SAN RAMON, Calif.—To support the education of future cornea and contact lens experts, CooperVision Inc. provided an educational grant to the American Optometric Association (AOA) for its 7th annual Cornea and Contact Lens Residency Forum. The forum was held recently in St. Louis, according to an announcement. The theme of the Residency Forum was “Where Contact Lens Leaders Meet.” Workshop topics included networking, how to maximize one’s residency and career, the importance of advocacy, and how and when to utilize consultants.

Contact lens-focused topics included the next generation of contact lens fitting, dry eye and contact lenses, how to grow a successful contact lens practice, and more, according to the announcement. Speakers included leaders from the Cornea and Contact Lens Section of the AOA and alumni of the Residency Forum.

The three-day event also featured a tour of AOA headquarters and a series of contact lens fitting labs at Koetting Eye Center, one of CooperVision’s 2018 Best Practices honorees. The Cornea and Contact Lens Residency Forum aims to help residents learn valuable skills that will propel their careers and result in rewarding professional opportunities, both during their residency programs and in the years to come, according to CooperVision’s announcement.

“CooperVision is a long-time partner of the AOA to facilitate the education and collaboration offered at this annual Residency Forum,” Michele Andrews, OD, senior director of professional and academic affairs at CooperVision, said in the announcement. “It is a privilege to be in the presence of new residents, take an active role in their learning, and bear witness to their enthusiasm for this area of optometry. We look forward to seeing how they progress through their careers.”