ABB OPTICAL GROUP AND PARAGON VISION SCIENCES ANNOUNCE SECOND ANNUAL OPTOMETRY STUDENT CHALLENGE
Third and fourth-year students eligible to present scientific poster at 2018 Global Specialty Lens Symposium
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (May 16, 2017) – Following the success of the inaugural Optometry Student Challenge, ABB OPTICAL GROUP, in partnership with Paragon Vision Sciences, announced it is accepting abstracts for its 2017-2018 program.
The Optometry Student Challenge will award travel grants of $1,500 each to three third or fourth-year students to attend the 2018 Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) and present a scientific poster on a topic related to contact lenses.
“The response to our inaugural Optometry Student Challenge program last year was tremendous,” said Ann Shackelford, director of consultation and specialty services at ABB OPTICAL GROUP. “It was so encouraging to see the next generation of optometrists engaged and really step up and produce some outstanding presentations. I have no doubt that this year’s Optometry Student Challenge will once again exceed our expectations and further inspire the study of contact lenses.”
Program Rules
Third and fourth-year students who are interested in participating must register by Wednesday, June 16. Registered students must then submit an abstract on their proposed poster topic by Tuesday, October 31.
Abstracts must focus on study projects or student-based case histories related to contact lenses. Topics can include, but are not limited to, contact lens applications for presbyopia, keratoconus, corneal topography, post penetrating keratoplasty or related irregular corneal surface, myopia control, lens care/solutions, and orthokeratology.
Abstracts will be judged in two categories: case study report and research. Five finalists will be selected and notified by Tuesday, November 17.
The finalists will then be required to convert their abstracts into scientific posters for further judging. The posters must be submitted in digital, PDF format to ABB OPTICAL GROUP no later than Thursday, November 30. Only digital files will be accepted.
Judges will then select the top three posters by December 5.
The lead authors of the top three posters will be awarded travel grants of $1,500 each to attend the symposium and present their posters. The cost of their conference registration will be covered, as well. Additionally, the two runner-ups will receive honorable mention prizes of $250 each.
“ABB OPTICAL GROUP does an exceptional job of producing educational programs that support optometry students and the optometry industry as a whole,” said Paragon Vision Sciences President, Rich Jeffries. “We are honored to be partnering with them again and look forward to the remarkable results of this year’s challenge.”
The 2018 Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) will be held January 25-28 in Las Vegas.
For more information on the Optometry Student Challenge, including full contest rules and guidelines, visit ABBOptical.com/OptometryStudentChallenge.
ABOUT ABB OPTICAL GROUP
ABB OPTICAL GROUP is a leading distributor of optical products in the United States. The company supplies nearly two-thirds of eye care professionals across the country with brand name contact lenses, fully customizable gas permeable and custom specialty soft contact lenses, ophthalmic lenses and more. The company's Digital Eye Lab is a fully automated optical lab dedicated to freeform digital lens fabrication. ABB OPTICAL GROUP also offers practice building services such as pricing strategy tools, business reviews, annual supply staff training and e-commerce solutions. For additional information, visit ABBOptical.com.