The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) is an educational and scientific membership orgnisation.
11/08/2025
Join us for our upcoming webinar on 9 September from 7pm. Open to all!
BCLA Webinar: Diagnosing and Managing Corneal Contact Lens Complications
Join Ankur Barua, Corneal Lead at Birmingham Midland Eye Centre, for an insightful session focused on identifying and managing complications arising from all types of contact lens use.
Gain practical tips on:
- Recognising signs from history and presentation
- Assessing severity and management strategies
- When to escalate to surgical or specialist care
- Interactive polls + Q&A included!
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from real-world cases and clinical expertise. 1 CPD point available
🎉 Congratulations to the Lionesses - Back-to-Back Champions! 🏆
A historic win for the England Women’s Football Team at the UEFA Women’s Euros - two titles in a row! 🙌🏼 🙌🏼 🙌🏼
What a tournament and what a final! Your determination, focus, and teamwork continue to inspire us all.
A special shoutout to goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who was once told she couldn’t play football due to an eye condition. Her story is a powerful reminder to never give up - for patients and practitioners alike. With the right care and support, potential knows no limits.
From all of us at BCLA - congratulations!!! 🎉
10/07/2025
Stay Ahead in Myopia Management!
Join us for an expert-led webinar featuring Prof. James Wolffsohn & Jonathan Cohen - diving into the latest global research and real-world strategies in myopia control.
Wednesday, July 16
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Online | 1 CPD Point
Open to all
Sponsored by CooperVision
What you’ll learn:
✅ How global attitudes toward myopia management have evolved
✅ Key takeaways from hundreds of recent studies
✅ Practical, clinic-ready strategies
✅ Provide a benchmark for your own clinical approach
Perfect for all levels – whether you're just starting out or aiming to refine your practice.
We're excited to announce the launch our new MBCLA and FBCLA Digital Badges!
These badges let BCLA members and Fellows proudly showcase their professional status and commitment to eye care excellence.
They can be added to your email signature, LinkedIn, or website to highlight:
✔️ Your affiliation with the BCLA community
✔️ Your ongoing dedication to contact lenses and the anterior eye
✔️ Verified membership and credentials
All members and Fellows have/or will be receiving an email link within the next day or so. They will stay valid as long as your membership does, and for Fellows - as long as you maintain your Fellowship.
Let your network know what you stand for. Wear your badge with pride!
04/07/2025
"From scanning delegates into their sessions to deep chats with global professionals - Deepali Poojara's BCLA Conference as a student optometrist was anything but ordinary."
Find out what surprised her most, the lessons she’s taking into her career, and why she says this is just the beginning!
Continuing our highlights from this year's BCLA Conference, we're thrilled to celebrate the recipient of the BCLA Da Vinci Award – Julia Bodas Romero! 👏
Julia was recognised for her outstanding presentation: "Impact of contact lens type and blinking patterns on tear film stability and halos."
The BCLA Da Vinci Award is presented at the conference to honour innovative, completed projects or practical contributions in the field of contact lenses and anterior eye. Julia’s research stood out for its originality and real-world impact.
👏 Congratulations, Julia – a truly well-deserved honour!
01/07/2025
Stay ahead in Myopia Management
Myopia is on the rise and the World Health Organisation has highlighted it as a serious public health concern. While research and product innovation in myopia management are growing rapidly, it can take time for these insights to reach clinical practice.
Join Prof James Wolffsohn and Jonathan cohen for a one-hour webinar that breaks down hundreds of research papers into clear, actionable insights.
They’ll explore global survey data from 2015 to today, revealing how practitioner attitudes and approaches to myopia management have evolved over the years.
A must-attend session for all eye care professionals who want to stay informed and ahead of the curve.
Register today for this webinar which is sponsored by CooperVision, open to all and 1 CPD point available: https://tinyurl.com/yp92rw77
30/06/2025
Dr Rachel Casemore was this year’s recipient of the Irving Fatt Memorial Lecture - awarded to a postgraduate who has completed a PhD or MSc in the UK within the last five years and has continued research in contact lenses and/or the anterior eye.
She presented her lecture, “Dry eye disease in young adults: risk factors, clinical signs and biomarkers,” at the BCLA Clinical Conference, offering valuable insights into this growing area of concern in eye health.
27/06/2025
Inspiring words from the new BCLA President
At the BCLA AGM this week, Byki Huntjens officially stepped into her role as President, taking over from Sarah Farrant and delivered her Presidential Address, encouraging members to embrace persistence, resilience, and storytelling, Byki reminded us: “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.”
Reflecting on rapid advances in contact lens technology and the evolving role of eye care professionals, she highlighted the profession’s ability to adapt to innovations like smart lenses and AI-driven tools: “It’s an exciting time, and we’re well placed to meet the challenges ahead.”
We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Sarah Farrant for her commitment and dedication to the role. Your leadership has been truly valued by the everyone at the BCLA.
24/06/2025
There is still time to register for the upcoming BCLA Presidential Address with Byki Huntjens. The event is taking place online tomorrow evening and is open to all.
Registration is now open for the BCLA AGM and the Presidential Address.
Join us online Wednesday 25 June for an inspiring evening with Byki Huntjens as she explores how advances in materials, modalities, and patient expectations have shaped not just the contact lenses we fit, but the way we teach, learn, and connect.
After the AGM, Byki Huntjens will step into the role of BCLA President, continuing the great work of Sarah Farrant. Both events will be taking place online.
We were delighted to honour the winners of the BCLA Professional Awards at the BCLA Clinical Conference 2025, held earlier this month.
These awards celebrate outstanding individuals and organisations who are driving innovation, excellence, and change in contact lens and anterior eye care.
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
- Dry Eye Practitioner of the Year (Sponsored by BIB Ophthalmic Instruments): Etty Bitton
- Myopia Management Practitioner of the Year (Sponsored by Topcon Healthcare): Indie Grewal
- Hospital Optometry Practitioner of the Year (Sponsored by Bausch Lomb) - Madhumathi Subramanian
- BCLA Industry Award: Eaglet Eye
Each winner demonstrates dedication, expertise, and a passion for improving patient care. We’re proud to celebrate their achievements and their contributions to advancing the profession.
📸 Swipe images to see the moments from the awards ceremony!
17/06/2025
Registration is now open for the BCLA AGM and the Presidential Address.
Join us online Wednesday 25 June for an inspiring evening with Byki Huntjens as she explores how advances in materials, modalities, and patient expectations have shaped not just the contact lenses we fit, but the way we teach, learn, and connect.
After the AGM, Byki Huntjens will step into the role of BCLA President, continuing the great work of Sarah Farrant. Both events will be taking place online.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when BCLA posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
As a membership organisation, the BCLA provides a wide range of benefits to help members at all stages of their educational and professional career access a range of high quality resources. We provide members with a continual stream of relevant information as well as the opportunity to communicate with others involved with contact lenses, whatever their role.
The BCLA also runs a number of free and discounted events throughout the year for members and non members. The highly regarded Clinical Conference and Exhibition is now a biennial event which welcomes on average more than 1,200 UK and international delegates. We are pleased to introduce a new event for 2016; BCLA UK aimed to increase confidence amongst UK based eye care practitioners who want to improve their contact lens fitting skills and knowledge.
Our Vision
To be the leading resource gateway for the contact lens community.
Our Mission
To educate, interact and promote growth within the field of contact lenses and related areas.
History of the BCLA
The BCLA has come a long way since it was formed in 1977 by a collaboration and amalgamation of the four major bodies in the UK concerned with the then relatively specialised practice of contact lenses.
The main objectives of the BCLA at that time were to provide for the advancement of knowledge in the field of contact lens practice and encourage teaching and research in the field. The BCLA has remained steadfast in its commitment to meeting these objectives.
Our mission today is to educate, interact and promote growth within the field of contact lenses and related areas. It is also our vision to be the leading resource gateway for the contact lens community. Membership of the BCLA has grown from 656 in 1978 to 1,800 by the end of 2015.
The first-ever BCLA conference was held in Torquay in 1977 with around 150 delegates attending. Today, the Clinical Conference and Exhibition is a globally recognised event attracting more than 1,000 visitors and delegates from the UK and overseas. It is the BCLA's flagship event and we are very proud of its continuing success and development.
Read more information about the history of the BCLA in 'The British Contact Lens Association: The first 30 years' (2007) by Andrew Gasson and Tim Bowden.
