January 29, 2026
Photo provided by the Contact Lens Institute
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Contact Lens Institute has officially released its 2026 Visionaries. The list includes 17 established and emerging eye care community leaders, recognizing a diverse group of professionals from the United States and Canada. Representing a broad mix of practice settings, specialties and research interests, the Visionaries program was established in 2021 to elevate peer-to-peer engagement for soft contact lens innovation and best practices.
Each Visionary has demonstrated a commitment to raising awareness of advances in soft contact lenses and prescribing benefits. Selected in part for their ability to connect with professional peers, they will contribute to initiatives that promote success through practical tools, data and clinical and practice management insights, including Contact Lens Institute’s The EASY Way and See Tomorrow initiatives.
Seven Visionaries return to the program after serving in prior years, while 10 are newly appointed.
2026 members include:
- Roxanne Achong-Coan OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FSLS, Diplomate, AAO Section on Cornea, Contact Lens and Refractive Technologies, Coan Eye Care and Optical Boutique, Ocoee, Fla.*
- Kelsea Brown, OD, MyEyeDr, Atlanta, Ga.
- Elaine Chen, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Diplomate, AAO Section on Cornea, Contact Lens and Refractive Technologies, Southern California College of Optometry, Marshall B. Ketchum University, Fullerton, Calif.
- Jennifer Chinn, OD, Dr. Chinn’s Vision Care, San Diego, Calif.
- Ryan Corte, OD, Northlake Eye, Charlotte and Asheville, N.C.*
- Susan J. Gromacki, OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS, Diplomate, AAO Section on Cornea, Contact Lens and Refractive Technologies, First Sight Vision Care, Fulton, Md.*
- Michael Gzik, ABO, NCLE, New York Optometric, Syracuse, NY
- Jennifer Liao, OD, FAAO, FSLS, New England College of Optometry (NECO) Center for Eye Care, Boston*
- Heidi Miller, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Principal Optometrist, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, Calif.
- Sheila Morrison, OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS, FCCSO, Mission Eye Care, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Julian Prosia, OD, Mountain Eyecare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Renée E. Reeder, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FSLS, FIACLE, FNAP, Diplomate, AAO Section on Cornea, Contact Lens and Refractive Technologies, Kentucky College of Optometry, University of Pikeville, Pikeville, Ky.
- Maria Sampalis, OD, Sampalis Eyecare, Cranston, R.I.
- Scott Samples, FCLSA, NCLE-M, CPOT, Dean McGee Eye Institute, Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Harbir Sian, OD, Highstreet Eyecare Center and Clarity Eyecare, British Columbia, Canada*
- Jennifer Stewart, OD, Look New Canaan, New Canaan, Conn.*
- Shauna Thornhill, OD, Amarillo Vision Specialists, Amarillo, Texas*
*Returning Visionary
“Visionaries are chosen not only for their contact lens clinical expertise, but for their passion for sharing what works—with patients, colleagues, staff and partners,” said Stan Rogaski, Contact Lens Institute executive director. “We congratulate our newest appointees and welcome back our returning group. Multiple 2026 initiatives are underway in which they’re already taking part, with much more to come.”
