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CCLR changes name to better reflect scope of research
CHICAGO – The Centre for Contact Lens Research at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science announced here at the American Academy of Optometry meeting that its name will change to Centre for Ocular Research and Education in January 2018.
Center director Lyndon Jones, PhD, FCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA, announced the name change and rationale behind it at an academy-sponsored press conference. He also spoke about it to Primary Care Optometry News.
The Centre for Contact Lens Research (CCLR) focused on contact lens clinical trials when it was established 30 years ago. As of 5 or 6 years ago, the name no longer reflected what the CCLR was doing, Jones told PCON.
Fifty percent of the research conducted is basic science he said, and the center has also been involved in education and publishing. He said the group is working more with pharmaceutical companies, in the digital space, developing diagnostic instrumentation for its own trials and pharmaceutical agents for treating dry eye.
“We feel the new name reflects what we’ve done for many years,” Jones said. “We are not walking away from contact lens clinical trials. That will continue to be an important focus.”
The Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE) will focus on three primary areas: biosciences, clinical research and education, Jones said at the press conference.
He told PCON that the clinical research would encompass contact lenses, dry eye and myopia control; biosciences would focus on materials development; and education would target doctors and students.
Jones said CORE will expand its contact lens research.
“The last big change in contact lenses was silicone hydrogels in the 1990s,” he said. “Now that we have daily disposable silicone hydrogels, we’re at a crossroads for the next big thing.”
Myopia control is one of those new areas, in addition to drug delivery.
“Can we do this with current materials?” Jones said. “Do we need to develop novel materials?”
They will also look at using contact lenses as diagnostic devices for glucose sensing, detecting inflammatory or cancer markers on the ocular surface, and indicating ovulation.
“This is an opportunity for contact lenses to provide information,” he said.
The digital technology space will also be explored, including magnification for low vision patients, accommodation and heads-up displays.
“We had a big involvement in the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop II,” Jones said. “There’s a large body of evidence missing. We know how to diagnose dry eye and characterize it, but no idea how to map treatments to them. We need to develop more evidence on appropriate management.”
In conjunction with the name change announcement, the center commissioned Los Angeles-based artist John Park to co-create a 12-foot by 8-foot acrylic mural in the exhibit hall during the meeting to depict the complexity and potential of the eye and sight, according to a press release from CORE. Attendees will have the opportunity to add to the mural, which Park will complete on the last day of exhibits.
a reminder that we’ve only come to where we are due to collaboration,” Jones told PCON. “This is an opportunity to make a brushstroke on something that lives in perpetuity.”
The final product will be displayed at the Canadian school receptions Friday evening and permanently installed at the CORE headquarters in Waterloo.
The official CORE name change will occur after ratification by the University of Waterloo Board of Governors, according to the press release. – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS, FAAO
Disclosure: Jones is director of the CCLR/CORE.