ROCHESTER, N.Y., September 28, 2026—CooperVision’s scientific program at the 2026 American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting will focus on practical, eye care professional-friendly methods for improving the contact lens wearing experience. The company’s researchers and partners are presenting nine posters and launching a companion video this week during the event in Anaheim, Calif., further strengthening its leadership in the multifocal and toric contact lens categories.
“The science we’re putting forward at Academy 2026 is innovation with purpose. Our findings are not academic exercises; they translate into actions that eye care professionals can immediately put to use with the products and tools they already have,” said Jennifer Palombi, OD, FAAO, Director, Professional Affairs—Americas, CooperVision. “Our new scientific video series will help transport the outcomes from posters in California to digital screens worldwide for fast-moving, easily accessible professional education.”
The inaugural video spotlights presbyopia, pulling from a study that illustrates how presbyopic contact lens neophytes can be fit with soft multifocal contact lenses with high confidence.1 The single visit, double-masked, non-dispensing investigation showed 99% fit success rates with two lenses or less (clariti® 1 day multifocal 3 Add), including high vision satisfaction ratings at various distances, ease of handling and comfort during the wear period.1 [Successful Fitting of Neophyte Presbyopes with a 3 Add 1 day Soft Multifocal Contact Lens (Vega J, et al)]
Turning to astigmatism, CooperVision researchers evaluated assumptions that soft toric lenses with higher cylindrical corrections may be more difficult to successfully fit.2 Analysis of three silicone hydrogel toric lens families that incorporate Optimized Toric Lens Geometry (MyDay® toric, Biofinity® toric, and Avaira Vitality™ toric) across seven prospective clinical studies revealed that the products produced consistently high levels of clinical success with both high and low cylinder prescriptions.2 [Clinical Outcomes of Soft Toric Lenses with Optimized Toric Lens Geometry Across a Range of Cylinder Powers (Walsh K, et al)]
The company’s scientists also scrutinized the practice of masking low astigmats. Habitual spherical contact lens wearers with refractive astigmatism in both eyes (0.50 to 1.25DC) were initially refit with MyDay® spherical contact lenses.3 After subsequent refitting with MyDay® toric, they reported substantially improved visual performance, particularly under mesopic conditions.3 Fit success rates were high with stable and accurate axis orientation, with no significant difference in chair time between spherical and toric designs.3 [Transitioning Existing Spherical Soft Contact Lens Wearers with Low Astigmatism Into a Soft Toric Lens (Walsh K, et al)]
Cross-category, CooperVision continues its efforts to address contact lens discontinuation, especially among first-time wearers.4 Neophytes were fit in clariti® 1 day spheres, with close observation of their experiences over six months. At the study’s close, those exhibiting suboptimal comfort were found to have indicated signs of challenges as soon as two weeks following initiation (e.g., ocular dryness, shorter comfortable wear duration, greater handling difficulty).4 This underscores the importance of proactive patient follow-up within one month of fitting to identify early symptoms and allow timely and targeted intervention.4 [Six-Month Follow-Up Evaluation of Comfort and Handling in Neophyte Soft Contact Lens Wearers (Basuthkar S, et al)]
“CooperVision is committed to advancing the science of contact lens wear not only to strengthen our expansive product portfolio and underlying technologies, but also to ensure that eye care professionals can provide the best possible experiences for wearers. It’s a privilege to present these findings and so many others to our colleagues during Academy ’26,” said Dr. Palombi.
The 2026 American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting runs from September 30 to October 3 at the Anaheim Convention Center, attracting thousands of clinicians, educators, researchers, students, and manufacturers from around the world.
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About CooperVision
CooperVision, a division of CooperCompanies (Nasdaq: COO), is a global leader in contact lens innovation, dedicated to advancing vision at every stage of life. The company offers one of the industry’s most comprehensive portfolios of soft and specialty contact lenses—including daily disposable, two-week and monthly options—with high-performance materials and optics across spherical, toric, and multifocal designs. With a strong heritage of addressing complex vision challenges such as childhood myopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, and irregular corneas, CooperVision combines purposeful research and development, state-of-the-art manufacturing, and deep practitioner partnerships to deliver clinically advanced solutions. Decades of experience and insight continue to shape the eye care profession and create meaningful advantages for both practitioners and wearers. For more information, visit www.coopervision.com.
About CooperCompanies
CooperCompanies (Nasdaq: COO) is a leading global medical device company focused on helping people experience life’s beautiful moments through its two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision is a trusted leader in the contact lens industry, helping to improve the way people see each day. CooperSurgical is a leading fertility and women’s healthcare company dedicated to putting time on the side of women, babies, and families at the healthcare moments that matter most. Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., CooperCompanies has a workforce of more than 15,000, sells products in over 130 countries, and positively impacts over fifty million lives each year. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com.
Media Contact
Mike McDougall, FAAO, APR, Fellow PRSA
McDougall Communications for CooperVision
+1.585.545.1815
mike@mcdougallpr.com