Scleral Lens Education Society

What Scleral Lens Education Society does

The Scleral Lens Education Society (SLS) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2009 that serves as the only dedicated professional society focused on the science and clinical practice of scleral contact lens fitting. Its mission is to improve practitioner capabilities in managing corneal irregularity and ocular surface disease through instruction, training, and credentialing. The organization operates a free membership model (nearly 7,000 members and 275 credentialed Fellows worldwide) and offers an FSLS Fellowship program that requires 60 points earned through case reports, residencies, lectures, and peer-reviewed publications, plus a $125 one-time application fee.

SLS's product surface is built around a central website (sclerallens.org) that aggregates practitioner resources, a "Find a Scleral Lens Specialist" directory, a Living Library of hundreds of scleral-lens research articles, monthly one-hour webinars on recent publications, clinical-trial information portals, student resources (including travel grants), and patient-facing care/handling guides. Educational content is delivered via Zoom webinars, recorded YouTube sessions, an annual SCLERAL program at UC Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry, the annual International Congress of Scleral Contacts (ICSC) convening educators from 15+ countries, and a presence at the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS).

The business model is freemium on the member side, monetized indirectly through a multi-tier corporate sponsorship stack (four Diamond sponsors — Bausch + Lomb, Contamac, CooperVision Specialty EyeCare, LensBase — seven Platinum sponsors, and one Gold sponsor, Boston Sight), voluntary tax-deductible donations processed via PayPal, and the modest fellowship application fee. Governance is by a volunteer Executive Board with annual presidential transitions; the current President is Dr. Vivien Tse (2025). No revenue figures are disclosed and there are no AI/ML capabilities evident in the platform.

Name

Scleral Lens Education Society

Legal name

Scleral Lens Education Society

Website

https://sclerallens.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Scleral Lens Education Society is a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2009 that trains eyecare practitioners in scleral contact lens fitting, offers an FSLS fellowship credential, and serves ~7,000 members and 275 Fellows globally through webinars, a research library, and annual congresses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optometry Professional Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions) (HLAHAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ophthalmic/Optometric Assisting (EDAOAJAK)

Keywords

• Scleral contact lenses
• Optometry continuing education
• Specialty contact lens training
• Professional medical society
• Eye care education

Headquarters

HQ city

California City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Free membership providing access to practitioner and patient videos, Living Library with hundreds of research articles, quarterly newsletters, scleral lens event information, and clinic forms/patient handouts.
2. Fellowship Application Fee: One-time $125 application fee to pursue Fellowship status, processed via PayPal.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted via PayPal to support the organization's educational mission.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Scleral Lens Education Society (SLS) is a non-profit professional society that delivers education, training, and credentialing to eyecare practitioners on the science and art of prescribing scleral contact lenses. Its core offerings include a free membership program with access to webinars, a Living Library of research articles, a Fellowship (FSLS) designation program, patient education materials, and a practitioner directory.

Product overview

The Scleral Lens Education Society (SLS) operates primarily as an educational membership organization rather than a traditional product company. Its offerings include a comprehensive website with practitioner resources, patient education materials, and a specialist finder directory. The society provides professional development through a Fellowship Program (FSLS designation requiring 60 points), monthly webinars covering recent scleral lens research, and a Living Library of research articles. Additional offerings include student resources with webinars and travel grants, patient care guides covering lens handling and application, and clinical trial information portals. The society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with nearly 7,000 members and 275 Fellows worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scleral Lens Education Society Website Central website offering education, resources, and professional development for contact lens practitioners on scleral contact lens fitting, patient education materials, and a practitioner directory.
• FSLS Fellowship Program Credentialing program awarding the Fellow of the Scleral Lens Society (FSLS) designation to optometrists and ophthalmologists who earn 60 points through case reports, residencies, lectures, and peer-reviewed publications. A $125 application fee applies.
• Living Library Members-only repository of hundreds of research articles and publications concerning scleral lenses for practitioner reference.
• Monthly Webinar Series Monthly one-hour Zoom lectures reviewing recent scleral lens publications, ocular physiology, health research related to scleral lens wear, case series, and clinical research.
• Find a Scleral Lens Specialist Online directory that helps patients locate qualified scleral lens practitioners, including FSLS-designated Fellows, in their area.
• Patient Care Guides Educational materials for patients including lens application and removal instructions, scleral lens care and handling guides, FAQs, and instructional videos.
• Student Resources Educational materials and webinars for optometry students on scleral lens fitting basics and troubleshooting, plus student travel grants to attend specialty lens conferences.
• Studies & Clinical Trials Information Information portal linking to ongoing clinical studies related to scleral lenses, eye drops, and surgical interventions.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Bausch + LombcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond sponsor providing support for SLS educational events, programs, and initiatives. Promotes scleral lens education and advances specialty contact lens practice.
• ContamaccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond sponsor supporting SLS activities and scleral lens education initiatives.
• CooperVision Specialty EyeCarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond sponsor supporting SLS educational programs and events. Provides resources for scleral lens education.
• LensBasecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond sponsor providing support for SLS programs and initiatives.
• ABB LabssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor supporting SLS educational activities.
• OculussupportingTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor providing support for SLS initiatives.
• PuriLenssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor supporting SLS programs.
• See Green Scleral Lens InsertersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor providing support for SLS educational activities.
• Tangible SciencesupportingTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor offering Tangible Hydra-PEG coating technology for scleral lenses.
• TruForm OpticssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor and manufacturer of specialty contact lenses supporting SLS initiatives.
• Visionary OpticssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor supporting SLS educational programs.
• Boston SightsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor and provider of PROSE treatment and scleral lens products, supporting SLS education.
• The Dry Eye FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization focused on dry eye conditions that often overlap with scleral lens indications.
• The Dry Eye ShopsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliate organization providing lens care products for scleral lens patients.
• National Keratoconus Institute (NKCF)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization dedicated to keratoconus research and patient care, a key condition treated with scleral lenses.
• Gas Permeable Lens Institute (GPLI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization supporting gas permeable lens education and practice.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gas Permeable Lens Institute (GPLI): Non-profit educational organization providing practitioner training and resources on gas permeable contact lenses. Operates a near-identical membership-and-sponsorship model to SLS and is even an SLS affiliate organization.
• International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE): Global non-profit that educates contact lens educators and practitioners worldwide, sharing SLS's mission of advancing specialty lens knowledge through training programs.
• Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators (AOCLE): Organization of contact lens educators at optometry schools, focused on advancing contact lens teaching and clinical training, mirroring SLS's practitioner education focus.
• Contact Lens Society of America (CLSA): Professional membership society dedicated to contact lens practitioners, offering continuing education, clinical resources, and credentialing analogous to SLS's fellowship program.

Broad incumbents

• American Optometric Association (AOA): Main US optometric professional association covering all optometric practice areas; provides broad continuing education that competes for practitioner attention with SLS's specialty offerings.
• American Academy of Optometry (AAO): Larger, well-established optometry professional body whose FAAO credentialing model SLS emulates via FSLS; covers all optometry rather than specializing in scleral lenses.

Others

• Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS): Global research society producing influential ocular surface disease reports that often reference scleral lens use; an adjacent scientific authority that overlaps with SLS's educational scope.
• International Society for Contact Lens Research: Research-oriented society advancing contact lens science; represents the academic-research counterpart to SLS's practitioner-education orientation and shares overlapping leadership in the specialty lens community.
• National Keratoconus Foundation (NKCF): Patient- and research-focused non-profit affiliate of SLS; addresses keratoconus, the leading indication for scleral lens prescribing, making it a closely adjacent condition-specific society.

Regional players

• British Contact Lens Association (BCLA): UK-headquartered but internationally active contact lens professional association with peer-reviewed journal, conferences, and continuing education analogous to SLS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scleralsociety
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/scleralsociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/Sclerallens
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sclerallenseducationsociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scleral Lens Education Society