The Toric Opportunity and International Prescribing Trends

Prof. Morgan will discuss his work in the International Contact Lens Prescribing Trends report with a specific emphasis on the Asia region. The benefits of correcting low astigmatism and the toric contact lens opportunity will also be discussed. Philip Morgan is Professor of Optometry, Head of Optometry, Deputy Head of the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, and Director of Eurolens Research at The University of Manchester. He is also Adjunct Professor at UNSW Sydney. His main research interests relate to the clinical performance of contact lenses and he teaches on the same subject area at undergraduate and postgraduate level. He has managed an annual international survey of contact lens prescribing trends since 1996. Philip is President of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators and Past President of both the Manchester Statistical Society and the International Society for Contact Lens Research. He is an honorary member of the UK Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the British Contact Lens Association, and a member of the UK College of Optometrists. Philip was the BCLA Medallist in 2014, BCLA Pioneer’s Lecturer in 2015 and the winner of the 2019 Max Schapero Award of the American Academy of Optometry. He is a past chairman and secretary of the Northern Optometric Society in Manchester. He has authored over 200 papers, primarily relating to the clinical performance of contact lenses and the nature of the UK and international contact lens markets, and has spoken about his work in more than 30 countries worldwide.

Impact of Toric Contact Lens Correction upon Near Visual Performance with Digital Devices

Prof. Scott Read recently published his research in CLAE 2025 Apr 10:102415 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40210522/) on the impact of toric contact lens correctional and their effects on real-world visual performance measures using digital devices. The key findings and clinical endpoints in this study will be presented. Scott Read is a Professor of Optometry and Vision Science at the Queensland University of Technology, with over 20 years’ experience in vision research. The primary focus of his research has been to better understand the ocular and environmental factors underlying refractive errors including myopia and astigmatism. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in ocular imaging and refractive error research and has been awarded the “Zeiss Young Investigator Award in Myopia Research” for his distinguished contributions to the myopia research field. In his career to date, Professor Read has authored over 150 peer reviewed research publications and has been awarded, in excess of $4 million in research funding from a variety of sources. Scott has been a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry since 2012. He has also been an Associate Editor and Editorial Board Member for Clinical and Experimental Optometry and is currently an Editorial Board Member for Optometry and Vision Science.

Why Astigmatism Correction Matters

Helen Gleave will present the science behind toric soft contact lens designs and how this interacts with the ocular surface. The patient benefits of correcting low astigmatism will also be reinforced and summarised as key take aways for practitioners to implement in their practice. Helen Gleave BScOpt(Hons) MCOptom is the Senior Professional Education & Development Manager for Alcon Australia and New Zealand. She is responsible for training and education programs in contact lenses, contact lens care and dry eye, including Alcon Dry Eye Academy and Dry Eye Academy Online. Ms Gleave has delivered education to a broad range of audiences, spoken at numerous optometry conferences, educational events and webinars across Australia and New Zealand. She qualified as an optometrist from City University in London and owned a practice focused on contact lenses for 15 years. During this time, she developed a special interest in contact lenses and the business of optometry. Through her practice she has been a clinical investigator for different contact lens manufacturers and a member of their advisory panels.