The International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) invites contact lens educators worldwide to apply for the IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards and the IACLE Travel Award. These annual accolades celebrate exceptional contributions to contact lens education and honor educators who inspire excellence in teaching and practice around the world.

Three IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards will be presented, 1 from each of IACLE’s global regions: Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe/Africa/Middle East. Each recipient will receive a bursary of up to $3,000 toward the cost of attending an international meeting of their choice, along with permission to use the title 2026 IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year for their region. While winners may choose the international meeting they wish to attend, IACLE will host a formal awards celebration during the Netherlands Contact Lens Congress (NCC) in Veldhoven, the Netherlands (March 8-9, 2026).

The IACLE Travel Award provides a bursary of up to $3,000, enabling 1 educator to attend a national, regional or international meeting in 2026 (to be agreed by the IACLE executive board).

Both the awards are funded by IACLE through the support of its industry partners: Gold Partner Alcon; Silver Partners CooperVision and Johnson & Johnson; Bronze Partners Bausch + Lomb, Ophtecs, Menicon, SEED, and ZEISS; and Steel Partner Euclid.

Nominations for the IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards close at midnight (EST) on November 19. Applications for both the Educator of the Year and Travel awards close at midnight (EST) on November 26.