Here, CLS presents a guide to the premier event for contact lens-focused continuing education—a four-day opportunity for your practice to refresh and enhance its approach to contact lens care.
Welcome to your guide to the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS), set to take place Jan. 17-20, 2024, at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. Designed by eyecare professionals for ECPs working in the realm of specialty contact lenses—optometrists, ophthalmologists, contact lens fitters, and beyond—the four-day event is packed with hours of accredited education with opportunities to connect with like-minded colleagues focused on employing specialty contact lenses to enhance patient experiences and business outcomes.
Attendees also enjoy access to approximately 50 exhibitors during select hours: 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18; 12-1:30 p.m. and 6:15-7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19; and 12-1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20. Learn more at gslsymposium.com .
Not-to-Miss Education Sessions
GSLS offers hours of accredited education geared toward successfully managing ocular conditions with today’s expansive variety of specialty contact lenses.
Jumpstart your schedule planning with these program highlights:
THURSDAY, JAN. 18
Contact Lens Wear Is Intrinsically Inflammatory: Implications for Specialty Lens Fitting – 8:15-9:15 a.m.
Delivered by Nathan Efron, AC, DSc, PhD, BScOptom, this inaugural keynote address will explore the inherent ocular inflammation resulting from contact lens wear and how that inflammation affects specialty contact lens fitting.
Gas Permeable Lenses: Dead or Alive? – 9:15-10:05 a.m.
Moderated by Loretta Szczotka-Flynn, OD, PhD, the Great Debate 2.0 of GSLS will feature an engaging, interactive discussion between Nathan Efron, AC, DSc, PhD, BScOptom, and Edward S. Bennett, OD, MSEd. These two experts on non-specialty and specialty contact lenses will debate topics including safety, efficacy, comfort, and vision.
Keratoconus: Research of the Past and Clinical Indications for the Future – 3-4:50 p.m.
Moderated by Greg W. DeNaeyer, OD, this lecture will feature Loretta Sczotzka-Flynn, OD; Jan Bergmanson, OD, PhD, DSc; Marta Jimenez Garcia, BEng, OD, PhD; and Jeffrey Sonsino, OD, as they discuss historic, modern, and forward-thinking approaches for detecting and managing keratoconus. Topics will include the CLEK study, pediatric keratoconus, new insights for defining the condition’s progression, and technology’s role in advancing clinical practice for keratoconus management.
FRIDAY, JAN. 19
Navigating Regulatory, Ethical, and FDA Challenges in the Contact Lens – 2:25-4:15 p.m.
Moderated by Craig Norman, a panel comprising Mark Bullimore, PhD; Brett Andre, MS; Katie Gilbert-Spear, OD, JD, MPH; and Ashley Wallace-Tucker, OD, will discuss regulatory and ethical concerns, providing perspectives from a researcher, clinician, attorney, and regulatory specialist.
Contemporary Topics in Specialty Contact Lenses – 4:30-5:20 p.m.
Moderated by Patrick Caroline, a panel comprising five internationally recognized contact lens specialists—Sheila Morrison, OD, MS; Steven Sorkin, OD; Boris Severinsky, OD; Daddi Fadel, DOptom; and Philippe Seira—will discuss topics including pediatric aphakia, ocular suture complications, the use of scleral lenses in special populations, the management of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, and methods for discussing myopia management strategies with patients.
SATURDAY, JAN. 20
Using Technology to Maintain Ocular Health in Scleral Lens Wear – 10:05 a.m. to Noon
Gloria Chiu, OD; Jan Bergmanson, OD, PhD, DSc; Greg W DeNaeyer, OD; and Mile Brujic, OD, will discuss the influence of solutions and materials on scleral lens wear success and its effect on the ocular surface. Attendees will understand how anterior segment OCT can be used to monitor scleral lens fittings and ocular health changes over time, how technology can potentially resolve challenges related to ocular surface changes, and more.
Top Technology to Crack the Myopia Code – 2:45-4:30 p.m.
Moderated by Oliver Woo, OD, a panel comprising four internationally renowned speakers from different disciplines—Vishakha Thakrar, OD; Mark A. Bullimore, PhD; Richard Wu; and Li Lian Foo, MD, FRCOphth, MMed (Ophth)—explores interventions and evidence-based methods for tackling myopia progression and axial length elongation, including insights from their clinical experiences. CLS
Workshops
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17
Scleral Lens Troubleshooting: A Case-Based Walkthrough of the Scleral Fitting Process – 3-5 p.m.
Ashley Wallace Tucker, OD; Elise Kramer, OD; Roxana T. Hemmati, OD; and Matthew Kauffman, OD, will lead a workshop to explore the scleral lens fitting process.
Ortho-k Workshop – 3-5 p.m.
Led by Anith Pillai, OD, and Jennifer Harthan, OD, this workshop will help attendees understand ortho-k design and topography maps with an ortho-k application, including methods to troubleshoot complications.
FRIDAY, JAN. 19
Diagnostics for the Contact Lens Practitioner – 8:05-9:50 a.m.
Shalu Pal, OD, and John Gelles, OD, will lead a workshop that will teach practitioners how to read and use a wide variety of diagnostic tools relevant to contact lens practice. Featured diagnostic technologies will include topography, tomography, and aberrometry.
Conquering Scleral Lens Complications (Spanish + English session) – 8:05-9:50 a.m.
Focused on the growing number of practitioners from Spanish-speaking countries, Karen G Carrasquillo, OD, PhD; Daddi Fadel, DOptom; Norma Cardenas; and Patricia Flores will lead this course to review the causes of potential issues and complications that clinicians can encounter during scleral lens fitting.
MEET THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Jason Nichols, OD, PhD, MPH, executive chair
Karen DeLoss, OD, vice chair
Patrick Caroline
Eef van der Worp, Boptom, PhD
Ashley Wallace-Tucker, OD
