JCM Webinar | State-of-the-Art Management of Eye Diseases with Scleral Lenses
the chair
26th JCM Webinar
State-of-the-Art Management of Eye Diseases with Scleral Lenses
Scleral lenses have become a popular treatment modality, most commonly for irregular astigmatism but also for ocular surface disease. These lenses allow patients to improve their vision while often delaying the need for corneal transplants for diseases such as keratoconus. Scleral lenses also function to protect the cornea and conjunctiva in patients with ocular surface disease, thus allowing patients to regain eye comfort and maintain daily activities.
Scleral lenses are more readily available to providers with a variety of fitting sets and designs available. However, as with any medical device, scleral lenses need to be fit properly to function well and maintain the health of the ocular surface. A poorly fit lens and unrecognized or untreated ocular disease could lead to visual complications.
Join scleral lens experts to learn which patients benefit most from scleral lenses. Learn how the lens interacts with the ocular surface, what ocular complications may be common in lens wear, and the potential scleral lenses may have in the future to further refine vision.
Date: 17 September, 2025
Time: 8:00 p.m. EDT
Webinar ID: 831 6932 8423
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Meet the Event Chair
Meet Our Speakers
Dr. Gloria B. Chiu
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA;
Gloria B Chiu, OD, FAAO, FSLS
Dr. Chiu is an Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the USC Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. She received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Optometry, and completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at the Southern California College of Optometry, where she still serves as an adjunct faculty member.
Her clinical interests include contact lens fittings and treatment for patients with ocular surface disease and irregular corneas. Her research interests include microbial contamination in contact lens-related solutions and effects of scleral lens wear on the ocular surface and optic nerve. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the Scleral Lens Education Society, a member of the California Optometric Association, and serves on the Board of Directors at the Dry Eye Foundation. She was named one of America’s Best Eye Doctors by Newsweek and GP Practitioner of the Year by the Gas Permeable Lens Institute.
Prof. Dr. Stephen J. Vincent
Centre for Vision and Eye Research, Queensland University of Technology, Australia;
Professor Vincent is the Director of the Centre for Vision and Eye Research at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. His research focuses on visual optics, myopia, and specialty contact lenses. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, the British Contact Lens Association, the Scleral Lens Education Society, the Australian College of Optometry, and the Higher Education Academy. Steve is a Visiting Professor of the West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, and serves as an Associate Editor of Contact Lens and Anterior Eye.
Dr. Maria K. Walker
University of Houston College of Optometry, USA;
Maria Walker is a clinician scientist at the University of Houston College of Optometry (UHCO) with a lab focusing on scleral lens and keratoconus research. She received an OD and MS degree from The New England College of Optometry in 2013 and completed a one-year Cornea and Contact Lens Residency at Pacific University in Oregon. She then completed a PhD in physiological optics at UHCO with a dissertation entitled, “The Impact of a Scleral Lens on the Eye”. Dr. Walker is currently a tenure-tracked assistant professor at UHCO, where she teaches the didactic contact lens course, is a clinical attending in the cornea and contact lens service, and spends the remainder of her time on translational research projects, including evaluating outcomes with scleral lenses.
Dr. Jason D. Marsack
College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, USA;
Jason Marsack is a scientist/engineer with a passion for teaching and a strong interest in applied and translational research. His laboratory at The University of Houston, College of Optometry, focuses on developing and translating optical correction strategies for eyes with poor visual quality to the clinical environment and investigating the relationship between optical quality and visual performance. Dr. Marsack teaches geometric optics to students in the optometry professional program, and advanced optical topics to students in the physiological optics program, and he mentors students seeking M.S. and/or Ph.D. degrees.
Sponsors and Partners
Organizer
Scleral lenses are specialty contact lenses that are most often used for patients with corneal irregularity or severe ocular surface disease. This webinar reviews the prevalence of scleral lens fitters, specific indications for scleral lens wear, and implications of scleral lens wear on the ocular surface. The potential to correct for higher-order visual aberrations with a scleral lens is also presented.
The webinar was hosted via Zoom and required registation to attend. The full recording can be found below. In order to learn about future webinars, you can sign up to our newsletter by clicking "Subscribe" at the top of the page.
The Role of Scleral Lenses in the Management of Eye Disease
Edited by Dr. Cherie B. Nau