Essilor has an ongoing commitment to ophthalmic education, students and the ophthalmic profession. We are proud to offer many quality educational programs every year for both students and professionals.
HELPING SCHOOLS & STUDENTS
Varilux Optometry Student Bowl
A fierce competition between all optometry schools across the country. The best and brightest students come together for a game show type competition for academic supremacy. The winning school receives the Varilux trophy and the student winner receives $1,000. The Varilux Optometry Student bowl is held every year in conjunction with the AOSA and Optometry's meeting. To view the rules and hightlights' videos from previous years, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/VariluxSuperBowl
To view the list of 2009 Varilux Optomery Student Bowl winners, click here.
L to R: Essilor Professional Relations Director Danne Ventura F.A.A.O.; New England College of Optometry President Cliff Scott O.D.; AOA President Randy Brooks, O.D., and Optometry Student Bowl XVIII Winner Aarlan Aceto as the OSB Trophy is handed over to NECO.
L to R: Essilor's Dr. Rod Tahran, Optometry Super Bowl XVII winner Brian Snydsman and Essilor's Danne Ventura celebrate the 2008 UC Berkeley win.
Optical Technology Grants
Three $20,000 grants are awarded to optometry schools and colleges that exhibit their commitment to growing the industry through new advancements. Schools must submit a 1,000-word essay on why they need and deserve the grant.
To complete your application or to find out more information, click here or visit http://www.aaopt.org/aof/scholarship/essilor/.
Varilux Student Grant Award Program for Optometry Schools
A $1,000 grant is awarded to one student at each school who submits the best case study on patients fit with Varilux lenses. The papers are judged and chosen by the school’s clinical staff. Those students are then entered to win the national award, which includes two all-expense paid trips for two to the joint meeting of American Optometry Association and American Optometric Student Association. One trip for two is awarded to the student and one trip for two is awarded to the student’s faculty advisor. The meeting is held every year in June at various locations.
Here is a list of 2010 Varilux Student Grant winners: Lindsay A. Sicks, James P Scherman, Frank Kuchera, Dale Choi, Kevin Mathes, Tammy Nguyen, Elizabeth Roush, Heather R. Bowen, Julius Tiu-Lim, Ashley B. Fox, Meagan Steg, Chris Butcher, Averi Van Dam, Marc Kenneth Lay, Jeremy Dell, Cara Wolfish, Thomas Qili Xie
Click here to find out more information about this program.
The 2010 recipient of the National Award for the Varilux Student Grant Program is Kevin Mathes from New England College of Optometry for his paper using an unusual fit for Anti-Fatigue: Varilux Winner 2010
In 2009, the national award belonged to Graham Rasanen, a fourth-year student at NOVA Southeastern College of Optometry in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, who wrote the winning case study. Click on the following link to read the winning case study: Varilux Winner 2009
Nicolas Tea, a fourth-year student at the University of Montreal School of Optometry, also received an honorary mention for his report. Read his report here: Honorary Mention 2009
Click on the following link to read the 2008 winning case study by Casey Bartz: Varilux Winner 2008
Crizal DCRP Award Program
For more than 20 years, Essilor and the Crizal DCRP program have been helping both opticianry and optometry students successfully become eye care professionals. To be selected for the program, fourth-year optometry students and graduating opticianry students who are preferably entering private practice are chosen by the faculty of their schools. The winning student receives one Digital Corneal Reflex Pupilometer and case (valued at approximately $500).
Click here to find out more information about this program.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Optical Boot Camp
An intense one-day training program that will optimize your sales and service. Minimize the time and cost of training new dispensers and staff in baseline optical knowledge and allow them to serve your customers better. Both level 1 and level 2 programs are available. Visit www.visionexpo.com for more information.
New Dispenser Quick Start Program
The New Dispenser Quick Start program is designed for dispensers who are new to the industry, and it brings them to a 6-month experience level in 20 days. The program has 18 web-based courses and it comes with a participant guide and a coach's guide. Users have access to the online courses for 6 months. Visit www.ecpuniversity.com for more information including a complete course list. Call 866-278-3187 to register.
Apollo for Advanced Dispensing Professionals
The Apollo for Advanced Dispensing Professionals program is designed for dispensers with over one year of experience. It has 55 web-based courses and pretests to help users customize their learning path. Visit www.ecpuniversity.com for more information including a complete course list. Call 866-278-3187 to register.