International Opticians Association - IOA

20/04/2026

Check out this progressive lens comparison tool by AAOO!

Visit the post for more.

20/04/2026

Free webinar alert!

Reframing the “Intermediate Zone” in Progressive Addition Lenses: A Functional Field Perspective

Progressive addition lenses (PALs) are traditionally described using a three-zone model: distance, intermediate, and near. While clinically convenient, this framework introduces a conceptual error by implying the existence of a discrete intermediate region with defined optical function.

In reality, PALs exhibit a continuous distribution of power and astigmatism, with no true boundaries between functional states. This lecture extends that critique by examining early presbyopia and behaviours that are commonly misinterpreted as evidence of a functional intermediate corridor, reinforcing the persistence of the three-zone model.

Using power distribution analysis, gaze-dependent viewing geometry, and accommodative considerations, the session redefines intermediate vision as an emergent property of the optical field rather than a spatially fixed region.

Clinical implications are explored, including misinterpretation of adaptation, inappropriate lens design selection, and limitations in patient communication. The discussion aligns practitioner understanding with contemporary freeform design principles, emphasising continuous optimisation over zone-based thinking.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically evaluate the concept of an “intermediate zone” in progressive lenses

Participants will be able to explain why the traditional three-zone model is an oversimplification and identify how it misrepresents the continuous optical structure of PALs.

2. Differentiate between true corridor utilisation and distance-zone function in early presbyopia

Participants will understand how early presbyopes often achieve intermediate task performance using the distance portion of the lens, and why this is frequently misinterpreted as corridor use.

3. Apply a continuous field-based framework to clinical decision-making

Participants will be able to reinterpret patient performance and complaints using a gaze-dependent, accommodative model of lens function, improving prescribing accuracy and patient outcomes.

Join Dr Grant Hannaford on Friday 29th May for a free 1 hour webinar offered at two different times 12 noon and 6pm Sydney Australia time.

Australian CPD accreditation pending.

Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nzey1gWuTUi0XkDJaymUew

16/04/2026

Check out the latest article from mivision about Silmo Bali! https://mivision.com.au/2026/04/silmo-academy-2026-a-milestone-in-vision-care-innovation/
Silmo Paris

From patient-centred care to artificial intelligence, SILMO Academy highlighted how optical professionals are rethinking practice in response to changing patient needs and new technologies. Across three days in Bali’s Nusa Dua, delegates engaged in sessions spanning clinical care, research develop...

06/04/2026

Thank you Thao from the Academy of Advanced Ophthalmic Optics for sharing your feedback on the first day of Silmo Bali! Silmo Paris

04/04/2026

Oh my goodness! How beautiful is this? Are you coming to Silmo Bali?

16/03/2026

👁️ As World Glaucoma Week comes to a close for 2026, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for giving glaucoma research a boost. ✨

🔬 Because of you, CERA researchers, such as A/Prof Luis Alarcon-Martinez, can continue to work tirelessly to find the missing link to detect and prevent glaucoma.

🌏 Because of you, we are closer than ever to our shared goal of a world free from vision loss and blindness.

🌟 And, because of you, young people like our Visionary cover star Asher are one step further towards, a future free from glaucoma. There is hope for the 300,000 Australians with Glaucoma.

We’re making exciting progress, but we need your help to go further.

If you’ve already donated, thanks for joining us in our mission to end vision loss from glaucoma. And if not, there’s still time to make an impact.

Donate via the link in the comments 👇

11/03/2026

AAOO has released a suite of free calculators dealing with a wide range of ophthalmic optics scenarios.

From common calculations to skew visualisers, and even full compensated powers in three dimensions.

No log in required, link in the attached post.

Optical maths made easy

We’ve launched a page with free ophthalmic optics calculators to help with common lens calculations used in practice. No login required.

There are also some more complex calculators dealing with compensated powers in three dimensional space, prism visualisation and skew, and tools for assisting in research.

Perfect for:
• Optometrists
• Dispensing opticians
• Optical students

Try them here:

https://aaoo.net.au/calculators-home/

More calculators are coming soon, if there is anything else in particular that you would like to see, let us know in the comments.

09/03/2026

https://eyesmart.com.au/newsarticle/7360-silmo-academy-heads-to-bali-in-2026-for-landmark-international-optics-congress

Eyecare industry news and jobs in Australia and NZ

01/02/2026

SILMO Academy Bali - A scientific program of excellence.

Over three days, from April 6 to 8, 2026, international experts, researchers, educators, and practitioners will come together to explore, learn, and exchange ideas on the key challenges shaping the future of optics and optometry.

CPD hours accredited for Australian optometrists. New Zealand and UK pending. Suitable for dispensing opticians as well. Early bird registration has been extended – benefit from 25% off until February 15. Visit https://www.silmoparis.com/en/silmo-academy/bali for the full program and registration link.

18/01/2026

Step up in 2026 and be the best!

17/01/2026

SILMO Academy Bali - A scientific program of excellence.

Over three days, from April 6 to 8, 2026, international experts, researchers, educators, and practitioners will come together to explore, learn, and exchange ideas on the key challenges shaping the future of optics and optometry.

Early Bird registration now open – benefit from 25% off until January 31. https://www.silmoparis.com/en/silmo-academy/bali

14/01/2026

There’s still time to register! See below for details.

It’s all happening tomorrow, our sessions on Rethinking Myopia Management – Evidence, Optics, and Clinical Reality. CPD hours approved for Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

The current approach to spectacle-based myopia management is drifting off-course.

Prescribing lenses without understanding the biological drivers of growth, the optical principles behind each design, or the consequences for binocular vision is leading to inconsistent clinical outcomes.

On January 15-16th, join Dr Grant Hannaford, recognised internationally for his work in biometric modelling and advanced ophthalmic optics, for a free one-hour webinar offered at three different times for clinicians:

Session 1: 15th January 7pm Eastern Time
Session 2: 15th January 7pm Pacific Time
Session 3: 16th January 7am GMT
(Sessions are identical – choose the one that suits your time zone. Visit https://savvytime.com/converter/pst-to-est-gmt to find your time zone conversion.)

What the session covers:
✔️The aetiology of myopia and the mechanisms guiding ocular growth
✔️Evidence-based strategies for influencing eye development -A clear, clinically grounded explanation of today’s major spectacle lens technologies
✔️The optical theories underpinning myopia-control lens designs: peripheral defocus, asphericity, segmental structures, light distribution, and higher-order effects
✔️How to dispense and monitor these lenses effectively in real practice
✔️The limitations: when these lenses work, when they do not, and why binocular vision function often determines treatment success
✔️Practical guidance to avoid common prescribing errors now widespread in the market

Who should attend:
Optometrists, opticians, practice owners, and anyone involved in paediatric care or myopia management who wants a clearer, evidence-driven framework for spectacle lens prescribing.

Why this matters:
Many clinicians are unknowingly using myopia-control spectacle lenses outside their validated operating range. Understanding optical behaviour, fitting geometry, and binocular vision interactions is essential for predictable outcomes. This webinar provides the missing technical and clinical foundation.

Dr Grant Hannaford is a senior lecturer at the School of Optometry and Vision Science University of New South Wales, adjunct lecturer at the Save Sight Institute University of Sydney and co-owns a multi-award winning independent optometry practice Hannaford Eyewear and the Academy of Advanced Ophthalmic Optics. He was the Silmo and the International Opticians Association - IOA 2022 International Optician of the Year and researches emmetropisation and ocular biometric development in children and lens design.

Please register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/NZITdRb-QhKmv83mH0CYKQ