Susan Gromacki
Dr. Susan J. Gromacki is an internationally-recognized Polish American clinician, lecturer, and author in optometry. In practice for 32 years, she graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame and The Ohio State University College of Optometry and completed a residency in hospital-based optometry with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She has presented almost 850 professional lectures and publications and has served as Contributing Editor of Contact Lens Spectrum, Review of Cornea and Contact Lenses, Contemporary Optometry, and CL Today. She serves on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, composing and overseeing the written examinations that ensure the qualifications of new US optometrists to enter practice. She is one of only 24 doctors worldwide to earn both a Fellowship in the Scleral Lens Education Society and the prestigious Diplomate in Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies of the American Academy of Optometry. She has presented on behalf of the profession of optometry to the US FDA and FTC, and in countries around the world. Formerly a faculty member of the New England College of Optometry and the University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, she has received almost 50 professional awards for excellence, including the 2025 Visionary Award from the Contact Lens Institute (CLI), the “Top Doctor of 2024” Award from the National Keratoconus Foundation, the 2023 Contact Lens Institute Culture Award, the 2022 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, the World’s Top Optometrists (2020) and one of the Most Notable Alumni in the 100-year history of The Ohio State University College of Optometry.
2026-04-18
- PRESBIOPIA
- Plennary Hall
PRESBYOPIA-MANAGEMMENT - STARCZOWZROCZNOŚĆ! The number one reason for visiting the optometrist – is near vision problems. At the same time, this topic does not get the attention it deserves...
PRESBYOPIA-MANAGEMMENT - STARCZOWZROCZNOŚĆ!
The number one reason for visiting the optometrist – is near vision problems. At the same time, this topic does not get the attention it deserves at clinical conferences and in the optometric literature within our field. Myopia-management gets all the attention, while presbyopia maybe has much more potential in our field. Optometria 2026 in Kraków is an exception to that rule, and ís taking presbyopia-management seriously. The key word here is ‘management’ as we should – like in myopia management – focus on and consider áll options to satisfy the patient – that could include (but is not limited to) contact lenses: surgical interventions and even pharmaceutical are possibilities too, apart from glasses. The problem often is that in English literature for instance, there is no good word for ‘presbyopia’ in the general public to discuss this. Therefore, patients come in saying they ‘need reading glasses’. This is channeling a need (a near vision demand) towards a product. In presbyopia management we should turn this around and meticulously analyze and define the near vision demand the patient is desiring and thén talk about suitable options. Including contact lenses, which can offer some great advantages over other options. It all starts with good communication, and what really helps is that in Polish you seem to have a term called ‘starczowzroczność’, that other languages lack. This is a very nice – neutral – starting point to start the presbyopia journey, to discuss the clinical consequences and to come to best possible solution.
1. Changes in refraction and binocular vision in presbyopic patients - Susan Gromacki (20min)
This presentation will discuss the impact of presbyopia on the ocular system; in particular, on accommodation, distance and near vision, the vergence system, contrast sensitivity, and general visual function.
- PRESBIOPIA
- Plennary Hall
3. Presbyopia correction in irregular corneas - Susan Gromacki (20min) Our patients with irregular corneas develop presbyopia, too. One of the world's experts in specialty contact len...
3. Presbyopia correction in irregular corneas - Susan Gromacki (20min)
Our patients with irregular corneas develop presbyopia, too. One of the world's experts in specialty contact lens fitting will discuss how to optimally correct these patients for distance, intermediate and near.
5. Pharmacological solutions for presbyopes - Susan Gromacki (20min)
There are four different pharmacological eye drops approved by the US FDA for the treatment of presbyopia. This lecture will present their formulation, mechanism of action, efficacy and side effects. It will also introduce the audience to some other medications for this purpose that are being developed for the future.
- PRESBIOPIA
- Plennary Hall
