Nicole Edwards, Manager Consultation & Customer Service, Bausch + Lomb
Title: The Ins and Outs of Advanced Scleral Fitting 

Description: Scleral lenses have improved the lives of patients and enriched the lives of practitioners who fit them. 
This course will cover the scleral lens fitting process as well as lens evaluation and troubleshooting scleral lens fits.
Dual Sag lenses, Toric multifocal, and using Micro Vaults/Notches will also be discussed.

Michael Gatti, Sr. Mgr. Professional Engagement, HOYA Vision Care
Title: Vision Beyond Vision

Description: Experience examples of real-world magic that expose the unseen forces guiding your decisions and patient interactions. You’ll discover how awareness of your own perception can transform the patient’s experience, build trust, and elevate your recommendations. Expect to leave with a new perspective on how you think, lead, and connect.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate how easily perception can be influenced
• Describe cognitive and emotional biases
• Integrate bias awareness into daily practice

Kelli Koenigsberg, Director of Education, Walman Optical
Title: Delivering 5-Star Eyecare: How to Turn Satisfied Patients into Raving Fans

Description: In today’s competitive eyecare landscape, great service isn’t enough—it’s the experience that sets your practice apart. This course explores how to transform everyday patient interactions into moments that inspire loyalty, trust, and enthusiastic referrals.

You will learn proven communication techniques, customer service principles, and team strategies that elevate the patient journey from good to exceptional.

Walk away with tools to strengthen relationships, enhance satisfaction, and create true fans of your practice. 


These are 3 of the 9 courses that are exclusive to OptiCon for 2026

• All exclusive courses will be offered two times to ensure you have an opportunity to attend.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity!

​Join UOA June 25-27 when Opticians from around the nation will converge on Chicago to learn together, play together and explore together!
Day 1 Educators, Innovators & Explorers presented by MEI systems

And Our Home Town Sponsor, Europa, has some fun surprises in store for us during our 3 days together.​

Take advantage of our Member's Only Early Access pricing and register today! You don't want to miss this!

"Vision for Growth: Consumer Perspectives on Opticianry & Contact Lens Success"
Exclusive to OptiCon ’26, Contact Lens Institute will unveil findings of its latest See Tomorrow research, which, for the first time, is focused on opticianry.

You will:

• See how increased soft contact lens adoption offers high potential for practice and patient success
• Discover opportunities “hidden in plain sight” that can fuel customer loyalty, business upside, and optimal vision across all stages of life
• Learn how U.S. contact lens wearers perceive opticians’ roles within the ecosystem of care and support
• Celebrate the profession’s vital contact lens role from an All-star panel that will identify occasions for consumer and ophthalmic peer education, and recognition.

9 Exclusive Courses – Available Only at Vison Expo!
These 9 courses are exclusive to Opticon for 2026

• Not be available anywhere else for one year.
• All 9 courses will be offered two times to ensure you have an opportunity to attend.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity!
​
Register Today!

ABO & NCLE Announces Education Partnership with GSLS to Provide Continuing Education Lexington, KY — The American Board of Opticianry & National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO & NCLE) is pleased to announce a new educational partnership with the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) to offer NCLE-approved continuing education beginning in January 2026.

GSLS is a widely respected international meeting drawing contact lens professionals from around the world. The meeting offers evidence-based lectures, interactive workshops, hands-on training, scientific papers, poster presentations, and industry-leading exhibits. It provides a collaborative environment where optometrists, contact lens fitters, researchers, and industry innovators come together to share best practices and explore emerging technologies.

ABO & NCLE recognizes the ongoing demand among certified fitters and specialty contact lens practitioners for accessible, high-quality advanced education aligned with national certification standards. This partnership with GSLS represents one of several avenues through which ABO & NCLE supports continuing education opportunities for certified vision care professionals across the country.

To launch the partnership, GSLS will provide NCLE-approved continuing education hours for all general sessions in 2026, with eight hours approved for credit. This collaboration creates an additional pathway for opticians, contact lens fitters, and other eye care professionals to obtain advanced-level education during a well-established professional event. Both organizations share an interest in promoting ongoing learning, strengthening clinical practice, and supporting the professional growth of those involved in specialty contact lens care.

“For practitioners dedicated to specialty contact lens care, GSLS has long offered valuable educational opportunities,” said Nicole McGinnis, Executive Director of ABO & NCLE. “We are pleased to partner with GSLS as one of several platforms where our certificants can access the advanced education they seek as they pursue professional growth through certification and Master-level designations.”

The 2026 GSLS conference will take place January 7–10, 2026, at Paris Las Vegas, Nevada.

About ABO & NCLE
ABO & NCLE is the national certifying body for opticians and contact lens practitioners, dedicated to establishing and upholding standards for safe, high-quality vision care through examination, certification, and continuing education. Website: https://www.abo-ncle.org
​
About GSLS
The Global Specialty Lens Symposium is an international conference focused on specialty contact lenses and ocular surface management. GSLS provides a range of clinical education
offerings, hands-on workshops, scientific research forums, and an extensive exhibit hall for specialty lens professionals.
Website: https://gslsymposium.com

ABO-Advanced Exam Prep: Next Level Optics
Take your optics to the next level!
Our partners at Optical Training Institute (OTI) have launched ABO-Advanced Exam Prep: Next Level Optics, an all-online and self-paced course!

Already ABO certified and ready for the next step? Or know someone who is?
Optical Training Institute’s newest course, ABO-Advanced Exam Prep: Next Level Optics, is designed to help experienced opticians master advanced optical concepts and prepare for the ABO Advanced Certification Exam (ABO-AC) with confidence.

This all-digital course provides the structure, tools, and study resources to make complex topics clear and practical, all while letting you learn at your own pace.

What You’ll Gain

• 400+ advanced-level practice questions
• Detailed practice worksheets and study guides
• Real-world case studies and a final exam built to prepare you for the ABO-AC exam
• 1-year unlimited access with a flexible, self-paced format

Why Opticians Love It

• Designed specifically for experienced opticians preparing for the next level of certification
• Interactive, practical, and built around real-world applications
• 10–12 week average completion time for working professionals
• An optional printed textbook add-on for working through practice problems by hand

Note – The information shared here is provided by Optical Training Institute, and reflects their products, services, and/or perspectives. While the United Opticians Association (UOA) values our industry partnership, inclusion of this content does not imply endorsement and/or recommendation by the UOA.
CLICK HERE to Explore ABO-Advanced Exam Prep

Flexible Access for Individuals and TeamsChoose an individual enrollment for personal advancement or contact OTI for group options to help your entire practice reach the next level of certification.

Individual Enrollment: $249
Optional Printed Textbook Add-On: +$50