Neil Retallic has been named as president elect of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) and will succeed Indie Grewal after the 2021 BCLA annual general meeting in June.
Retallic, who has replaced Professor Christine Purslow after she decided to step down from the role, said he looked forward to carrying on the good work of previous BCLA presidents.
‘The world of contact lenses and anterior eye is rapidly evolving, which is exciting, and we should embrace the new technology and innovation to provide our wearers with the most suitable options to match their needs,’ he added.
Retallic said he would like to see advances in eco-friendly contact lens products and further work in finding treatments for patients with ocular pathology.
‘The biggest challenge is how do we keep patients happy with contact lenses and reduce dropout rates, with products that are eco-friendly and complement the ocular surface. I think there is further work to be done in developing contact lens solutions for patients with ocular pathology and the therapeutic aspects,’ he shared.
Retallic is European professional services director at Menicon, an assessor and examiner for the College of Optometrists and is currently part of the General Optical Council’s education committee.
He has previously worked as professional services manager at CooperVision, learning and development manager for Vision Express and optometry teaching fellow at the University of Manchester.
Luke Stevens-Burt, chief executive of the BCLA, added: ‘Neil is a much-valued and greatly-respected member of our council. His enthusiasm and knowledge for contact lenses and the anterior eye is evident and I have no doubt he will make a real impression as our next President. I look forward to working closely with Neil and shaping the future of our sector.’