Global Webinar Series

The webinar with Dr. Peter Essig offers insights into why myopia is rising so quickly in Canada, why early intervention matters, and how science proven myopia control spectacle lenses can help guide axial eye growth toward a healthier, more emmetropic outcome. You’ll see real clinical results from both Caucasian and Asian children, learn when and how to initiate treatment (including in pre‑myopes), and receive practical guidance on fitting, follow‑up, and effective collaboration between optometrists, opticians, and parents.

About the panelist

Dr Peter Essig is an optometrist, he holds a PhD from the ZEISS Vision Science Lab by the University of Tübingen in Germany where he researched in objective assessment of contrast sensitivity from eye movements, holding several first- and co-author publications and patents. Later he joined the ZEISS innovation center in Guangzhou, China focusing on advanced development of ZEISS myopia solutions. Recently he joined the team in Dubai holding position of Medical Science Liaison for Middle East & Africa.

The webinar focuses on current evidence, clinical practice patterns, and scientifically proven eyeglass lenses for myopia management, combining a Canadian practice perspective with global research insights. It highlights up-to-date prevalence data from Canada, the shift toward recognizing myopia as a disease due to its structural and long-term ocular health risks, and the adoption of evidence-based myopia control as a standard of care. The session reviews the full treatment toolbox (spectacles, atropine, soft contact lenses, Ortho‑K). Real-world cases from an established Canadian myopia clinic illustrate how therapies are adjusted or combined over time.

About the panelists

Dr Jeff Goodhew is a partner in private practice at Abbey Eye Care in Oakville, Ontario, CANADA. He enjoys seeing all patients in a primary eye care setting but has developed several niche offerings including myopia control, glaucoma management & dry eye therapy. Jeff is very involved in the Optometry profession having served 8 years on the board of directors of the Ontario Association of Optometrists and as president from 2014 -2016. He is also one of the founders of the Canadian Dry Eye Summit, the leading dry eye conference in Canada and of the newly launched MyRetina net.

Prior to joining ZEISS as Head, Global Myopia Management in 2023, Prof Padmaja Sankaridurg was Head of the Myopia Program and Head of Intellectual Property at the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Sydney, Australia. She is a Conjoint Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. She participated as an expert at the WHO-BHVI global meeting of myopia, 2015 , an advisory board member of the International Myopia Institute until 2023 and chaired task forces on white papers. She is a council member of the International Society for Contact Lens Research. Her research interests include refractive error development and progression, myopia management, strategies to control myopia, contact lenses and the economic burden of myopia.

The webinar examines why myopia matters globally and regionally, and whether combination therapy (optical + pharmacologic and other interventions) is becoming the standard of care in high risk settings. It reviews epidemiological data showing rapidly rising myopia and high myopia prevalence, especially in East Asia and urban, education intensive environments, and explains how early onset and longer axial length drive lifetime risks of retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, and cataract.

About the panelists

Philip Cheng graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2003 and founded Eyecare Concepts | The Myopia Clinic in Melbourne in 2017 with a key clinical focus in myopia management, orthokeratology and specialty contact lenses. Renowned in the myopia management space, he has presented globally and written extensively for industry publications. He has attained the International Academy Certificate in Myopia Management (IACMM) and Fellowship of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (FIAOMC).

Dr Li-Lian Foo is Head and Clinical Director of the Myopia Service at the Singapore National Eye Centre and Clinical Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School. She specialises in childhood myopia control, refractive surgery, and clinical innovation. Actively involved in research and education, she leads regional training initiatives across Asia-Pacific and contributes to advancing precision medicine in paediatric myopia care.

Tim Fricke is an optometrist, researcher and international development practitioner, and is currently Director Research and Education at the Australian College of Optometry and National Vision Research Institute, Australia. He has held clinical, teaching, research, management and leadership roles in private, public, community health, hospital and refugee camp settings, including Director of the Brien Holden Foundation. He has extensive paediatric clinical experience, supervised post-graduate research in paediatric eye care and health economics, taught undergraduate and post-graduate eye care courses, and provided continuing professional development across Australia and internationally. He has researched vision development, epidemiology, quality of life and access to eye care, and assisted the development of local systems and skills for providing primary and specialised eye care in a range of countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and Tanzania. He is an honorary senior fellow at the University of Melbourne, and has recently completed a PhD in ophthalmic epidemiology at UNSW Sydney. 

Prior to joining ZEISS as Head, Global Myopia Management in 2023, Prof Padmaja Sankaridurg was Head of the Myopia Program and Head of Intellectual Property at the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Sydney, Australia. She is a Conjoint Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. She participated as an expert at the WHO-BHVI global meeting of myopia, 2015 , an advisory board member of the International Myopia Institute until 2023 and chaired task forces on white papers. She is a council member of the International Society for Contact Lens Research. Her research interests include refractive error development and progression, myopia management, strategies to control myopia, contact lenses and the economic burden of myopia.

The webinar explores whether myopia management is already the standard of care and if a “one-size-fits-all” approach is appropriate, combining global policy, evidence synthesis, and practical clinical decision-making. The webinar is aimed at optometrists, opticians, and eye care industry professionals.

About the panlists

Dr Dwight Akerman is the founding Chief Medical Editor of Review of Myopia Management. Dr. Akerman graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry with an O.D. degree and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Texas. He has achieved Diplomate status in the American Academy of Optometry Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies, Fellow of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators, and Fellow of the British Contact Lens Association. He was the Vice President & Global Head of Professional Affairs & Business Development for Alcon before retiring from this role in 2019. Dr. Akerman is the immediate past Chairman of the Illinois College of Optometry Board of Trustees.

Prof Debbie Jones is a Clinical Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science and a Lead Clinical Scientist at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), at the University of Waterloo.
Her main area of clinical focus is pediatric optometry and her main research activity is in myopia control.

Dr Vishakha Thakrar is founder and director of Vaughan Vision Centre, an advanced specialty contact lens clinic that focusses on complex scleral lens fitting, myopia management, and advanced dry eye treatment. She speaks internationally and has written extensively on contact lenses, corneal disease and myopia management. 

Prior to joining ZEISS as Head, Global Myopia Management in 2023, Prof Padmaja Sankaridurg was Head of the Myopia Program and Head of Intellectual Property at the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Sydney, Australia. She is a Conjoint Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. She participated as an expert at the WHO-BHVI global meeting of myopia, 2015 , an advisory board member of the International Myopia Institute until 2023 and chaired task forces on white papers. She is a council member of the International Society for Contact Lens Research. Her research interests include refractive error development and progression, myopia management, strategies to control myopia, contact lenses and the economic burden of myopia.

Prof Craig Woods is Adjunct Professor at the School of Optometry, University of New South Wales, and Executive Manager of Educational Development for IACLE and Vice President of the ISCLR.

The webinar on myopia management, moderated by Prof Padmaja Sankaridurg, provides valuable insights from leading global experts in the field, including Dr Dwight Akerman, Dr Jeff Goodhew, and Prof James S Wolffsohn. This educational session is designed to equip eye care practitioners with the latest evidence-based strategies for effectively managing myopia. Discover how proactive intervention can halt the progression of myopia and reduce the risks associated with high myopia. Stay ahead of the curve by learning about the latest advancements in myopia treatment, and explore how to tailor interventions to meet the unique needs of each patient, ensuring the best possible outcomes in myopia care.

About the panelists

Dr. Dwight Akerman is the founding Chief Medical Editor of Review of Myopia Management. Dr. Akerman graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry with an O.D. degree and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Texas. He has achieved Diplomate status in the American Academy of Optometry Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies, Fellow of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators, and Fellow of the British Contact Lens Association. He was the Vice President & Global Head of Professional Affairs & Business Development for Alcon before retiring from this role in 2019. Dr. Akerman is the immediate past Chairman of the Illinois College of Optometry Board of Trustees.

Dr. Jeff Goodhew is a partner in private practice at Abbey Eye Care in Oakville, Ontario, CANADA. He enjoys seeing all patients in a primary eye care setting but has developed several niche offerings including myopia control, glaucoma management & dry eye therapy. Jeff is very involved in the Optometry profession having served 8 years on the board of directors of the Ontario Association of Optometrists and as president from 2014 -2016. He is also one of the founders of the Canadian Dry Eye Summit, the leading dry eye conference in Canada and of the newly launched MyRetina net.

Prior to joining ZEISS as Head, Global Myopia Management in 2023, Professor Sankaridurg was Head of the Myopia Program and Head of Intellectual Property at the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Sydney, Australia. She is a Conjoint Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Professor Sankaridurg has been researching myopia for over two decades, has published nearly 150 articles, is an inventor on many patents and patent applications and has presented at many international conferences. She participated as an expert at the WHO-BHVI global meeting of myopia, 2015 , an advisory board member of the International Myopia Institute until 2023 and chaired task forces on white papers. She is a council member of the International Society for Contact Lens Research. Her research interests include refractive error development and progression, myopia management, strategies to control myopia, contact lenses and the economic burden of myopia.

Prof. James S Wolffsohn, a Professor of Optometry at Aston University since 2000, formerly Deputy Executive Dean for Life Sciences and then associate Pro-Vice Chancellor, is the Dean of the School of Optometry and also Head of the Department of Audiology. His main research areas are the development and evaluation of ophthalmic instrumentation, myopia management, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, presbyopia and the tear film. He is a National Teaching Fellow, has published more than 345 full peer-reviewed papers and presented at numerous international conferences. He is the academic Chair of the British Contact Lens Association, having previously being President and was chair of the BCLA Contact Lens Evidence-based Academic Reports (CLEAR); he is on the Executive of TFOS, was a harmoniser and sub-committee chair for TFOS DEWS II & TFOS Lifestyle reports; he is the International Myopia Institute’s Chief Scientific Officer and was joint-Chair of their white papers. He holds the BCLA Medal (2021), AoA Glenn Fry (2022) and AAOptom CCLRT Founders (2024) awards.