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Two Australian optometrists, Dr Kate Gifford and Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton, have brought their expertise to the forefront of the international optometry community at the 2025 Global Speciality Lens Symposium (GSLS).
Held in Las Vegas, the GSLS is a global contact lens conference that brings together delegates worldwide.
At the conference, Dr Gifford, a former President of Optometry Australia and co-founder of the highly regarded myopia educational platform, Myopia Profile, was honoured with the Rising Star Award. The award recognises emerging leaders in the field of cornea and contact lenses, and was presented by GSLS leaders Dr Eef van der Worp and Professor Jason Nichols.
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In a post shared online, Dr Gifford expressed her gratitude, saying, “This incredible honour reflects my passion for childhood contact lens wear and how beneficial it can be for our young patients, our practices and our profession. Receiving it at a speciality contact lens meeting is fitting, as today’s effective myopia management really had its origins in orthokeratology, as did my career-long dedication and enthusiasm for contact lens practice! This award boosts my motivation to continue leading and supporting my colleagues worldwide, and increasing public awareness of the importance of childhood contact lens wear and myopia management.”
In addition to receiving the award, Dr Gifford participated in a plenary lecture session on “Myth vs Reality: Emerging Technologies in Myopia Control” with leading experts from Canada and the United States.
Fellow Australian optometrist, Prof Stapleton, also took to the stage, delivering a keynote lecture on “25 Years of Silicone Hydrogels – What Did We Learn in Speciality Lenses”. In her presentation, she looked at the last 25 years of silicone hydrogel materials and how they compared to hydrogel materials in several categories.
A leader in science and research, Prof Stapleton is the immediate past President of the International Society for Contact Lens Research (ISCLR). In 2018, she received Optometry Australia’s prestigious H Barry Collin Research Medal, making her the first woman to do so in its 41-year history. In the same year, she was admitted as a Fellow to the Australian Academy of Technology, Science and Engineering.
Optometry Australia congratulates Dr Gifford on receiving the Rising Star Award and commends both her Prof Stapleton for their impactful presentations at the GSLS, showcasing their dedication to advancing eye health in Australia, and on a global scale.