The COMiB took part in the Second Congress in Optics and Optometry hosted by the University of Padua! In the photo: four Master’s students in Optometry and Vision Science from the University of Milano-Bicocca – two from the Bachelor’s program in Milano-Bicocca and two from the Bachelor’s program in Padua – together with one of the congress organizers and the president of the Master’s program in Milano-Bicocca. A valuable opportunity for exchange and growth, strengthening collaboration between universities and highlighting the role of our students in the scientific community.
Congress
COMiB at the Annual Congress of the Contact Lens and Ocular Surface Society
True to tradition, this year’s scientific program of the Annual Congress of the Contact Lens and Ocular Surface Society covers a wide spectrum of essential topics, including lifestyle impacts on the ocular surface, advancements in contact lenses, ocular surface pathology, dry eye syndrome, myopia control, and more—each crucial to everyday practice.
Dr. Erika Ponzini, invited as a plenary speaker, presented “Beyond quantification: uncovering lactoferrin interaction with contact lens materials” providing new insights into how proteins interact with contact lens materials and their implications for lens comfort and eye health.
COMiB at the 10th International TFOS Conference
Giulia Carlotta Rizzo, BSc, presented two insightful posters at the 10th International TFOS Conference on the Tear Film & Ocular Surface: Basic Science and Clinical Relevance:
1. “Evaluating dehydration kinetics of kalifilcon A and other contact lens materials using water kinetics coefficients”
2.” Evaluation of meibomian gland loss: comparison between grading scale and semi-automated computerized classification“
These studies contribute valuable data on contact lens material properties and new techniques in meibomian gland evaluation, offering advancements for both researchers and clinicians focused on ocular surface health.
COMIB at the 15th Assottica Conference: advancing CL Education and Research
With more than 800 delegates gathered for its 15th edition titled “Change the View” the Assottica Conference has firmly established itself as one of the most attended global meetings on contact lenses. Dr. Fabrizio Zeri from COMIB presented a talk on ocular surface and tear film aging and the evolution of contact lens materials, co-presented with Prof. Stefano Barabino from the Ocular Surface Centre at Sacco Hospital, University of Milan.
Dr. Zeri also chaired a round table organized in collaboration with IACLE, which provided Italian contact lens students the opportunity to join a live-streamed discussion on contact lens education and clinical practice alongside three Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs): Prof. Lyndon Jones (Director of CORE at the University of Waterloo, Canada), Dr. Sarah Morgan (FAOO, FBCLA), and Dr. Alberto Recchioni (Researcher at University Hospitals Birmingham).
Additionally, Dr. Zeri and Dr. Byki Huntjens, both IACLE Directors, hosted an informal breakfast for Italian contact lens educators. This gathering offered an opportunity to discuss IACLE resources for students and future developments in contact lens education. The conversation began with recent changes in Italian education, including the launch of a new Postgraduate Degree in Optometry at the University of Milano-Bicocca, which has the potential to expand academic training in the field of contact lenses.
Giulia Rizzo at SIF 2024 Congress
Fabrizio Zeri at SIF 2024 Congress
110th National Congress of the Italian Physical Society – Optometry Symposium
The COMiB group and its collaborators will participate in the Optometry Symposium of the 110th National Congress of the Italian Physical Society in Bologna (9-13 September) with the following oral communications:
- Children with dyslexia too show the practice effect on the Rate of Reading Test. Presented by Dr. Fabrizio Zeri
- Assessment of duochrome test efficacy across age groups. Presented by Giulia Carlotta Rizzo
- Choroidal thickness measurements: challenges in clinical practice. Presented by Dr. Beatrice Terni De Gregory
- Water kinetics coefficients to compare the dehydration properties of different CL polymers. Presented by prof. Anna Galli
- Irregular diffusion of water in worn Etafilcon A contact lenses. Presented by prof. Silvia Tavazzi
- Assessing the impact of lysozyme adsorption on the friction coefficient in Etafilcon A contact lenses. Presented by Dr. Erika Ponzini
- Trattamenti oftalmologici avanzati: copolimeri per il rilascio di molecole attive sulla superficie oculare. Presented by Gloria Astolfi
Unitary Congress “Vision&Digital”
The COMiB Research Center enthusiastically participated in the Unitary Congress “Vision&Digital” which was held in Milan on May 19 and 20! It was an extraordinary opportunity to share and discuss the latest innovations and research in the field of vision and digital technology.
COMIB at NCC 2024 in Eindovhen
COMIB researchers Dr. Aziza Obain and Dr. Fabrizio Zeri attended the NCC (Netherlands Contact lens Congress) in Eindhoven on 10th and 11th of March, 2024.
Dr Zeri presented the results of a prospective double-masked crossover RCT about a new multifocal contact lenses carried out in three European sites: COMIB, Milan-Italy; the Institute of Optometry, London-UK; and the Kontactlinse Istittutet, Aarhus-Denemark.
109th National Congress of the Italian Physical Society – Optometry symposium
COMiB participated in the Optometry Symposium of the 109th National Congress of the Italian Physical Society in Fusciano – Salerno (11-15 September) with the following oral communications:
Silvia Tavazzi (invited speaker)
Surface wetting and friction of Kalifilcon A, a novel silicone-hydrogel contact lens.
Fabrizio Zeri
Non Invasive break up time: automatic computerized versus manual assessment.
Erika Ponzini
Comparison of tear film stability assessment procedures by non-invasive and fluorescein tear breakup time measurement.