CLC's Charl Laas, Andrew Kim and Alan Benjamin with lab manager Tom van der Burg watching the production of a custom-made RGP lens

With the 2025 Cornea and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand conference being held in Christchurch, Corneal Lens Corporation (CLC) had the pleasure of hosting a pre-conference workshop dedicated to the world of specialty contact lenses.

Designed to refresh and expand the knowledge of our sMap3D practitioners, our workshop introduced them to some exciting new features in the software, shared the latest knowledge and provided some in-depth education on scleral lens fitting and Rose K2 designs.. More than that, however, it provided a space for collaboration, where practitioners and the CLC team could come together to share their expertise and learn from one another. 

The workshop began with a relaxed lunch, offering a chance for attendees to network and enjoy a selection of Thai food and pizza. Once everyone was fuelled and ready to go, CLC’s Charl Laas kicked off the first session with an insightful discussion on orthokeratology troubleshooting. Charl shared practical tips and strategies, setting the tone for a day of hands-on learning and problem-solving.

We then split into dual-stream sessions. In one stream, optometrists Andrew Sangster (Wellington) and Eric Cheng (Perth) took the stage to share lens fitting pearls and case studies focused on mastering the Zenlens scleral lens. Their session provided valuable insights into optimising lens performance and addressing complex cases. In the second stream, CLC’s Alan Benjamin and I conducted a hands-on demonstration of sMap3D acquisition tips. This interactive session allowed participants to observe best practices for capturing high-quality sMap3D data, a critical step in achieving successful lens fittings.

After the dual streams, we delved into scleral lens design concepts. This explored the intricacies of scleral lens fitting, followed by a real patient demonstration. This highlighted how small changes in scleral lens parameters can significantly impact fit and patient comfort, offering a tangible example of the principles discussed.

The final sessions were packed with practical knowledge. This included scleral lens troubleshooting – clearance, fogging, settling and limbal congestion – to equip practitioners with the tools to address common challenges and optimise outcomes. The workshop concluded with an exploration of Rose K2 lens designs, highlighting the key differences and similarities between designs and providing guidance on selecting the most appropriate option.

Turnout for the event was fantastic, with close to 35 passionate practitioners whose feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees loved the practical nature of the workshop and the opportunity to connect with peers. There’s something truly special about bringing together a group of dedicated professionals who are eager to push the boundaries of what’s possible in eyecare. The day was a reminder of why we do what we do: to make a difference, one patient at a time. 

Andrew Kim is a consultant optometrist with Corneal Lens Corporation.