Feature

Director's Message March 2024

Spring has sprung and with it a renewed enthusiasm for new growth and exciting opportunities in 2024. First and foremost, we’re excited that the day is truly arriving for the groundbreaking of the Waterloo Eye Institute! Our moonshot project has arrived to create a national centre of excellence to support education, research, patient care access, and community impact.

Groundbreaking and Alumni Weekend announcement

You’re invited for a celebratory weekend at the School! Alumni CE Weekend offers a golden opportunity for optometrists to enrich their knowledge and skills with 12 hours of continuing education (CE) credits while reconnecting with former classmates and colleagues in Waterloo. Our esteemed faculty and guest speakers will delve into cutting-edge advancements and best practices, ensuring attendees stay at the forefront of their profession. As part of this momentous occasion, we are thrilled to announce the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Waterloo Eye Institute on Friday June 7, 2024. This groundbreaking marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in our school's history—a chapter dedicated to advancing eye care, research and education.

Seeing more with advanced eye imaging

New School of Optometry & Vision Science research centre poised to make advancements in understanding diseases and conditions of the eye and beyond

A new research centre at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science aims to use advanced eye imaging to make breakthroughs in better understanding, diagnosing and treating eye conditions and diseases. It also aims to use the eye's unique properties to find biomarkers that could aid interdisciplinary teams in the early identification of systemic disease.

Alumni Spotlight: Robert Lidkea

Stepping away from a 72-year career

Dr. Robert Lidkea has been first in a lot of areas, starting when he forced a tuxedo-clad doctor to leave a New Year’s party to deliver him in North Bay. He was the hospital’s first baby of 1931. Recently, however, he gave up on being last – the oldest practicing optometrist in Ontario. He turned 93 the day he retired from his practice in Fort Frances, Ontario.

Upcoming events

2024 has started off with a welcomed flurry of events at the School and in our community. Here are few you won't want to miss!

Contact Lens Prescribing Survey

For the past 20 years Canadian optometrists have participated in an annual, worldwide study to investigate the current state of contact lens prescribing. The Center for Ocular Research & Education at the University of Waterloo collaborates with the University of Manchester (UK) to investigate the current state of contact lens prescribing in their respective countries. The benefit of the survey is to enable practitioners to gain an understanding of current contact lens prescribing trends in Canada as well as other countries worldwide. In the past, paper surveys were mailed to practitioners throughout Canada. This year we are moving to a different format.

Class notes

In this section of the Insight alumni newsletter, we invite you to share your personal updates with other Optometry & Vision Science alumni, up to a maximum of 100 words, with an optional photo. We’d all love to hear about your weddings, babies, retirements, achievements, milestones and anything else you’d like to share.

Director's Message December 2023

As the end of the year approaches, Dr. Stan Woo looks back and celebrates the School of Optometry and Vision Science’s achievements, including on Giving Tuesday. He also highlights recognition for students as well as for researchers Drs. William Ngo and Lyndon Jones. He then looks forward to the year ahead with an invitation to Alumni Weekend and highlights a new feature – Class Notes.

A model for northern eye care

The School collaborated with the Churchill Health Centre (CHC), the Manitoba Association of Optometrists and an anonymous donor to set up a state-of-the-art optometry lane at the CHC. Crucially, the equipment will remain in northern Manitoba to make it easier for optometrists to serve northern and remote communities, while the teleoptometry capabilities of the new equipment will enable follow-up care between visits.

When optometry runs in the family

Our latest alumni spotlight highlights the mother-daughter pair of Jenna Braham (OD ’23) and Manon Hapke (OD ‘91), both proud Waterloo grads and Ottawa-based optometrists. Both were influenced by seeing how older optometrists balanced work and family life while caring for their patients. The pair also reflect on how optometric education has evolved over time.

Advanced procedures

Registration is opening soon for the COPE-accredited Advanced Procedures Certificate Course, where you can enhance your knowledge and skills in laser procedures commonly used to treat anterior segment disease and minor surgical procedures commonly used for eyelid lesions. The course includes online modules, live virtual lectures and hands-on workshops in Waterloo.

Working to prevent dry eye disease

Dr. William Ngo has received an NSERC Discovery Grant to help enable his fundamental research on better understanding cellular aging at the front of the eye, how aging is linked to inflammation in the eye, and using bioinformatics techniques with the aim of discovering novel compounds that might modulate aging and inflammation and thus prevent dry eye disease.

Class notes

In this new section of the Insight alumni newsletter, we invite you to share your personal updates with other Optometry & Vision Science alumni, up to a maximum of 100 words, with an optional photo. To start us off, we have gathered publicly available information about our alumni, but for next time, we look forward to hearing about your weddings, babies, retirements, achievements, milestones and anything else you’d like to share.

Director's Message

With plenty going on at the start of a new academic year, Director Stan Woo shares his thoughts on developments for the Waterloo Eye Institute, research and continuing education highlights, and how you can help the School of Optometry & Vision Science pull off a hat trick on Giving Tuesday 2023.

Waterloo Eye Institute to become a reality

It felt at first like a moonshot, but after years of planning, two leadership gifts are helping us make the Waterloo Eye Institute a reality. Contributions totaling $8.5 million from vision care providers FYidoctors and IRIS have helped us raise enough funds to put shovels in the ground in 2024.

Research Spotlight: Adaptive optics and ocular imaging

With a background in physics and vision science, Dr. Jennifer Hunter has developed a non-invasive way of looking at cell layers in the retina to measure biomarkers of disease. Her goal is to apply her research to patients in the early stages of disease and prevent vision loss.

Alumni Spotlight: Joshua Smith (OD ’13)

Josh Smith (OD ’13) went from being worried he'd be the oldest student at the School of Optometry & Vision Science to being class president and winning the Coreal Cup. Catch up with what's he's been doing in the decade since as an Eastern Ontario-based clinician, leader, volunteer and donor.

Waterloo Eye Institute Annual Fall Conference and Trade Show

We hope you’ll be able to join us for this annual event, presented in collaboration with the Ontario Association of Optometrists. It will feature lectures by the 2023 Bobier and Woodruff Distinguished Lecture award honourees, Dr. Trefford Simpson and Dr. Chi-ho To. This year’s event theme is therapeutic prescribing agents.

Director's Message

Director Stan Woo highlights the historic deal reached by the OHIP negotiation committee to allow for the final design and construction tender for the Waterloo Eye Institute. Along with more highlights, click here to view the Director’s full message.

The return of the Corneal Cup

The yearly Corneal Cup has been won once again! The Unicorneas, on a dominant run during this year’s annual optometry hockey tournament, edged out a victory against the Trisceleratops in the finals of the tournament.

Representing the human side of aviation sustainability

The aviation industry presents a vastly complicated set of problems, with many requiring solutions that delve into multiple disciplines at once. The new Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) aims to help solve these problems with its interdisciplinary approach. Dr Elizabeth Irving, a professor from The School of Optometry and Vision Science has recently joined the team to represent the human aspects of aviation sustainability, with a primary focus on the shortage of pilots as well as the quality of their training.

Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH): New directions

Canada’s student chapter of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) have cautiously begun organizing eye care clinics following the pandemic, and there are exciting new directions in the works as they seek to provide more sustainable support to remote communities around the world.

Finding love in Optometry

After meeting in their first year at the school of Optometry, Drs Michelle Georgi and Scott Mundle would dedicate their lives to not only each other, but to the field of Optometry. From graduating in 1983 and moving to British Columbia to start practices, to traveling to Northern Manitoba to provide care to remote Indigenous communities. Find out more in this article about the journey Michelle and Scott have been on since they first met all those years ago.

UWaterloo Optometry “Wins” Big on Giving Tuesday 2022

This past Giving Tuesday was one for the history books. The School of Optometry and Vision Science was the "little department that could" as alumni and friends came together to support the Waterloo Eye Institute (WEI), taking the title of the Most Donors and Most Dollars challenges!

Dr. Marta Witer (OD ’79) and the Ihnatowycz Family Foundation encourage fellow optometrists to come together for a great cause

We are excited to announce that from now until October 15, 2023, Dr. Marta Witer and the Ihnatowycz Family Foundation are making a pledge to match all donations made by optometrists across Canada and the US, dollar for dollar - up to $1 million! These gifts will go towards the School of Optometry and Vision Science’s Seeing Beyond 2020 campaign to help fund the Waterloo Eye Institute (WEI).

Brain stimulation improves reading ability in macular degeneration patients

A new study is the first to show brain stimulation improves reading in patients with macular degeneration.

Drug treatments only slow down the progression of the disease, but Waterloo scientists discovered they could train the brain to use the information it receives more efficiently.

Alumni Spotlight: Class of 1991

Classmates give back to the Seeing Beyond 2020 Campaign, bringing benefits to Canada and beyond

We recently caught up with former classmates, Susan, “Sue” Beaton (OD 91’), Patricia, “Trish” Campbell (OD 91’) and Andrea Mierzynski (OD 91’) and asked them to reflect on their experience as Optometry students, and why they choose to work with us as class rep volunteers for the Seeing Beyond 2020 campaign.

Director’s Message

Director Stanley Woo shares a few School updates over the Winter Term – including some continuing education tidbits and news on the Waterloo Eye Institute’s ground-breaking!

Exercise can provide relief for dry, itchy eyes

A new study from the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science discovered that a significant increase in tear secretion and tear film stability after participating in aerobic exercise can be another remedy for relieving dry, itchy eyes.

Delivering sight-saving drugs better, for longer

Researchers at Waterloo’s Centre for Eye and Vision Research are developing new technologies to improve drug time and efficiency.

Alberta Association of Optometrists invests in the profession’s future

A recent gift from the AAO is supporting initiatives that advance the profession to ensure Canadian optometrists can be trained at the highest scope of practice in North America – both presently and in the future.

Celebrating Dr. Kenneth Hadley

In December, Dr. Hadley retired after four decades at the University of Waterloo.

Achieving her childhood dream

Meet Allison Binnie, Class of 2021

For Dr. Allison Binnie (OD’21), achieving her Doctor of Optometry degree was a full-circle moment after an ambitious prediction in her Grade 8 yearbook.

Turning your ZEISS Partner Points into impact

Thanks to a new partnership with ZEISS Canada, you can now take advantage of another way to support of the Waterloo Eye Institute – by contributing your ZEISS Partner Points!

Reducing human error for passenger safety

Interdisciplinary research members of Waterloo’s new Institute for Sustainable Aviation will examine pilot error to strengthen training practices

As a member of the new Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics interdisciplinary research team, UWOVS’ Dr. Elizabeth Irving is investigating the interaction of vision with flight training to establish evidence-based vision qualifications for pilots.

Giving thanks by giving back

A grateful patient shows his appreciation for a Waterloo optometry alumnus Dr. Stelios Nikolakakis (OD’96) with the establishment of a new scholarship award.

Director's Message

Director Stanley Woo shares what’s new at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science.

Canadian optometrists step up for students amidst pandemic uncertainty

Waterloo Optometry students affected by the American border closure were able to pivot quickly to Canadian clerkship sites thanks to the support of clinics like Aurora Eye Care!

Just add light

Applying UV light to common disinfectants makes them safer to use, says a new study from the School of Optometry & Vision Science.

Paying tribute to Dr. Gina Sorbara and Dr. Dorrie Morrow

Respected across the profession, both women are remembered for their dedication to optometry

It is with heavy hearts that the School continues to grieve the passing of beloved professor Dr. Gina Sorbara (OD’77, MSc’93) in February 2021; and alum Dr. Dorrie Morrow (OD’80) in December 2020. As many in our alumni community know, both women leave behind their indelible marks on the optometry profession. The School is honoured to establish two tribute initiatives in their memory, both of which will reflect the dedication they showed to their respective fields of passion in optometry.

Focused on the profession’s future

Q + A with Waterloo alumnus Dr. Henry Smit (OD '79)

A fulfilling career in optometry inspired Dr. Henry and Mrs. Jill Smit to give back to ensure the advancement of their beloved profession.

Director's Message

Happy New Year to you! I hope you have been able to remain safe as much as possible by spending time at home with your families, your pets, and your laptops. With the winter term underway at the School, our faculty continue to deliver lectures virtually. Our third- and fourth-year students are still regularly seeing patients in clinic while abiding by all public health guidelines. Students are heavily utilizing the WOVS FYidoctors Simulation Lab to augment their clinical learning, and we’re delighted to report that the latest posterior fundus modules for the slit lamps just shipped from Germany. In this newsletter, you will learn more about the newest addition to our lab.

Introducing the newest addition to WOVS simulation lab

With the arrival of the EyeSi slit lamp simulators from VRMagic, phase two of the Simulation Lab is now underway!

Q + A with first-year class president Aisa Dobie

For new students at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, the fall term was an unprecedented introduction to their degree. First-year student president Aisa Dobie joined us to share her insight on what that experience was like!

Building momentum: the Waterloo Eye Institute

Thanks to the generous support of our donors and the vision of the profession, the School of Optometry and Vision Science is moving closer to breaking ground on the Waterloo Eye Institute (WEI).

Celebrating Dr. Susan Leat

After more than thirty years at Waterloo, Dr. Susan Leat retired from the School’s faculty in December. Join us for a walk down memory lane as we celebrate Dr. Leat’s legacy!

Director's Message

Director Stanley Woo shares how the School has responded to the pandemic and what’s in store for the coming year.

Teaching during a pandemic: How the School is adapting

Fall 2020 promises to be an academic term unlike any other. Dr. Natalie Hutchings explains what optometric education will look like for our students this year.

Celebrating Dr. Gina Sorbara

The internationally recognized contact lens educator is retiring after more than 40 years of service to optometry

As Dr. Gina Sorbara wraps up her distinguished career, colleagues and former students share their favourite memories of this dedicated educator, mentor and friend.

Misinformation about online eyewear purchases shows the need for education

By opting for online purchases, consumers may be missing out on preventative eye care—and putting their vision at risk.