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Applications open for the 2026 IACLE Awards

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Applications open for the 2026 IACLE Awards

 

 

Pictured l-r: Professor Lyndon Jones, Professor Renée Reeder, Professor Doris Rivadineira, Dr Raquel Gil-Cazorla, Professor Philip Morgan.

 

Four contact lens educators from around the world will have the opportunity to attend major international meetings in 2026 as recipients of the IACLE Awards.

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 honour educators who inspire excellence in teaching and practice around the world.

Three IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards will be presented, one from each of IACLE’s global regions:

 

  • 2026 IACLE Americas Contact Lens Educator of the Year
  • 2026 IACLE Asia Pacific Contact Lens Educator of the Year
  • 2026 IACLE Europe / Africa / Middle East Contact Lens Educator of the Year

 

Each recipient will receive a bursary of up to US$3,000 towards 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 (8-9 March 2026).

IACLE Travel Award

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

Both the IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards and the IACLE Travel Award are funded by IACLE through the generous 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 Wednesday 19 November.

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

Eligibility and applications

The IACLE Awards are open to all contact lens educators who have been active IACLE members for at least three years. Educators may either apply themselves or be nominated by another educator or IACLE colleague. Applicants should demonstrate:

 

  • Use of IACLE resources
  • Engagement with IACLE activities
  • Impact on their institution
  • How they inspire students to become future contact lens practitioners

 

Message from the IACLE President

IACLE President Professor Philip Morgan commented, ‘It’s a pleasure to invite applications for the 2026 IACLE Awards. This year’s Educators of the Year and Travel Award winner will be recognised for their remarkable achievements, with the chance to attend international meetings and come together for a special celebration at the NCC. I encourage members to submit nominations for themselves or colleagues deserving of this recognition. IACLE extends sincere appreciation to our industry partners – Alcon, CooperVision, Johnson & Johnson, Bausch + Lomb, Ophtecs, Menicon, SEED, ZEISS and Euclid – for their continued support.’

Entries for the Contact Lens Educator of the Year Award must be submitted using the application form here and the Travel Award here. To nominate a fellow educator, entries must be submitted using the form here.

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