Grand Rapids, MI (January 30, 2023) – Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc., a leading provider of custom contact lenses, in partnership with Contamac, recently awarded a Specialty Contact Lens Student Travel Grant to Janna Pham, BSA, a fourth year optometry student at the University of Houston College of Optometry.
The $750 grant was awarded at the annual Global Specialty Lens Symposium in Las Vegas where Ms. Pham presented a poster she co-authored with Karen Lee, OD. The poster in the Clinical Case Report/Series category was titled: “Highs and Lows: Scleral Lens Fitting on a Patient with Severe Keratoconus and Post Penetrating Keratoplasty.”
In her grant application, Ms. Pham shared that her motivation for the poster arose from the success of her first scleral lens fit where she used the Ampleye® diagnostic lens set to finalize a pair of lenses for a patient with two significantly different corneas.
“This specific, special patient encounter helped me translate the concepts I’ve learned in lecture to real-world experience and helped further my passion for specialty contact lenses,” said Janna. “By going to GSLS and presenting this poster, I hope to spread the information, experience and knowledge to other students and future colleagues,” she continued. Ms. Pham is currently pursuing a Cornea and Contact Lens Residency and looks forward to continuing to learn about specialty lenses and their importance for patients with challenging corneas and atypical vision needs.
As dedicated supporters of optometric education, Art Optical and Contamac encourage students and residents with an interest in specialty contact lenses to consider applying for a travel grant to attend one of the remaining professional contact lens meetings in 2023. Additional qualification details and grant applications can be requested from the Cornea and Contact Lens Chief at each U.S. and Canadian Optometric University or by contacting Art Optical Contact Lens, Inc.
View Janna’s poster Highs and Lows: Scleral Lens Fitting on a Patient with Severe Keratoconus and Post Penetrating Keratoplasty here.