Introducing Students of Vision Scholarship

Demonstrate to us how you will educate younger patients about the importance of protecting their eyes from UVA, UVB and blue-violet light in your coming role as an optical professional.

Today’s younger generations are growing up in a digital age, spending significant time in front of screens and under artificial lighting. There is a lot of talk about digital device usage and blue-violet light*, but what most people don’t know is that the sun is the largest singular source of blue-violet light, emitting over 100 times the intensity of electronic devices and screens.¹ While most Canadians recognize the importance of sunscreen to prevent sunburns and skin cancer, many may be unaware that UV light from the sun can cause serious eye damage. Overexposure to UV rays has been linked to a number of eye diseases that can lead to vision loss.

By establishing healthy habits early—such as consistent UV eye protection—children, teens, and young adults can significantly reduce their risk of future vision loss, ensuring that they protect their eyes today for a lifetime of better sight. This underscores the critical need for eyecare professionals to raise awareness and advocate for proper eye protection among younger generations

To enter, develop a project which shows how you will educate younger patients about protecting their eyes from UVA, UVB and blue-violet light.

To be eligible, you must either be currently enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year or registered for the upcoming 2025 school year.

¹ Source: Baillet G., Granger B., Points de Vue, International Review of Ophthalmic Optics, March 2016.
* Blue-violet light is between 400 and 455nm (ISO TR 20772:2018).

Projects must be submitted by: December 10, 2024
Winners announced: January 2025

Download the document for more details.

Grand prize winner Jeremiah Hyslop shares the impressive steps he's already taken to advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion in the optical industry, in addition to the work he's committed to in the future.

The 2023 scholarship was inspired by research from Transitions Optical demonstrating the need for further education surrounding eye health for diverse patients. Entrants were tasks with developing a project about how they would advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in order to help educate patients and protect their vision. Submissions were reviewed by a panel of judges based on their demonstration of creativity, strategic thinking and ethics. Grand prize winner Jeremiah Hyslop created an engaging presentation to demonstrate his multi-step plan of action to increase inclusive, multicultural efforts in eyecare. 2nd prize winner Victoria Cao presented her ‘Vision for All’ initiative which summarized how advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion will ensure that every patient receives the best possible ocular care. Third prize winner MyChan Mai created a presentation to demonstrate why having a diversified team creates a more inclusive culture for staff and patients alike.