic or electrical) or internal
cues (pH changes, blinking pressure).
Prospects of MCLs extend beyond ophthalmology to chronic
disease management, remote health monitoring, and wearable
tech applications. The review highlights progress in material
integration and personalized design, noting that scalability
and long-term safety remain key hurdles.
Source: Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Research paper: M, A., Saxena, A., Mishra, D. et al. Microfluidic contact lens: fabrication
approaches and applications. Microsyst Nanoeng 11, 59 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/
s41378-025-00909-3
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Continuous monitoring: IOP
Intraocular pressure (IOP) is an important factor in glaucoma
– too much pressure damages the optic nerve, leading to visual
field defects. IOP is subject to natural fluctuations throughout
the day, so continuous monitoring of intraocular pressure
would be desirable for glaucoma patients. However, current
devices for measuring IOP are not suitable for round-the-clock
measurements.
A research team from Waseda University and Yamaguchi
University in Japan, led by Professor Takeo Miyake from Waseda
University's Graduate School of Information, Production and
Systems, recently presented an innovative concept for IOP
measurement using smart contact lenses in the journal npj
Flexible Electronics. The contact lens design incorporates a
thin film that enables real-time monitoring of intraocular
pressure during daily use.
In this study, the researchers fabricated a resistive sensor
based on a cracked PEDOT:PSS/PVA (PEDOT: Poly(3,4-
ethylenedioxythiophene); PSS: Poly(styrenesulfonate); PVA:
Polyvinyl alcohol) thin film that leverages a multilayer structure
and the intrinsic properties of each layer to readily and
effectively measure and monitor the IOP in real time. They
combined the sensor with a 70 MHz double-loop gold antenna
for high-precision and continuous IOP measurement.
By using state-of-the-art parity-time-symmetric wireless
technology, the team increased the device's sensitivity by a
factor of 183, compared to conventional wireless sensing
systems.
Both in vitro wireless IOP measurements of a porcine eye and
in vivo wireless IOP measurements in rabbit eyes modified
via microbead injection, obtained using the fabricated sensor
lens, showed a strong linear correlation with corresponding
measurements made using a commercial tonometer.
According to Professor Miyake, the IOP sensor fits well on the
contact lens while maintaining flexibility and user comfort and
the use of parity-time symmetry allows for much higher sensitivity
in wireless detection, making this work a major step towards
the future of daily, real-time ocular health monitoring devices.
Source: Waseda University
Research paper (open access): Xiao, T., Zhang, H., Takamatsu, T. et al. Ultra-sensitive
real-time monitoring of intraocular pressure with an integrated smart contact lens using
parity-time symmetry wireless technology. npj Flex Electron 10, 4 (2026). https://doi.
org/10.1038/s41528-025-00507-3
Continuous monitoring: IOP and eye movement
A new soft stretchable bimodal contact lens (BCL) was
presented in Microsystems & Nanoengineering. The BCL is
designed for simultaneous monitoring of intraocular pressure
(IOP) and eye movement (EM), even when the eyelids are
closed. It integrates capacitive and magnetic sensors within
a five-layer flexible structure, including serpentine copper
coils for pressure sensing and a neodymium-based magnetic
film for movement detection. The Aerospace Information
Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reports
that its design ensures natural eye contouring, maintaining
comfort and visual clarity.
The lens demonstrated high sensitivity in animal and human
trials, achieving IOP resolution down to 1 mmHg and EM
detection accuracy above 97%. Wireless data transmission to
mobile devices enables real-time feedback, supporting remote
monitoring and telemedicine. Biocompatibility tests confirmed
safety for extended wear without inflammation or visual
disruption. This capability is particularly valuable for glaucoma
management, where nocturnal IOP spikes and REM-related
EM events often go undetected by conventional instruments.
Beyond ophthalmology, the BCL’s dual-sensing platform offers
potential for tracking neurological conditions, attention
disorders, and sleep patterns. Future iterations may incorporate
drug delivery, creating a closed-loop system for diagnostics
and therapy.
Source: Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Research paper: Gan, X., Yao, G., Li, C. et al. Closed-eye intraocular pressure and eye
movement monitoring via a stretchable bimodal contact lens. Microsyst Nanoeng 11,
83 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-025-00946-y
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Continuous monitoring: eye-machine interaction
Science China Press reports that a flexible smart contact lens
integrated with an LC resonant circuit (electric circuit consisting
of a connected inductor and capacitor), was designed for wireless
eye-machine interaction (EMI). The innovation was published
in National Science Review and highlights the EMI lens’s
potential in medical monitoring and hands-free human-machine
control.
EMI relies on simple eye movements, primarily blinks and
rotations, to transmit commands. Visibility, stability, and
consistent eyelid pressure make blinking easier to detect than
rotation and parameters such as blink frequency, duration,
and laterality can be encoded to generate diverse commands,
expanding EMI’s application potential.
The EMI lens features a multilayer flexible structure comprising
MXene electrode layers, a honeycomb microporous dielectric
layer, and an induction coil forming an LC circuit. Pressure
variations during blinking alter the dielectric layer spacing,
changing capacitance and producing frequency shifts detectable
wirelessly by external analyzers. This design ensures comfort
and unobstructed vision while enabling real-time monitoring
of IOP within normal ranges and translating blink signals into
control commands when higher pressures occur. Wearability
tests confirmed user comfort and physiological safety, while
algorithmic filtering distinguished conscious blinks from
involuntary ones. The system successfully mapped blink patterns
to multidimensional drone flight commands, demonstrating
practical feasibility. In vivo rabbit trials validated biocompatibility,
with no adverse effects observed post-experiment.
Source: Science China Press
Research paper: Haiqing Liu, Weijia Liu, Zhijian Du, Lifeng Wu, Minyan Chen, Zhiyi Gao,
Kai Jiang, La Li, Zhiyong Fan, Guozhen Shen, Encoding of blink information via wireless
contact lens for eye–machine interaction, National Science Review, Volume 12, Issue
10, October 2025, nwaf338, https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwaf338
Wireless OLED contact lens for retinal diagnostics
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
(KAIST) reports on the development of a contact-lens-based,
wearable platform for retinal diagnostics using organic
light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which can be used for
retinal examination as an alternative to electroretinography
(ERG). The platform was presented online in the journal
ACS Nano.
The research team integrated an ultra-thin flexible OLED with
a thickness of about 12.5 μm into a contact lens electrode for
ERG and equipped it with a wireless power reception antenna
and a control chip to create a system that can operate
independently.
For power transmission, the team used a wireless power transfer
method with a resonance frequency of 433 MHz, which is
suitable for stable wireless communication. This was
demonstrated in the form of a wireless controller embedded
in a sleep mask that can be connected to a smartphone. The
OLED contact lens successfully induced stable ERG signals at
a relatively low luminance of 126 nits and delivered diagnostic
results comparable to those of existing commercial light sources.
Animal testing confirmed that the surface temperature of a
rabbit’s eye wearing the OLED contact lens remained below
27 °C. This prevented heat-induced damage to the cornea. The
animal testing also showed that light emission performance
was maintained in the moist environment of the eye.
Principal investigator Professor Seunghyup Yoo (School of
Electrical Engineering) explained that integrating the flexibility
and diffuse light properties of ultra-thin OLEDs into a contact
lens is a world-first attempt and that this research can help
expand smart contact lens technology into optical diagnostic
and phototherapeutic platforms for the eye, thereby driving
the advancement of digital health technology.
Source: The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Research paper: Wireless Organic Light-Emitting Diode Contact Lenses for On-Eye
Wearable Light Sources and Their Application to Personalized Health Monitoring. Jee
Hoon Sim, Hyeonwook Chae, Su-Bon Kim, Sang Baie Shin, Hye Kyoung Hong, Hyunsu
Cho, Young Hoon Jung, Donggyun Lee, Minah Kim, Sangin Hahn, Tae Yeon Kim, Sei
Kwang Hahn, Se Joon Woo, and Seunghyup Yoo. ACS Nano 2025 19 (18), 17478–17489.
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c18563
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Health effects of immersive technologies
Dr. Nkosikhona Theoren Msweli and Prof. Mampilo Phahlane
from the Department of Information Systems at the University
of South Africa in Pretoria published a review paper in early
2025 in the journal Informatics on the current state of knowledge
regarding the positive and negative health effects of immersive
technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality.
To this end, they evaluated 104 scientific papers in English.
Positive results were reported, for example, in the use of such
technologies to treat anxiety or motor problems. Possible negative
effects include discomfort, dizziness, and possibly even faster
heartbeat, which could be due to the fact that the visual signals
are not in harmony with the corresponding physical movements,
resulting in a so-called sensory conflict.
Older people and those with certain pre-existing conditions
(e.g., high blood pressure, attention deficit/hyperactivity
disorder) appear to be more susceptible to such symptoms. It
is recommended that further research be conducted into the
effects of immersive technologies on sensory processing and
cognitive development in children and adolescents.
Research paper (open access): Msweli, N.T.; Phahlane, M. Health-Related Issues of
Immersive Technologies: A Systematic Literature Review. Informatics 2025, 12, 47.
Technologies: A Systematic Literature Review. Informatics 2025, 12, 47. https://doi.
org/10.3390/informatics12020047
Impact of smart glasses
on occupational safety and health
A team of researchers from the University Medical Center
Hamburg-Eppendorf, the University of Applied Sciences Koblenz,
South Bank University London, and the Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance
(IFA) investigated the effects of smart glasses on occupational
safety and health. They conducted a field study in two companies,
examining the eyes of employees in logistics and order picking
and asking them to complete questionnaires. Both companies
used Google Glass Enterprise Edition smart glasses, which had
an optical display in the upper right corner of the frame.
The eyes were examined six months apart, before the start of a
shift and after the end of a shift. At the six-month examination,
17 of the original 43 employees were still participating. The
participants were mostly male and had an average age of 39.2
years at the start of the study. The examinations carried out
included visual acuity, phoria test, stereopsis test, color perception
test, glare test, and Amsler grid test.
In the survey, eye fatigue, rubbing, and burning were among
the most frequently reported symptoms. No changes in visual
acuity were observed as a result of working with data glasses
during a shift or after six months. However, the likelihood of
deterioration in near vision was higher among employees over
the age of 40 than among younger employees. It is therefore
recommended that this age group undergo eye examinations
and consultations before introducing smart glasses in the
workplace, and also on a regular basis.
The authors point out that the significance of their work is
limited, as, for example, the number of participants was small
and the test subjects were relatively young and mostly male,
meaning that the results cannot be applied to the general
population. They also recommend conducting further studies
to distinguish between age-related decline in accommodation
ability in the over-40 age group and the effects of data glasses.
Research paper (open access): Herold R, Gevorgyan H, Damerau LS, Hartmann U,
Friemert D, Ellegast R, Schiefer C, Karamanidis K, Harth V, Terschüren C. Effects of Smart
Glasses on the Visual Acuity and Eye Strain of Employees in Logistics and Picking: A
Six-Month Observational Study. Sensors (Basel). 2024 Oct 10;24(20):6515. doi: 10.3390/
s24206515. PMID: 39459994; PMCID: PMC11510858.
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DEEP thoughts on soft lens fitting
Soft lens myths debunked
What an incredible vibe at the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) 2026 at Paris in Las Vegas earlier this year. The
energy and enthusiasm were truly of a higher order, with a strong focus on the application of higher-order aberrations in
specialty lenses – going well beyond correction alone. By Eef van der Worp
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The meeting itself was outstanding: 850+ participants from
more than 30 countries, 44 speakers, 34 continuingeducation
creditable hours, 140 posters, and 20 free paper
and rapid-fire presentations, plus more than 60 participating
exhibitors on the floor. A truly global and dynamic exchange
of knowledge.
Keynote
One of the highlights for sure was the keynote lecture
presented by Craig Norman and Patrick Caroline – the
founders of GSLS – on the history of the meeting. It was
interesting to see all that has happened in our industry
since the first meeting in 2002 in Toronto, back when it
was still the Global Orthokeratology Symposium. Myopia
control had not kicked in; that did not surface until 2005
with important lectures by Brien Holden and Earl Smith
at that year’s meeting. The meeting then transitioned to
the Global Keratoconus Symposium in 2007, then later
merged into all ‘specialty lenses’ together. Of course, the
re-introduction of scleral lenses around the year 2010 was
a major event that rocked the profession and the field to
its core, which still resonates.
The titles of these meetings, and hence the bulk of the topics,
of course, focus on ‘rigid’ lenses: ortho-k, corneal lenses, and
sclerals, also at this year’s GSLS meeting. Interestingly, though,
the vast majority of lens fits in the world are with soft lenses.
According to the most recent Eurolens research data by Phil
Morgan and colleagues from Manchester (UK), about 12%
of fits are with rigid lenses (all types, the red and orange in
the graph shown); hence, 88% of fits are with soft lenses
worldwide.
The micron wave
When we focus on contact lens fitting among all these
modalities, one thing becomes clear: it is all elevation based
these days. In a recent article* in Contact Lens Spectrum,
Randy Kojima, Matthew Lampa, and I dove into this, about
how the whole industry is moving from base curves (in
millimeters) to height data (in microns) with any type of
lens, really. We have gotten very familiar and acquainted
with this for scleral lenses, for ortho-k, and for corneal lenses
too (the lathe ‘thinks’ in height, of course). Now the time
seems right to embrace this approach for soft lens fitting as
well.
“Are we fitting soft lenses or
prescribing soft lenses? This is
where a specialty lens field can
make a difference.”
The thing is, we have better soft lenses now than we’ve ever had.
The materials have improved tremendously over the years, and
in terms of oxygen transmissibility and surface treatments, we
have reached a point that not too long ago we could only have
dreamed of. The biggest gain may be the frequency of replacement,
though, up to daily replacement. Recent studies have shown that
replacing lenses more often than once daily does not add much,
at least not in terms of comfort or wearing success. The only
thing you might add if patients start replacing lenses at midday
(at work or school in suboptimal hygienic environments) is
germs. Replacing lenses daily seems to be optimal.
Delving into dropouts
So that’s the good news. The bad news is that the soft lens dropout
rate (the amount of lens wearers that start with soft lenses but
discontinue) has not dropped in the last decade or so, as reported
previously in this journal, too. The dropout issue is very complex,
with the tear film, dry eye, and physiological processes involved.
We have no control or influence over many of these aspects,
though. What we do have some influence over as eye care
practitioners is the lens fit. In an attempt to ‘tackle’ this inconvenient
issue of dropouts – a problem for the entire international contact
lens-industry – it would be nice to have a better way to assess our
soft lens fits on-eye. This may be the biggest myth of all: that eye
care practitioners have a solid or reliable way to accurately review
soft lens fits behind a slit lamp. We unfortunately have limited
ability to successfully assess a soft lens’ behavior on-eye.
Soft lens fitting?
If we focus on soft lens fitting, let’s first take a good look at the
terminology. Are we fitting soft lenses or prescribing soft lenses?
In reality, it is mostly the latter: the first myth about soft lens
fitting is that we still fit them. We select a proven lens, based
on our own clinical experience, or based on literature coverage
or sometimes secondary considerations.
GSLS 2026: Craig Norman and Patrick Caroline: The Founders of the GSLS
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100
20 countries
80
Proportion of lens fits (%)
60
40
Soft extended wear
Soft SW reusable Si-H
Soft DW reusable hydrogel
Soft DW daily disposable Si-H
Soft DW daily disposable hydrogel
Ortho-K
Rigid (not OK)
20
0
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Year
Contact lens fit around the world – Morgan et al. 2026. The International Contact Lens Prescribing Trends Consortium.
“This may be the biggest myths
of all: that we have a reliable
way to assess a soft lens’ behavior
on-eye.”
Flat-fitting lenses are not usually the problem. A lens that has
inadequate sagittal depth (is too flat) simply moves too much. We
can see this behind the slit lamp quite easily; lens movement is
excessive (in primary gaze while blinking or with the push-up
test), the lens starts to decenter (usually in the temporal and/or
inferior direction by the nature of the sclera’s shape) either slightly
or excessively as the lens edge reached the limbal area. Also, lens
wearing comfort is typically reduced, and vision can be compromised
because of the decentration and/or movement (especially with
more complex optics such as torics, multifocals, etc.). Here, we can
do our job as eye care practitioners using the biomicroscope.
Going deep
Deep-fitting lenses, on the other hand, are a challenge. A recent
experiment we performed at Pacific University in Oregon (US)
showed that the differences between a good-fitting lens, a deepfitting
lens, and a very deep-fitting lens are hardly detectible.
We fitted one eye with four different lathe-cut lenses with base
curves of 7.7 mm, 8.0 mm, 8.3 mm, and 8.6 mm. Or, if you prefer,
with sagittal depths of 4330, 4050, 3810, and 3610 microns,
respectively. We used lissamine green dye for visibility purposes.
The eye in question was a ‘normal eye’ with an average sagittal
depth (SAG). The delta-SAG values (the differences between the
sagittal depths of the lenses and the eye) were respectively 680,
480, 248, and 46 microns for the four lenses. A team of six very
experienced contact lens experts in the field reviewed (blinded)
the videos of these lenses on-eye – and could not find significant
differences between the lenses; they assessed all four lenses as
‘acceptable for dispensing.’ Mind you, there was a difference in
delta-SAG of about 650 microns among these four lenses.
On-eye diameter
Circling back to GSLS 2026, one lecture focused on a potentially
better way to assess soft lens fits on-eye: by looking at on-eye
diameter increase. Previous reports in this journal have indicated
that if a deeper soft lens is placed on the eye, which is the default,
the forces involved to ‘flex’ and to conform to the shape of the
ocular surface need to go somewhere. Again, from a terminology
standpoint, let’s stay away from ‘steep’ lenses and instead use
‘deep’ as the correct term for this.
Indeed, Graeme Young already had published a paper in 2017
in Optometry & Vision Science showing that soft lenses by
default increase in diameter when placed on the eye and need
to do so, in fact, to achieve an acceptable lens fit. He coined
the term ‘edge strain’, and an average edge strain of about 3%
appears to result in a ‘good lens fit’. This means that given a
constant temperature, a “good-fitting” 14.0 mm lens will increase
to a 14.4 mm diameter when placed on the eye, or will have an
on-eye diameter increase of 0.4 mm.
Ohio State studies
You might ask: How bad is it that a soft lens can be ‘good’,
‘deep’, or ‘very deep’ on the eye with no noticeable difference?
These lenses most likely are all comfortable, at least in the
beginning. But from clinical experience, we know that we don’t
want a soft lens to be excessively deep, as this may lead to
physiological problems including elevated redness and reduced
underflow of fluid.
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Explanation of on-eye diameter increase (Young et al, Optom Vis Sci. 2017).
Indeed, a recently published paper by Matthew Andrew, Aaron
Zimmerman and Melissa Bailey from The Ohio State University
(US) showed that in eyes with more corneal infiltrative events
(which are inflammatory markers), the lenses typically had a
higher relative sagittal depth (meaning a deeper lens fit). In
addition, at the American Academy of Optometry meeting last
fall they presented a new study, including 57 habitual soft lens
wearers showing that relative sagittal depth was significantly
greater (a deeper lens fit) in participants who reported to have
dry eye compared to those who did not report dry eye symptoms.
To put this in numbers, the relative sagittal depth was 360
microns for those who had no dry eye symptoms, while the
groups who answered “unsure” or “yes” to the question about
dry eye on the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire (CLDEQ)
had relative sagittal depths of 540 and 500 microns, respectively:
statistically significantly higher (p=0.008 for both groups). So,
these findings suggest that higher relative sagittal depth values
may play a role in soft contact lens dryness symptoms or lens
wear comfort scores as well as in the development of corneal
infiltrative events (inflammation).
In the same studies, the researchers found a linear correlation
between delta-SAG values (how deep the lens is compared to
how deep the cornea is) and on-eye diameter increase. In short,
optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging showed that
the deeper the lens, the greater the increase in diameter. This
is an interesting finding that deserves more attention.
hydrogel, Filcon 5B, 75% water content, Dk 60, modulus
0.13 MPa). They were placed on a standard (average) eye, and
the on-eye diameter increase was measured using anterior
segment OCT (Visante, Zeiss/Germany).
What is really intriguing is that the 7.7 mm base curve lens
had an on-eye diameter increase of almost 1 mm (0.97 mm to
be exact). One base curve flatter (8.0 mm) had an on-eye
diameter increase of 0.77 mm; for the 8.3 mm base curve this
was 0.53 mm, and for the 8.6 mm base curve a 0.27 mm increase
was measured. For reference, the relative sagittal heights of
these lenses were 680, 480, 248, and 46 microns (for the 7.7 mm,
8.0 mm, 8.3 mm, and 8.6 mm base curves, respectively).
Switching to flatter base curves of 8.9 mm, 9.2 mm, 9.5 mm,
and 9.8 mm did not change anything; the diameter did not
increase more than with the previous 8.6 mm base curve lens
(the numbers were respectively 0.27 mm, 0.23 mm, 0.26 mm,
and 0.23 mm increase). It’s important to note that the delta-SAGs
of these four lenses were -143, -380, -520, and -650, respectively
(note that these are negative values, so they varied from a little
bit flatter to excessively flatter than the ocular surface).
The bottom line overall is that there was a steady decline in
on-eye diameter gain from 7.7 mm to 8.3 mm base curves in
roughly 0.20 mm steps for each base curve until a tipping point
was reached at which the lens and ocular surface were on-par
with each other, after which anything flatter no longer increased
the on-eye diameter (the same increase in on-eye diameter was
found compared to the previous lens base curve).
Finding DORYs
So, while in previous reports on soft lens fitting, we discussed
‘finding NEMOs’ (normal eyes measured ocular surfaces), the
crucial thing now seems to be finding the optimal delta-SAG
– or ‘Finding DORY’ to stay in the Disney theme, where DORY
stands for ‘defined optimal reservoir yardage’, but then in
microns. For the eye in our study, for instance, the optimal
‘DORY’ of these lathe-cut lenses was 248 microns. For normal
eyes, this often could be the case. But the key point here is: to
find the right lens, you need to measure the ocular surface of
each individual.
Pacific University project
As part of the ongoing soft lens fitting project at Pacific, we
decided to replicate this study and to add another variable:
a variety of base curves. Eight different lathe-cut lenses of
known base curve and sagittal height (measured at eyetemperature,
34 °C) and a labelled diameter of 14.5 were
manufactured by Mark’ennovy in Spain (Saphir, silicone
OCT image of the anterior eye segment with a soft lens in place, to measure on-eye lens diameter and
its increase.
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GlobalCONTACT. Some ‘grip’ is needed (a slightly deeper
lens), as two recent papers from Spain indicate (Cruz-
Crezpo et al. and Viñuela et al.).
Soft lenses are flexible and have a lot of leeway in this area,
but anything less than 150 microns delta-SAG seems to be
insufficient, leading to flat-fitting lenses with all the
symptoms described earlier. Anything beyond 400 microns
would be considered an excessive delta-SAG. Interestingly,
this is the same as in scleral lenses. But these values could
(and probably will) be different for cast-molded and lathe-cut
manufactured lenses.
In summary: fitting soft lenses actually has much more in
common with fitting scleral lenses (including using sagittal
height values and creating an initial clearance before the lens
flexes) than with rigid corneal lenses. It is important to reiterate
that soft lenses are fitted deeper on the ocular surface, not
flatter. This is an important distinction to make and an essential
myth to debunk.
Closure
To follow up on the latter, standard (disposable) lenses are great
for the normal eye, and other variables such as material
properties (modulus), surface treatments, lens design, and lens
edge shape all play a major role in the success of lens wear (and
dropout prevention). But it is at both ends of the spectrum of
eye shapes that we can make a difference (and prevent these
dropouts) – especially on the flatter end of the eye-shape
spectrum, as we will see more ‘deep-fitting lenses’ if standard
lenses are used for these eyes.
One thing that we need to make very clear in our practices,
in our industry, and certainly in contact lens education at
our institutions and our schools is that soft lenses should
be fitted DEEPER on the ocular surface (for lathe-cut ánd
for cast-moulded lenses), NOT flatter! Many schools still
adhere to the basic and ancient rule (inherited from rigid
corneal lens fitting) that soft lenses need to be fitted flatter
(typically in the 0.6 mm to 1.0 mm range) than the central
keratometry values. But that gives a completely wrong
message to young eye care practitioners; soft lenses should
not be fitted flatter than the ocular surface (a big myth
indeed), but deeper. By how much, that is up for discussion
and a potential subject for a future article in
References:
Andrew M, Zimmerman AT, Bailey MD. The relationship between soft contact lens adverse
events and corneal sagittal depth. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2025 Jul;48(4):102413.
Bailey, Zimmerman, Andrew. The Relationship between Soft Contact Lens Dryness
Symptoms and Relative Sagittal Depth. Poster American Academy of Optometry. Boston
(US). 2025
Cruz-Crespo JJ, Ortiz-Peregrina S, García-Gamero A, Rodríguez-Farfach F, Bolívar-Parra
J, Ghinea R. Changing the paradigm of soft contact lens fitting: A sagittal height-based
approach. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2025 May;45(3):607-617.
Morgan et al. The International Contact Lens Prescribing Trends Consortium. Contact
Lens Spectrum, January/February 2026.
Papas EB, Tilia D, Tomlinson D, Williams J, Chan E, Chan J, Golebiowski B. Consequences
of wear interruption for discomfort with contact lenses. Optom Vis Sci. 2014
Jan;91(1):24-31.
Young G, Hall L, Sulley A, Osborn-Lorenz K, Wolffsohn JS. Inter-relationship of Soft
Contact Lens Diameter, Base Curve Radius, and Fit. Optom Vis Sci. 2017
Apr;94(4):458-465.
Van der Worp, Lampa, Koijma. The Micron Wave. Contact Lens Spectrum, Sept 2025
Viñuela JR, Wolffsohn JS, Consejo A, van der Worp E, Piñero DP. Ocular surface
characteristics and its association with soft contact lens fitting. Ophthalmic Physiol
Opt. 2025 Nov;45(7):1715-1728.
*Read the article from Contact Lens Spectrum here
Eef van der Worp, BOptom, PhD, FAAO, FIACLE,
FBCLA, FSLS is an educator and researcher. He
received his optometry degree from the Hogeschool
van Utrecht in the Netherlands (NL) and has served
as a head of the contact lens department at the
school for over eight years. He received his PhD
from the University of Maastricht (NL) in 2008. He
is a fellow of the AAO, IACLE, BCLA and the SLS. He is currently adjunct
Professor at the University of Montreal University College of Optometry (CA)
and adjunct assistant Professor at Pacific University College of Optometry
(Oregon, USA). He lectures extensively worldwide and is a guest lecturer at
a number of Universities in the US and Europe.
24
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
Larsen PR-ADVERTISEMENT
Larsen: "Satisfied customers are our mission"
Marked resonance from Mediphacos
LAB ENGINEER: DANIEL FILGUEIRAS
The Larsen Blocker is a great machine, with quick and simple
adjustments ensuring robustness and repeatability in operation
and the Larsen Polishers are very simple to use and the results
are the best I’ve seen. The technical assistance is another
differential of the Larsen’s brand, with attentive professionals
always willing to help with highest speed as possible.
LAB MANAGER: ALEXANDRE LOPES
It is an excellent machine. The Larsen Autoblocker is
synonymous with robustness, functionality and productivity.
Easy to operate and does not require a long set-up for model
changes.
It comes to attend an old demand to ensure the centralization
of the lathing process. Although we have bought the
autoblocker for contact lens production, it had also a very
good performance for blocking intraocular lenses when
compared to our current system. I will definitely consider
having another Larsen Autoblocker for IOL production.
Differently from custom RGP lens production, IOL production
requires very low downtime losses in order to keep
productivity at high levels. Each machine in the production
chain is key to keep those levels and the Larsen Blocker
surely plays its role well.
The Larsen Company sells not only equipments but also
solutions.
MAINTENANCE PERSON: MARCOS RIBEIRO
I am very pleased with the Larsen machines, in all aspects,
because their maintenance is easy, have high performance,
efficient technical assistance service and no difficulty on finding
replacement parts. Simple and smart adjustments are all we
need to keep machines running two shifts without interruption.
LAB TECHNICIAN: SANDRA APARECIDA
Larsen machines made my life much easier as they are simple
to operate, very reliable and precise. It is a real upgrade for the
production process, mainly for scleral lens manufacturing.
Blocking, deblocking, base/front polishing and edge polishing
became simple operations after we have replaced former
equipments by Larsen Autoblocker and bladder polishers. My
feeling is that we are making more lenses with less effort.
INDUSTRIAL DIRECTOR: MARCELO CAMARGOS
The best of Larsen is that they are focused on lab productivity
and customer satisfaction. It is impossible to work with them
without making friends.
Larsen equipments are robust, reliable, straightforward, easy
maintenance and have good cost-benefit ratio. Fine tooling
options together with right equipment made our life easier
and have increased production and productivity in our lab.
Although we have many years of RGP lens manufacturing
knowledge, and proprietary base curve blocking and tooling
systems, we decide to replace everything by Larsen equipments
and supporting tooling. Larsen Autoblocker with dual wax
dispenser allows us to work simultaneously with small diameter
regular lenses and large diameter scleral lenses. The flexibility
of polishing machines and tools has solved the problem of
efficiently polishing complex geometries produced by the
lathes in a single operation. Some people may say that nothing
can surpass pitch polishing for optical quality. I use to agree
with that in the past, since we manufacture contact lenses
since 1975. At that time, we had to master pitch polishing
techniques in order to correct surface roughness to have an
excellent surface and optical quality. Nevertheless, with the
use of most recent CNC lathes and good quality diamond
tools, there is no need to “generate” anymore a good surface
by polishing; this is a task for the lathe, given that it is well
adjusted. Polishing process should have minimum interference
with the surface. Furthermore, current contact lenses have
complex geometries that could not be polished by former pitch
processes. Larsen Bladder Polishers takes care that task fast
and efficiently. Our overall productivity has improved around
20% with very low reject rate, enhancing OEE (Overall
Equipment Effectiveness) performance.
Always improving the machines and tooling, they have good
solutions for everything, even for problems that have not yet
happened. •
GlobalCONTACT 1-26 2-25
29 25
MANUFACTURING
True excellence
Always room for improvement!
Excellence in contact lens manufacturing is driven by leadership, culture and a constant willingness to improve. Inspired
by observations from elite sports and international industry meetings such as the Global Specialty Lens Symposium
(GSLS), this article explores what distinguishes highly efficient laboratories from average performers. From legacy
processes and regulatory frameworks to modern cost awareness and operational change, it highlights why continuous
improvement is essential for long-term success. A Comment by Erik Larsen
Choosing a title was a quandary for me because three titles all
apply to a mission to elevate the industry. This article addresses
the titles in order.
Excellence beyond size: lessons from sport and industry
As I write this, the Winter Olympic Games are winding down.
Norway leads the medal count — with a population of just 5.5
million. The United States, with more than 340 million people,
trails behind.
How does that happen?
Culture.
Excellence is rarely accidental. It is cultivated.
This season, the NFL Super Bowl offered another example. The
Seahawks surprised many by winning the championship under
a head coach in only his second season — one who never played
college football. Strong leadership, a clearly defined culture, and
a largely hands-off ownership philosophy combined to produce
exceptional results.
What does this have to do with the contact lens industry?
Everything.
GSLS insights: observing excellence in the lab
In January, the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) was
held in Las Vegas. This international event attracts colleagues
from around the world. I do not rent a booth; I value the freedom
to meet peers when they are not busy with customers. These
meetings provide insight into how labs are run and what managers
are pursuing in the spirit of “Always room for improvement.”
Highlights included a Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor
Dr. Patrick Caroline (Pacific University School of Optometry) and
to Lorenzo Benelli receiving the Contact Lens Manufacture’s
Association (CLMA) Trailblazer Award for his support of the
industry via the Focal Points Software platform. I have had the
privilege of knowing these two gentlemen for decades. Beyond his
professional influence, Pat has helped members of my family on
particular optometric issues. I often reference Lorenzo when
advising prospective customers considering opening a manufacturing
26
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
MANUFACTURING
facility: if they are unfamiliar with Focal Points, more homework
is needed.
Clearly the companies exhibiting at the GSLS are providing great
service to the fitters and patients. Their consulting staff are a
great asset to the industry. As a machinery and tooling supplier,
I visit many labs. Most excel operationally and financially – others
less so. The difference is rarely geography, equipment, or market
size. The difference is culture.
The best-run labs share one defining belief: There is always room
for improvement.
This culture can be supported in many ways. It can take the
formal approach of implementing ISO (process improvement
is a tenant of ISO, even if cumbersome). It can make use of LEAN
practices (again needs to be adapted to the lab process). Or it
can stem from progressive leadership to engage line people to
participate to make improvements. If all three protocols are
implemented, how can they fail?
Another source leadership can take advantage of are their vendor
partners, especially the material and machinery people. They
have “seen it all” and are an invaluable resource for state-of-the-art
technologies.
Process, regulation and the evolution of manufacturing practices
But let’s move on. I was looking in my tech library and came across
a few of the good manufacturing practice manuals from the various
lens material companies. ‘Fun reading, but totally out of date.
They were from the early ‘90’s just before freeform optics, static
blocking, and bladder polishing (wide use of transfer blocking
and scleral lens processing came much later). In the manuals,
step-by-step lens processing was laid out in detail including setting
sphere on the lathes and making a pitch lap. Today, ISO standards
and regulatory frameworks have largely replaced those documents.
Yet one essential truth remains unchanged: Process excellence
is ultimately a leadership decision. No regulation mandates
innovation. No ISO clause requires curiosity. Improvement must
be chosen.
Leadership defines process
The Manufacturers Forum, initiated within the CLMA and later
at EFCLIN, aimed to examine processing practices. Managers
shared approaches, often reflecting their distance from daily
production realities. But – as one respected colleague once told
me – the best way to understand how a lab truly runs is to ask
a line operator (lathe operator or polisher). My own visits have
confirmed this repeatedly.
Some leaders seem born to the rule. Most are not – myself
included – but grow into it. Analytical training helps. A key
leadership trait is recognizing difficulty and seeking help from
staff, management or external partners.
“Always room for improvement.” This clearly implies that there
is a culture of allowing change. There are many impediments to
changing a process. You have all heard “We’ve always done it this
way”, “We don’t see any advantage to changing to that, it’s too
expensive”. “I’ll never get that past ownership.” “We will need to
amend the ISO (or FDA) protocol which will take months”. You
can probably add a few phrases to this list. The “ownership”
quotation illustrates the inertia of the upper management. This
takes the form of cost analyses and reports to convince them that
a process change makes good financial sense. The “ISO” quotation
illustrates the inertia of the regulatory environment. I see this as
somewhat artificial owing to the fact that labs are buying new
machines and thus processes all the time.
The Cost of standing still
In every laboratory, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) tells a story. A
5% reduction in COGS can translate directly into a comparable
increase in net profit – without raising prices or expanding
market share. And this is a much better deal. Reject rates are
often the most obvious starting point. A facility operating with
a 10% reject rate that cuts this figure in half can achieve substantial
financial improvement. Beyond that, gains can come from
reducing bottlenecks, improving inspection flow, introducing
automation such as autoloading lathe systems and continuously
refining production processes.
Despite this, familiar resistance phrases continue to surface:
“We’ve always done it this way, ownership will never approve
it.” Or “regulation makes change too difficult.”
High-performing laboratories recognise these as challenges to
solve – not reasons to stand still.
Excellence is not a destination. It is a discipline.
The laboratories I admire most are not necessarily the largest or
best equipped. They are the most curious. They actively seek
outside perspectives. They question long-standing assumptions.
They empower line personnel and focus relentlessly on measurable
performance. Leadership takes many forms. Some individuals
appear naturally suited to the role. Most grow into it through
experience, reflection and the willingness to learn.
The defining characteristic, however, is simple: when confronted
with difficulty, effective leaders seek support – internally or
externally – and take action.
There is always room for improvement.
Laboratories that embrace this mindset move steadily toward
world-class performance. Those that do not simply remain where
they are. •
Erik Larsen graduated from the University of
Washington with a Mechanical Engineering degree
in 1981 and started Larsen Equipment Design
later that year. Erik Larsen has industry awards
from CLMA and EFCLIN.
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
27
TECHNOLOGY
6 technology trends in ophthalmic optics
From lean production to smart glasses
From production floors to consulting rooms, the ophthalmic optics industry is undergoing rapid technological transformation. Across international
trade fairs and innovation platforms, a new generation of solutions is emerging — driven by automation, data intelligence, connectivity and changing
consumer expectations. Leaner manufacturing concepts, highly customized lens designs, smart eyewear ecosystems and the growing use of digital
twins are reshaping how vision products are developed, produced and experienced. At the same time, teleoptometry, screening technologies and
AI-supported decision tools are expanding access to eye care and redefining professional workflows. Together, these developments illustrate how
ophthalmic optics is evolving into a data-driven, patient-centric and increasingly digital sector.
Lean production
1 | Lean production refers to the streamlining of production through the economical and time-efficient use of
production factors. These include materials, planning, and organization.
Lean production principles are also gaining importance in contact lens manufacturing. Manufacturers are focusing
on optimising material use, reducing cycle times and improving workflow integration across highly automated
production environments.
Inspection is another trending topic that is driving the industry, especially cosmetic inspection. The goal
here is to produce more efficiently. Errors that are detected immediately are not unnecessarily processed
or refined further. This saves resources and, in the case of cosmetic inspection, also saves on personnel in
the long term.
Accurate data collection of machine values is another aspect that supports lean production. The aim is to
produce less waste by identifying problems in production at an early stage.
Lens customization
2 | We have known for decades that lenses are becoming increasingly customized. However, it is worth taking
a closer look at the ophthalmic lens industry. Their technological advances in particular are opening up entirely new
opportunities for the developers to offer tailor-made designs.
Thanks to the latest measurement methods and devices, more and more data about the eye can be collected. This data is
used to calculate the lens design, making it more individualized than ever before.
New technology also ensures that users' visual behavior can now be examined in great detail. One example of this is VR
glasses, which record the eye movements of users in different visual situations. This data can also be incorporated into the
calculation of new lenses.
Thanks to big data, lens designs can be created based on extensive user and wearing data. This is done using a comprehensive
database, which analyzes correlations between users and a wide variety of recorded parameters. Based on this, probability
calculations can be used to predict which design is likely to work best for a particular user.
Smart glasses
3 | Smart glasses are emerging from their niche and becoming a mass-market product. This is evident from the strong sales figures for RayBan Meta
smart glasses and the fact that many manufacturers are now following suit and offering similar smart glasses models. EssilorLuxottica is also expanding
its portfolio to include other brands such as Oakley.
A comprehensive study by The Vision Council shows that the participants surveyed in the US are extremely interested in smart glasses and that awareness
is steadily increasing. Four out of ten respondents even planned to buy smart glasses within the next 12 months.
Essilor Stellest Smartglasses are now also available in China, designed to support myopia management in children by analyzing wearing behavior, for example.
Many manufacturers are also keeping an eye on smart glasses and considering how they can contribute. For example, IOT recently introduced a machine
for the additive manufacturing of spectacle lenses. Among other things, a potential area of application could also be the integration of smart technology
into spectacle lenses.
28
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
TECHNOLOGY
Smart contact lenses
4 | Smart contact lenses continue to attract significant attention across conferences and research forums. Hardly any
major meeting takes place without new concepts or early-stage developments being presented — including in this issue.
The innovation trajectory goes even further. At the recent NCC2026, a concept lens was showcased that aims
to integrate display functionality directly into the contact lens itself. While such visions have been
discussed for many years and true market readiness still appears some distance away, their
journey is becoming increasingly clear: research into electronically enabled contact
lenses is accelerating.
Progress in this field is closely linked to advances in materials science, miniaturisation
and energy management. The challenge is not only to develop
biocompatible and comfortable lens materials, but also to safely integrate
electronic components, sensors or potential power solutions into ultrathin,
flexible structures.
Even if fully functional smart lenses for everyday use are not yet
available, the sustained research activity indicates that the
concept is moving from speculative idea towards long-term
technological reality.
Digital twins and simulation
5 | Digital twins are shaping industrial automation, enabling
machines to be tested virtually and processes to be
optimized. This is also being demonstrated by various machine
manufacturers for spectacle lenses. Simulations serve as a
development tool for working on new machines and allow external
parties to gain deep insights into the processes of a machine.
This is also an interesting tool for trade fairs, provided that machines
are not live on site.
In addition, simulations can also be used to digitally assemble a lab,
for example. At the optician's, on the other hand, simulations using VR
glasses can give customers a more realistic impression of how they would
see with progressive lenses.
Screening and teleoptometry
6 | Teleoptometry and vision screening are growing trends in eye care because they expand
access to professional evaluations and reduce waiting times. Digital tools make it easier to detect issues early and
support consistent monitoring. They also help practices streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and offer patients
more flexible, convenient care options.
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
29
TECHNOLOGY
Fig.1: The author of this article wearing an electronic-based contact lens platform (SENSIMED Triggerfish) that indirectly measures intraocular
pressure continuously over a 24-hour period.
Contact lens drug delivery
Current status, technologies, and future directions
Contact lenses (CLs) have evolved from simple refractive devices into sophisticated biomedical platforms capable of a wide
variety of functions, including diagnosing systemic and ocular disease (figure 1), monitoring physiology, being used for a
number of advanced optical functions (including text magnification and zooming for low vision sufferers, object recognition
and augmented reality) and, the purpose of this review, delivering topical ophthalmic drugs. 1-18 By Lyndon Jones
30
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
TECHNOLOGY
Number of Peer-Reviewed Articles
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
311
PubMed search: “drug delivery” + “contact lens” = 688
276
56
27
8 10
1970 - 1979 1980 - 1989 1990 - 1999 2000 - 2009 2010 - 2019 2020 - 2025
Fig.2: Graph showing the number of peer-reviewed publications on drug delivering contact lens materials by decade since 1970.
While topical eye drops remain the dominant mode of therapy
for anterior segment disease, they suffer from major
shortcomings 19-21 Less than 5% of an instilled drug ultimately
reaches the intended ocular tissues, due to reflex tearing, blinking,
rapid nasolacrimal drainage, and systemic absorption through
the conjunctival blood vessels. 11, 19-21 In older patients, rheumatoid
arthritis affecting the hands and shoulders, poor dexterity,
tremor, reduced grip strength and poor aim may make topical
drop instillation difficult. In addition, noncompliance with drug
instillation (which exceeds 50% of users with long term
administration of drugs such as those used to treat glaucoma)
further diminishes treatment efficacy. These issues result in
patients frequently receiving subtherapeutic doses and
experiencing high variability in exposure to the active drug. 19
ever published. One of the major areas of interest relate to
technologies that can control both the uptake, and of greater
relevance, the controlled release of the drug of interest from
the lens material. Ideally, currently available commercial CL
materials would be used, and many of these have been studied
for their potential use. 23 However, these materials have proven
to be incapable of delivering drugs to the ocular surface for a
11, 12, 23
long enough time.
Figure 3 graphically describes the most common strategies
used with drug-eluting CL to slow drug release, each rooted
11, 20, 23-28
in classical pharmacokinetic principles.
By placing the drug-laden reservoir directly against the ocular
surface, a CL can sustain drug release for extended periods
and significantly increase bioavailability. This concept was
originally proposed by Wichterle in a 1965 patent on polyHEMA,
the first ever soft lens material, where he speculated that
“medicinal active substances such as antibiotics may be dissolved
in the aqueous constituent of the hydrogels to provide medication
over an extended period”. 22 In the ensuing 60 years, where has
the CL industry come with respect to this concept of using soft
Drug-soaked lens
Molecular imprinting
Inclusion in a
polymer film
lenses for delivery of topical ocular drugs?
Inkjet printing
Growing interest
The limitations of eyedrop-based therapy have certainly resulted
in growing interest in the potential for CL–based drug delivery,
as shown in figure 2. In the 39 years between 1970 and 2009,
only 101 peer-reviewed articles on this topic were published.
In the last six years alone, over 300 articles on this topic were
published, representing 45% of the total articles on this concept
Ionic (-ve) material
Vitamin E diffusion barrier
Fig.3: Various contact lens drug delivery concepts.
Inclusion in particles
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
31
TECHNOLOGY
3. Inclusion in a polymer film
Here, a drug-loaded core is surrounded by a diffusion-limiting
membrane (e.g., a PLGA film). A pHEMA-PLGA “sandwich
lens” released ciprofloxacin over several weeks, 33 and later
iterations delivered latanoprost effectively in glaucoma-model
primates, a major advance showing equivalence to daily topical
therapy. 34
4. Inclusion in particles
Drug-loaded nanoparticles, liposomes and micelles have been
incorporated into various CL polymers and can significantly
slow the release of topical ophthalmic drugs. 35-41
Fig.4: Allergic conjunctivitis – the only ocular disease thus far treated with a commercially
available drug delivering contact lens.
In the last six years alone, over 300
articles on this topic were published,
representing 45% of the total articles
on this concept ever published.
1. Matrix diffusion systems
In the simplest configuration, drugs are merely dissolved within
currently available soft lenses and release occurs as the drug
diffuses out of the polymer matrix. This mechanism underlies
an early “soaked lens” approach, but this concept suffers from
overly rapid release, as demonstrated by ciprofloxacin release
29, 30
curves from commercial hydrogels versus silicone hydrogels.
The data shows that hydrogel lenses release more drug than
silicone hydrogels, and that the majority of the release occurs
in just a few hours, preventing such a concept being a viable
option for management of topical ocular disease.
2. Molecular imprinting
This is among the most studied technologies. Monomers are
polymerized in the presence of a target molecule (the template),
which is removed post polymerization, creating specific binding
“pockets” or cavities for the drug of interest. This significantly
increases the affinity of the drug for the CL polymer, slowing
diffusion from the lens. 22, 31 In a microbial keratitis rabbit model,
ciprofloxacin-eluting imprinted lenses reduced bacterial burden
more effectively than hourly drop therapy, illustrating the
translational potential of imprinted systems. 32
5. Vitamin-E diffusion barriers
Vitamin E forms hydrophobic nanoclusters within the polymeric
matrix, increasing tortuosity and significantly slowing drug
diffusion of numerous topical drugs, as demonstrated in both
laboratory and animal studies, including those using
22, 42-44
commercially available materials.
6. Ionic interactions
Using electrostatic interactions, positively charged drugs (e.g.,
ketotifen) can bind to negatively charged (ionic) commercial
hydrogel matrices. 45, 46 This is the approach used by Johnson &
Johnson to develop the (now discontinued) Acuvue TheraVision
lens, which is the only drug delivering CL to-date to be
commercialised. The lens was approved for release in Japan
and Canada in 2021 and the U.S. in 2022, and discontinued in
2024 due to manufacturing, sales, and regulatory concerns.
Each daily disposable lens contained ketotifen, an H1 histamine
receptor antagonist that stabilizes mast cells, the same active
ingredient found in over-the-counter allergy eye drops like
Zaditor (Alcon) and Alaway (Bausch & Lomb). The lens was
designed to slowly release the drug into the eye, providing itch
prevention within minutes, that was sustained for up to twelve
hours after insertion. 47
7. Surface printed systems
Inkjet-printed drug layers have the potential to integrate well
with modern lens fabrication processes and supports precise,
spatially controlled dosing and non-invasive verification of
drug quantity, a major regulatory advantage. 26
Given the growing interest in CL-based drug delivery systems,
what diseases may be targeted for this concept? These diseases
can be broadly broken down into two categories – those that
require short term management (such as corneal infections
and abrasions) and those requiring longer-term management
over years (such as allergy, glaucoma, and dry eye). Table 1
describes a variety of ocular diseases that have been identified
as potentially being served by this idea and studies published
on their potential use.
32
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
TECHNOLOGY
Disease
Anti-allergy (figure 4)
Anti-infectives
Corneal abrasions
Examples of drugs studied for CL delivery
Epinastine; Ketotifen; Olopatadine
Antibiotics (ciprofloxacin; gentamicin; moxifloxacin; tobramycin)
Antifungals (fluconazole; natamycin)
Anti-amoebic compounds
Antivirals (acyclovir)
Antibiotics (ciprofloxacin; moxifloxacin)
NSAIDs (bromfenac; diclofenac; ketorolac)
Steroid (dexamethasone)
Dry eye
Glaucoma
Myopia
Post surgery (cataract and refractive)
Cyclosporine; Diquafosol; Resveratrol
Bimatoprost; Brimonidine; Latanaprost; Timolol
Atropine
NSAIDs; steroids; antibiotics (see above for examples)
Table 1: Diseases that may benefit from management with a CL-drug delivery device.
Despite strong clinical and scientific rationale, commercial
success has been very slow and significant manufacturing,
safety, and regulatory challenges remain:
• Manufacturing complexity: Even minor leakage of the drug
into the blister-pack solutions may degrade shelf-life of the
product. Uniform drug loading requires precise quality
control during the manufacturing process and some
promising technologies (molecular imprinting, nanoparticles)
are not yet optimized for mass production.
• Regulatory classification: Drug-eluting CLs are classified
as “combination products”, requiring both device and
pharmaceutical approvals. This complicates regulatory trial
design, ethics approvals, labeling, and the regulatory pathway
to commercialisation.
• Ethical approvals: While an antibiotic delivering CL has
attracted much attention and many publications, obtaining
ethics approval for human clinical trials for such a product
is fraught with complications.
• Development costs, adoption, and market dynamics: The
discontinuation of both a photochromic CL (Acuvue OASYS
with Transitions) and the previously described antihistaminereleasing
CL in 2024 emphasizes the impact of manufacturing
costs, reimbursement challenges, regulatory barriers, and
market education gaps on the commercial viability of unique
CL-based technologies.
• Ethical, clinical, and prescriptive considerations: A further
consideration relates to who will be licensed to prescribe
these devices; optometrists, ophthalmologists, both? New
clinical guidelines and prescriber education will be critical
to their broad adoption.
• In Vivo vs In Vitro correlation: Predicting human
pharmacokinetics remains a challenge, necessitating
advanced simulators to improve translational accuracy. 48-51
In closing, CL-based ocular drug delivery has transitioned from
an aspirational concept to a clinically validated and
technologically diverse field. Although therapeutic lenses
currently represent a small fraction of commercial CL products,
the scientific foundation is strong, with multiple validated
delivery mechanisms, successful clinical trials, and at least one
commercialized lens demonstrating real-world benefit. However,
major hurdles remain, especially in manufacturing scalability,
regulatory approval, and market adoption, but the convergence
of biomaterials, bioelectronics, advanced printing, and AIenabled
analytics positions drug-delivering lenses as a
transformative technology. The future of CL is clearly not limited
to vision correction; it encompasses diagnosis, monitoring,
comfort enhancement, and targeted drug therapy – ushering
in a new era of personalized ophthalmic care. •
References: You can find the references onlinein the online version of the article on
www.global-cl.com/magazine/
Dr. Lyndon Jones is a professor at the School of
Optometry & Vision Science and principal scientist
at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education
(CORE) at the University of Waterloo. He holds an
optometry degree from the University of Wales
and a PhD in chemical engineering from Aston
University. His research focuses on contact lens materials, dry eye, and
ocular drug delivery. He has published over 350 peer-reviewed papers
and delivered more than 1200 lectures worldwide.
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
33
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GlobalCONTACT 1-26
35
FITTING BACKGROUND
Corneal ectasia in profile.
The potential of scleral lenses
Large diameters can help when corneal lens fitting reaches its limits
Irregular corneal shapes have always posed particular challenges for contact lens fitters. Keratoconus, pellucid marginal corneal degeneration,
postoperative scarring and corneal steps following penetrating keratoplasty or refractive surgery, as well as scarring following trauma, can
significantly impair the optical quality of the corneal surface. While rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses are traditionally considered the standard
treatment, scleral lenses have established themselves in recent years as an important supplement and, in many cases, even as a superior treatment
option. By Stefan Schwarz
Scleral lenses offer the possibility of creating an optically
homogeneous, tear-filled boundary layer over the irregular
cornea without exerting mechanical pressure on the central
or peripheral corneal area. The sensitive areas of the cornea,
which are highly innervated, do not come into contact with
the lens when fully bridging scleral lenses are used, as the
lens rests exclusively on the bulbar conjunctiva in the scleral
area. This allows them to improve visual acuity, comfort, and
long-term corneal health in situations where corneal lenses
reach their limits.
This article provides a detailed overview of the advanced care
options offered by scleral lenses for eyes with irregular corneas
and systematically compares their properties with those of
rigid corneal lenses.
Indications for scleral lens fitting
Keratoconus and other ectatic disorders
In keratoconus, the progressive bulging and thinning of the
cornea leads to pronounced irregularity of the anterior
surface. The irregularity of the anterior surface of the cornea
36
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
FITTING BACKGROUND
Central HH scars.
Challenging corneal conditions after perforating keratoplasty.
is significant because it has a much greater optical impact
than the posterior surface of the cornea, which borders the
aqueous humor of the eye. While RGP corneal lenses can
often be used successfully in the early stages, the tolerance
of lens wearers decreases as ectasia progresses.
Typical fitting problems include inhomogeneous pressure
distribution on the cornea, decentred lens fit and the resulting
poor vision quality, as well as mechanical irritation.
In individual cases, these challenges can be exacerbated by
very high eyelid tension (e.g. in neurodermatitis) and high
refractive errors. Scleral lenses, on the other hand, completely
bridge the conical area due to their design, which rests on
the sclera, creating a stable, central tear chamber. This
chamber-forming function reduces asymmetrical aberrations
and thus improves optical quality.
Condition after perforating keratoplasty (PKP)
After corneal transplants, it is not uncommon for severe
astigmatism or topographical irregularities to occur. Suture
tension, graft size, and postoperative remodeling often
lead to a complex height profile. Often, the preoperative
prolonged cornea becomes an oblong cornea after surgery,
which means it has flatter central radii and steeper
peripheral radii. While RGP corneal lenses can be perfectly
functional for PKP patients, practitioners often face
challenges such as pressure near the transplant,
microerosions, or contact lens decentration. Scleral lenses
can be used to bridge the irregular cornea (vault) and
achieve a uniform vault structure over the transplant. This
not only reduces mechanical stress to a minimum, but also
creates an optically customizable zone.
Eyes after perforating corneal injuries
Scars formed after injuries are often irregular, asymmetrical,
and difficult to describe topographically. Designing an
appropriate contact lens back surface for these irregularities
is a challenge. If additional factors such as high eyelid tension
or high lens thickness due to a high refractive error that
needs to be corrected are added to the mix, the fitting result
may be suboptimal.
In such cases, corneal lenses can cause discomfort due to
mechanical friction or become unstable. Scleral lenses avoid
this problem as they rest on the sclera, which is usually
regular in shape. Due to their minimal movement, they
provide stable vision and are often considered very
comfortable.
Dry eye disease (DED) and ocular surface disease (OSD)
Scleral lenses have also established themselves as an important
therapeutic option for severe or treatment-resistant forms of
dry eye and other diseases of the ocular surface (e.g., Sjögren’s
syndrome, GvHD, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, persistent and
recurrent epithelial defects). The post-lenticular fluid chamber
ensures constant moisturization of the cornea, prevents
evaporation, and protects the corneal surface from mechanical
friction caused by the eyelids. Therefore, scleral lenses are
recommended in current management algorithms (e.g., TFOS
DEWS III 1 ) as an option for more complex cases. Similarly, the
relevant literature reports on treatments following eyelid injuries
in which scleral lenses were able to prevent the drying out of
the eye surface 2 .
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
37
FITTING BACKGROUND
Scleral lenses bridge difficult corneal conditions.
Optical objective: production of an optically flawless surface
The optical principle of scleral lenses is to replace the irregular
front surface of the cornea with a regularly shaped lens surface,
separated by a tear reservoir that acts as an optically homogeneous
intermediate medium. The optical improvement is based on
three points:
1. Neutralization of irregularities
The tear fluid completely fills in any unevenness and acts
like a refractively homogeneous film.
2. Minimization of higher order aberrations (HOAs)
The reduction of asymmetric aberrations, namely coma, is
clinically significant and has been documented in studies.
3. Constant refractive conditions thanks to stable fit
Since the lens sits on a large area of the sclera, scleral lenses
show significantly less movement than corneal lenses and
are therefore superior in terms of visual stability.
Fitting scleral lenses
When considering the fitting of scleral lenses, the author
recommends the use of trial lenses for several reasons. On
the one hand, this allows the basic tolerance of scleral
lenses to be determined quickly and efficiently. In addition,
it is easy to assess the fit, the thickness and shape of the
tear film, the over-refraction with measurement of the
achievable final visual acuity, and to determine the final
prescription lens parameters. The corneal diameter, the
shape of the cornea (prolonged or oblong), and the required
vertex depth of the measuring lens, which is necessary for
a fully bridging lens fit, are decisive factors in the selection
of the first trial lens. When the anterior segment of the
eye is measured using Scheimpflug technology or
profilometry, information about the curvature and
regularity of the sclera can often be taken into account at
the same time.
The chamber-forming effect of scleral contact lenses fills
corneal irregularities in the optical path with a homogeneous,
tear-like fluid. This reduces higher-order aberrations (HOA),
and in particular asymmetric aberrations such as coma.
Prospective comparisons show significantly lower total
aberrations (total HOA), coma, and trefoil under scleral
lenses compared to RGP corneal lenses (e.g., Knoeri et al.) 3 .
Some reviews report improvements in visual acuity and
night vision. These findings explain the frequently observed,
clinically relevant improvement in visual acuity in patients
with keratoconus, post-transplant irregularities, or scarred
corneal changes.
Biomechanical differences: sclera and conjunctiva instead of
cornea as contact surface
Rigid corneal lenses
Corneal lenses ideally position themselves on the tear film
in front of the cornea with sufficient pupil coverage. The fit
is assessed in terms of surface fit by observing the tear film
stained with a sodium fluorescein solution. The main variable
here is the tear film thickness, which can fluctuate with
increased tear secretion after insertion of the corneal lens.
In cases of regular or only slightly irregular corneas, varying
tear thicknesses under the contact lens do not pose any
biomechanical problems. However, in cases of severely
irregular corneas, there are risks ranging from pressure
points over cone tips and epithelial compression to corneal
damage. If hard apical or paracentral contact points occur
during corneal lens fitting in cases of irregular corneal
conditions, the localized mechanical stress on the cornea
can become so high that it results in stainable areas with
spots or even deep corneal lesions.
When assessing the fit of scleral lenses, sodium fluorescein
solution is used to estimate corneal bridging using a slit
lamp. To do this, the narrow slit can be observed at a 45°
angle and the thickness of the fluorescein layer can be
compared to other known measurements, such as lens
thickness.
Since scleral lenses rest exclusively on the bulbar conjunctiva
in the scleral area, it is important to note when assessing
fit that the estimated or measured corneal curvature is
highest after initial insertion and decreases with prolonged
wear due to compression of the bulbar conjunctiva. A good
starting value for central corneal bridging is between 250
and 350 µm.
38
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
FITTING BACKGROUND
Scleral lenses
Scleral lenses completely cover the cornea and rest exclusively
on the consistent, less sensitive sclera. Advantages include:
• No mechanical stress on the cornea
• Significant increase in comfort
• Stable position even with extreme irregularity
• High optical repeatability because the position hardly
varies
This biomechanical decoupling is one of the main reasons
why scleral lenses are increasingly preferred for the treatment
of irregular corneas.
Comparison of corneal lenses and scleral lenses in everyday
clinical practice
Fittability and reproducibility
Corneal lenses require very precise fitting to the corneal contour;
in cases of irregular corneas, several trial lenses are often
necessary. Scleral lenses, on the other hand, automatically
compensate for many irregularities using the vault technique;
modern OCT-assisted procedures significantly increase
efficiency. 4
Visual acuity and optical quality
Both systems achieve good results with moderate
irregularities; however, in cases of severely irregular corneas,
scleral lenses demonstrate a superior reduction in HOAs
in numerous series and thus often yield better visual acuity
and night vision results.
Wearing comfort
RGP corneal lenses can cause a foreign body sensation due to
eyelid interaction. Scleral lenses often offer a more comfortable
and stable fit, which improves compliance.
Oxygen supply
RGP corneal lenses generally offer good oxygen transmission,
supported by the tear pump. Scleral lenses prevent direct
tear circulation; this requires the use of highly gas-permeable
materials (high DK) and optimization of the central chamber
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FITTING BACKGROUND
thickness to minimize hypoxic risks. Modern materials
and careful fitting significantly reduce these risks.
Technological advances: The key to the importance of scleral
lenses today
The renaissance of scleral lenses can be attributed to technological
developments:
• OCT-assisted vault analysis for precise fittings.
• Individual peripheral zone designs (toric, quadrant-adapted)
for better scleral alignment.
• High-DK materials for long daily wear times.
These advances now enable highly customized care that
combines optical performance and physiological compatibility.
Limitations and challenges of scleral lens fitting
Despite their advantages, challenges remain:
• Increased hygiene and handling requirements (filling
technique, cleaning).
• Risk of hypoxic changes with suboptimal fitting or unsuitable
materials.
• More complex aftercare (controlled vault follow-ups,
monitoring of scleral contact).
• The cost of customized lenses is higher than that of standard
RGP lenses.
5. Patient education:
Filling technique, hygiene, handling, warning signs (redness,
pain, deterioration of vision) — and clear agreements on
follow-up care.
Conclusion
Scleral lenses are now an indispensable tool in the treatment
of irregular corneas. By creating a tear-filled reservoir over the
cornea, they have been proven to reduce higher-order aberrations
— namely coma — and in many cases improve visual acuity
and subjective visual quality. Scleral lenses are often the better
(and frequently the only) non-surgical treatment option,
especially in advanced forms of keratoconus, after corneal
transplants, in cases of scarring, and in therapy-resistant forms
of dry eye. Rigid corneal lenses remain valuable in early/
moderate stages, but are increasingly supplemented or replaced
by scleral lenses in cases of pronounced irregularities. Modern
OCT technology, customized designs, and improved materials
have significantly increased the safety and effectiveness of
scleral lenses. •
In DED/OSD patients, specific problems such as midday fogging,
poor lens wettability, and handling limitations must also be
taken into account; these should be addressed during the
consultation and follow-up care.
Practical recommendations for contact lens fitters
1. Carefully check the indication:
Keratoconus stage ≥ II–III, post-PKP irregularities, scarred
corneal defects, persistent DED are classic indications.
2. OCT-assisted initial fitting:
Measure corneal topography and determine the desired
central vault height (clinical target values depending on
laboratory/design).
References:
1 Jones L, Craig JP, Markoulli M, Karpecki P, Akpek EK, Basu S, Bitton E, Chen W, Dhaliwal
DK, Dogru M, Gomes JAP, Koehler M, Mehta JS, Perez VL, Stapleton F, Sullivan DA,
Tauber J, Tong L, Travé-Huarte S, Wolffsohn JS; TFOS Collaborator Group. TFOS
DEWS III: Management and Therapy. Am J Ophthalmol. 2025 Nov;279:289-386. doi:
10.1016/j.ajo.2025.05.039. Epub 2025 Jun 2. PMID: 40467022.
2 Chaudhary S, Chatterjee S, Jain N, Basu S. Scleral contact lenses for optimal visual
recovery in a case of severe acid burn with total lagophthalmos. BMJ Case Rep. 2022
Jul 5;15(7):e248384. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-248384. PMID: 35790322; PMCID:
PMC9258505.
3 Knoeri J, Mhenni R, Friquet C, et al. Comparison of optical aberrations in keratoconus
with scleral versus rigid gas permeable lenses. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2024 Mar;34(2):394–
398. doi:10.1177/11206721231221588. PubMed PMID: 38128913.
4 Barone V, Petrini D, Nunziata S, Surico PL, Scarani C, Offi F, et al. Impact of Scleral
Lenses on Visual Acuity and Ocular Aberrations in Corneal Ectasia: A Comprehensive
Review. J Pers Med. 2024;14:1051. doi:10.3390/jpm14101051.
3. Material selection:
Prefer high DK materials (where possible >100–150); keep
lens thickness and vault minimal, but clinically adequate.
4. Follow-up care:
Repeated OCT checks at the latest one, two, and four weeks
after insertion; more frequent checks of the epithelial status
in DED patients.
Stefan Schwarz, Dipl.-Ing. (FH), FAAO,
MCOptom, and Diplomate in Cornea, Contact
Lenses, and Refractive Technologies at the
American Academy of Optometry. He is a
renowned expert in contact lens optics and
ocular physiology. Thanks to his national
and international lecturing activities,
research contributions, and many years of practical experience
in his own practice, he is one of the recognized experts in modern
optometry.
40
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
PR-ADVERT
Next level innovation
Larsen Equipment Design Introduces the Auto-Transfer Blocking System
The folks at Larsen Equipment Design, Inc. were pleased to
introduce the ATB-203 Auto-transfer blocking system at the
EFCLIN Congress at Meliá Sitges Hotel (Sitges, Spain) in April
of this year. “While most of the industry has our established
blocking system in use, we felt it was time to take the industry
to the next level in lens blocking technology in keeping with
our culture of innovation.” Says President and Founder, Erik
Larsen. He added “While it is always exiting to create new
products and processes, gratification for us is seeing those
efforts accepted by industry as they have been over the last
four decades.”
Larsen displayed the full line of lens fabrication machinery
and tooling in addition to the new blocking system. We received
comments like: “We’re happy with our existing system but, Oh!
Self-calibration in 15 seconds!?”; “There IS no dispenser? That’s
clever.” The wax pool arrangement with no internal moving
parts greatly reduces maintenance.
“We never liked the practice of dropping hot wax into a pristine
base curve. The thermal shock has to have a detrimental effect
on the material and thus the optics. Dipping the arbor in hot
wax enables it to form a perfect shape centered on the arbor,
then cool before being laid into the BC. When the diameter of
the arbor determines the amount of wax, no precision metering
is needed.” Erik goes on to say, “You can block a 17 mm scleral
BC and know the large arbor diameter arbor will have the correct
amount of wax, then block a 10 mm BC with a corneal arbor
with the correct amount of wax. Imagin the arbors are in the
job tray. That foresight means that the operator simply loads the
arbors; the operator does not need to decide how much wax to
dispense. That is unprecedented!”
“The new blocking system retains our unique Wax Thickness
Control. Both corneal and scleral BC’s can be blocked with
no mechanical adjustments required (no fiddling by the
operator).”
The new system is housed within a safety shroud in compliance
with health and safety regulations.
“Upon returning with orders for the new system, we undertook
refining of the design and human/machine interaction. We are
now “cutting metal” in anticipation of the first deliveries.”
Larsen Equipment Design is the leading manufacturer of state
of the art contact lens blocking and polishing machines enabling
labs to reach their highest productivity levels.
For more information, please contact Larsen Equipment Design,
Inc. at Erik@larsenequipment.com
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
41
BUSINESS
The courage to raise prices
Why sellers should step out of their comfort zone more often
Many salespeople know that a price increase is long overdue. Nevertheless, they keep putting off the issue. Sometimes
the customer does not seem to be in the mood, sometimes an important project is coming up, sometimes the timing is
supposedly unfavorable. And so, month after month goes by. With each postponement, the inner pressure grows, because
secretly many know that this price increase discussion is becoming increasingly overdue. By Oliver Schumacher
But instead of taking action, they evade the issue. Why? Because
they are afraid and prefer to put off the necessary. After all, it
is easier to leave everything as it is than to courageously stand
up for one's own value. But those who do not adjust prices are
not only unconsciously deciding against profitability, but also
against their own self-worth.
Attitude first – arguments later
Before anyone talks about higher prices, they should be
convinced of them themselves. Because customers immediately
sense whether someone is convinced or justifying themselves.
Therefore: Before the price increase discussion, think first, then
act and talk.
• What has really changed for the customer?
• What is better today than a year ago?
• What factors enable the customer to understand the price
adjustment?
If you have clear answers to these questions in advance, you
no longer need to fear the conversation.
Facts help combat nervousness
When salespeople get lost in long explanations, it comes across
as uncertainty. Better: short, concrete, factual. Example: “Our
energy costs have risen by 7%. Nevertheless, we have kept
quality and delivery capacity stable. That's why we need an
adjustment.”
That sounds calm, honest, mature. No tricks, no pressure. Just
plain language.
No justification – just information
Many price negotiations fail right at the start. If you start with
“I'm sorry to have to tell you...”, you undermine your own
authority. Better: “I would like to inform you about our new
terms and conditions.”
This is straightforward, respectful – and shows attitude. After
that, remain silent. Just wait a moment. Even if it is difficult.
The customer needs this moment to process what has been
said. If you continue talking immediately, you negate the effect.
When resistance comes
Of course there will be resistance. “That's too expensive.” “Then
I'll just go to the competition.” That is normal. Really. The
customer is testing how stable the salesperson remains. Because
the customer needs the feeling of security that the price increase
is really justified – and not just serving to optimize the supplier's
profits.
In such moments, calm responses help: “I understand that this
is a change for you.” Or: “Yes. I would also have liked to avoid
the price increase, but our costs have risen accordingly – and
we now have to pass on this cost increase.” It is important that
the salesperson remains calm. No discussion. No persuasion
at any price. Customers respect clarity more than giving in.
42
BUSINESS
The customer is testing how
stable the salesperson remains.
Because the customer needs the
feeling of security that the price
increase is justified.
43
BUSINESS+MARKETING
Fear of losing customers – normal, but exaggerated
Every salesperson knows it. That inner voice that says: If I raise
the price, I am out. But the reality is usually different. The vast
majority of customers stay. Not because of the price, but because
of trust and reliability. A few thoughts help:
• Those who stay only because of the price never stay long.
• Those who want quality will stick with quality.
• And those who feel they are being treated fairly will stay
anyway.
In short: only those who sell themselves short lose out in price
negotiations.
present. And, for example, take the initiative to contact their
customer regularly.
To continue to provide value and thus give the customer the
confidence to work with the right supplier. The fact is:
commitment, reliability, and relationship management always
sell better in the long term than any discount.
Having the courage to raise prices is not recklessness. It is
attitude. Those who believe in their value automatically appear
more convincing. Customers accept price increases when they
sense that someone knows what they stand for.
And in the end, that is exactly what distinguishes good
salespeople from conformists. •
No persuasion at any price.
Customers respect clarity more
than giving in.
After the increase – stay on the ball
Many people disappear after the discussion – as quickly as
possible. Out of shame, insecurity, or because they are glad it
is over. But this is exactly when the salesperson should remain
Sales trainer Oliver Schumacher takes a
friendly and knowledgeable approach to setting
new standards in sales training. Under the
motto "honesty sells," he shows salespeople,
entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals
how to confidently win new customers with AI,
successfully master cold calling, and assert
themselves fairly—even in difficult price negotiations.
https://oliver-schumacher.de/
44
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HISTORY
The corneal lens
Series on the Roth Collection
Even though the contact lens is barely 150 years old, the history of its development is almost forgotten. It began
with the attempt to cover irregularities in the corneal contour using a hemispherical glass disc and to mask them
with the help of tear fluid. The first attempts failed due to the foreign body sensation, as a single-curved section of
a sphere could neither adhere sufficiently to the eye nor provide satisfactory optics. Only the two- and multi-curved
corneoscleral shell made of glass, molded according to the curvature of both the sclera and the cornea, provided
the necessary hold. Lens diameters of up to 15 mm allowed for satisfactory fit behavior, but they blocked tear flow.
The resulting oxygen deficiency in the cornea thus only permitted short wearing times. By Hans-Walter Roth
A major advancement in contact lens manufacturing was the
synthesis of polymethyl methacry-late (PMMA), one of the first
hard and transparent plastics, which quickly replaced glass in
al-most all areas of technology. PMMA was easy to process,
deformable under heat, and, if produced without plasticizers, also
compatible with the eye. While the eyewear industry began replacing
its lenses with this shatterproof plastic, it was only a small step to
also manufacture the corneoscleral lens using a thermoplastic
process directly from an eye impression. It is said that Marilyn
Monroe wore such lenses to compensate for her myopia.
46
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
HISTORY
There is debate as to whether it was merely a coincidence, a
manufacturing error, or an experiment to omit the haptic part
of a corneoscleral lens, reducing it to a diameter of less than one
centimeter and allowing only its optical center to float on the
cornea. In any case, it worked. To ensure a secure fit, however,
the inner curve of the lens fragment could not correspond to a
spherical section but had to be aspherically curved like the
anterior surface of the cornea. If the base curve of the contact
lens was too flat, the lens would be lost during blinking; if too
steep, it would adhere to the cornea and prevent tear convection.
The next step was the search for a plastic that was sufficiently
gas-permeable. The lens material also had to be well wettable by
tear fluid. It must not serve as a breeding ground for bacteria or
fungi and, unlike glass or other plastics, should be as shatterproof
and scratch-resistant as possible. Additionally, the material had
to be resistant to cleaning agents.
Furthermore, high transparency was required, with no
discoloration over time. Even after prolonged wear, it should not
release any toxic substances that could harm the eye. Allergens
also had to be excluded.
Pure silicone initially seemed ideal, but due to its poor wettability,
it caused what is known as sterile keratitis. The search for an
ideal lens material continued; today’s so-called hard or rigid
gas-permeable contact lenses consist of mixtures of various
plastics.
Today, the rigid, highly gas-permeable corneal lens is a popular
alternative to glasses worldwide. It is the first-choice visual aid
when eyeglass lenses, for example in cases of high myopia,
hyperopia, or astigmatism, can no longer adequately correct the
refractive error. Even in pathological shape changes of the cornea
such as keratoconus or keratoglobus, as well as in corneal scars,
the contact lens is indispensable due to its corset effect. Only in
fitting-related problem cases is the significantly larger corneoscleral
lens still used today; it has largely been replaced by the corneal
lens. Refractive surgery also offers an alternative to glasses and
traditional contact lenses, with modern lens implants, such as
those used in pseudophakia, having been developed from the
corneal lens.
The classic hard contact lens made of PMMA shown here, along
with its original storage container still preserved, comes, as the
fitting data indicate, from a patient with keratoconus from around
1960. It was manufactured and distributed at the time by the
company Wöhlk. •
Dr. Hans-Walter Roth, ophthalmologist and
director of the Contact Lens Research Institute
in Ulm, Germany, is the author of numerous
publications and books on the physiology of
the contact lens and the history of eyesight.
He is a city councilor of the city of Ulm,
specializing in education, social affairs, art
and culture. He is also the founder of the Ulm
Hospital for the Poor.
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info@efclin.com
Larsen Equipment Design
1117 N.W. 52nd Street
Seattle, WA 98107
USA
Phone: +1 206 789 5121
Fax: +1 206 789 7756
erik@larsenequipment.com
www.larsenequipment.com
Machinery and Tools
48
EFCLIN expects speakers such as
Dr. David Spalton, Prof. Dr. Gerd Auffarth,
Eef van der Worp, Prof. Dr. Lyndon Jones
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
YELLOW PAGES
SCHNEIDER GmbH & Co. KG
Biegenstrasse 8 –12
SCHNEIDER 35112 Fronhausen
GmbH & Co. KG
Biegenstrasse Germany 8 –12
35112 Fronhausen
Phone: +49 Germany (64 26) 96 96-0
Fax: Phone: +49 (64 +49 26) (64 26) 96 96-100
96-0
Fax: +49 (64 26) 96 96-100
info@schneider-om.com
info@schneider-om.com
www.schneider-om.com
OPTOCRAFT GmbH
Am Weichselgarten 7
D-91058 Erlangen
Germany
Phone: +49 9131 691500
sales@optocraft.de
www.optocraft.de
V-Optics SAS
2, rue du travail
67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden
France
Phone: +33 (0) 3 67 10 28 60
info@v-optics.fr
www.v-optics.fr
Machinery and Tools
Instruments
Instruments
RZ_Yellow_Pages_60x80_4C.indd 1 23.06.2020 12:37:08
VISIT THE NEW WEBSITE
YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE
IN OPHTHALMIC OPTICS
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Expert Analysis:
Innovation Spotlight:
Community Hub:
Stay ahead with our worldwide perspective on industry dynamics and emerging trends.
Benefit from in-depth analyses, exclusive interviews, and thought-provoking articles.
Explore cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of vision care.
Join a global network of professionals passionate about advancing the Contact Lens and IOL industry.
VISIT US ONLINE NOW: WWW.GLOBAL-CL.COM
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
49
CLOSING WORDS
MASTHEAD
CLOSING WORDS
Stathi Efthimiadis
GlobalCONTACT is more than a name – it is a promise
Picture: Silke Sage
Stathi Efthimiadis, creative director
of quality and precision. Our team works tirelessly
to make complex topics understandable, to keep
you up to date – with the best possible layout
and design – and to be an attractive advertising
platform for customers. Discover who we are
and how we craft content that informs and
inspires. In part 1 you will learn more about our
Creative Director, Stathi Efthimiadis, and his work.
GlobalCONTACT: Stathi, what exactly are you working on right now?
Stathi: At the moment, I’m working on several publications in parallel,
which means coordinating editorial content, designing layouts, and
preparing everything for production. A big part of my work happens at
the intersection of content, design, and technology. One moment I’m
refining page layouts and typography, the next I’m optimizing workflows
or solving technical challenges that improve how efficiently we produce
the magazine.
GlobalCONTACT: What surprised you recently in your daily work?
Stathi: How many small decisions shape the final product. Readers only see
the finished magazine (or attend our MAFO conference dedicated to the
spectacle lens industry), but behind that there are countless details, layout
choices, production timing, technical setups – that all have to align perfectly.
What also surprised me is how much momentum you can create by
improving workflows. Even small adjustments in how we structure data,
design templates, or prepare content can make a huge difference in speed
and consistency. It’s a reminder that publishing today is as much about
systems as it is about storytelling.
GlobalCONTACT: What do you personally enjoy most about your work?
Stathi: The combination of creative and technical challenges. I enjoy
designing something visually, but also building the structure behind it
so it works reliably. And I like that GlobalCONTACT is constantly
evolving. There’s always something new to learn, improve, or rethink. It
never feels static, and that’s what keeps it interesting.
Just as important, is the team. We have a great mix of experience, ideas,
and perspectives, and there’s a strong sense that everyone is working
toward the same goal. That makes collaboration easy and keeps the work
both productive and enjoyable.
GlobalCONTACT: Finally, how would you describe GlobalCONTACT
today in one sentence?
Stathi: GlobalCONTACT is a modern media platform rooted in tradition –
combining trusted print with dynamic digital innovation, and bringing
the global optics community together both on the page and in person. •
GLOBAL CONTACT
The Website and the Magazine: The complete communication system for the contact lens industry. The
magazine, 2,500 copies, is distributed to contact lens laboratories, wholesalers and other organizations
active in the contact lens and IOL industry.
The website www.global-cl.com is free for all industry related professionals
PUBLISHERS ADDRESS
Eyepress Fachmedien GmbH
Saarner Str. 151, D-45479 Mülheim a. d. Ruhr
Tel.: +49-208-306683-00 Fax: +49-208-306683-99
Website: www.global-cl.com
E-mail: info@global-cl.com
CEO
Petros Sioutis
E-mail: p.sioutis@eyepress.de
PUBLISHER
Silke Sage, Efstathios Efthimiadis, Petros Sioutis
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Dipl.-Ing (FH) Silke Sage
E-mail: silke@global-cl.com
TRANSLATIONS
John Saniter, Bopfingen, Germany
EDITORIAL BOARD
Wim Aalbers, Erik Larsen, Eef van der Worp
PRODUCTION & LAYOUT
Efstathios Efthimiadis, Pascal Bruns
DISTRIBUTION
PressUp GmbH, Postbox 70 13 11, D-22013 Hamburg
Tel.: +49-40-386666-308, Fax: +49-40-386666-299
MEDIA CONSULTANT
Pauline Möller
Tel.: +49-208-306683-24
E-mail: pauline@global-cl.com
ADVERTISING AGENT GREAT CHINA
Beijing FOCUS Optics Culture Commnication Co. Ltd.
Room 319, Building 2, Nr. 1, Northbank 1292, Nr. 15 Jianguo Eastroad,
Beijing 100024 (Chaoyang), P.R. China
Mrs. Jian Wang
Tel.: +86-10-8537-6529
Email: jennywang_focus@126.com
Skype: jennywang611
ADVERTISEMENT RATES
Price list No. 14, valid from January 01, 2026
Publication Schedule
3 issues 2026: April, July, November
SUBSCRIPTION COSTS PER YEAR
European Union 80,00 € (plus VAT for German companies), Overseas Seamail 90,00 €, Overseas Airmail
110,00 €, United States Seamail 95,00 €, United States Airmail 125,00 €, Single issue 20,00 € (plus
mailing costs) The Publisher requires three months written notice on cancellation. Subscribers please
note that proof of notice may be required.
BANK DETAILS
Bank account: Sparkasse Aachen
IBAN: DE21 3905 0000 1073 3925 06
SWIFT: AACS DE 33XXX
PRODUCTION & PRINT
Kollin Mediengesellschaft mbh, Neudrossenfeld
The publisher takes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. Please note also that photographs submitted
for use in GlobalCONTACT cannot be returned. The publisher's written permission is required for any reproduction,
translation or recording of material published in GlobalCONTACT, including extracts of such material. Permission
will normally be given, subject to the usual acknowledgement. Copies made of published items must be limited
in number and for personal use only.
PHOTO CREDITS
P.17: aubriella, P.19: Arpatsara, P.20: Leo Visions, P.26: Getty Images, P.43,44: ectrograma, P.18: Rawpixel,
P.19: choreograph, U3: gknowdee
/stock.adobe.com /unsplash.com /istockphoto.com /envato.com
Members of
GlobalCONTACT 1-26
EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF THE
CONTACT LENS AND IOL INDUSTRIES
WORK SMARTER,
BEACH HARDER
LET DAC DO THE HEAVY LIFTING FOR YOU.
Visit DAC International at EFCLIN in Sitges, Spain, April 23rd-25th in Booth #12, to see how
our precision lens manufacturing solutions can elevate your performance. Explore new
technologies with DAC in a relaxed environment.
+1 805 684 9307
www.dac-intl.com
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