Illinois College of Optometry

This past week, ICO welcomed the Class of 2030!

Orientation was a huge success, with a week that included campus tours, a walk to 31st St Beach, student panels, industry connections, team activities, and a Chicago Architecture boat tour, the Class of 2030 got their first taste of life at ICO and in Chicago. 👓

We also want to give a huge shout out to this year's Orientation Team! You all did an amazing job helping to get our new students acquainted with ICO. And a thank-you to everyone who came together behind the scenes to make Orientation such a success! 👏

Here’s to the start of an amazing journey!

Today was officially move-in day for the Class of 2030, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the newest members of the ICO family! 🎉

A huge thank you to our incredible Student Orientation Team for all their hard work today! From helping our incoming students get settled to making them feel right at home, you helped make move-in day a great experience.

Welcome to ICO, Class of 2030! We’re so happy you’re here! 💙

Women In Optometry recently sat down with Dr. Stephanie Messner to reflect on her incredible 41-year career at the Illinois College of Optometry, from joining the faculty in 1985 to serving as Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

In this special feature, Dr. Messner looks back on the people, experiences and milestones that have shaped her career and her time at ICO.

A big thank you to Women In Optometry for sharing Dr. Messner’s story and helping us celebrate this incredible milestone!

Read the full article: https://ow.ly/XiYP50ZvVnL

ICO Homecoming 2026 registration is NOW OPEN!

Join fellow Alumni for Homecoming on October 16-18, 2026. Reunite with classmates and friends, connect with faculty and students, earn CE credits, and see the exciting transformations taking place across campus, including the new Primary Eye Care Center!

Visit https://www.ico.edu/homecoming for more information.

Big news from ICO research! The Illinois College of Optometry has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Deya, a tele-eyecare technology company, to support a new AI-focused research study.

Led by Drs. Yi Pang, Jennifer Harthan, and Erica Ittner, the study will use smartphone high-definition cameras to capture anterior segment eye images through Deya's innovative imaging system. These images will help train and refine Deya's AI clinical decision support tool: technology designed to help eye care providers deliver safe, doctor-directed tele-eyecare to their patients.

This project is believed to be the first of its kind using smartphone-acquired anterior segment images to support clinical decision-making, and it's just one of nearly 150 research studies currently underway at ICO.

A big thank you to Deya's Chief Medical Officer and ICO '91 alum Scott Jens, OD, FAAO, for his help in securing this partnership; we're proud to see our alumni and faculty continuing to lead the way in optometric research and innovation!

Find out more: https://www.visionmonday.com/technology/article/deya-partners-with-illinois-college-of-optometry-on-ai-model-training-research/

This past week, we hosted our 19th Annual Focus on Your Future (FOYF) program! We were excited to welcome 14 aspiring optometrists from CA, GA, IL, NC, NM, TN, and WI.

The week was packed with hands-on experiences, including IEI clinic observations, optometric labs, student panels, and mock interviews. It was a great opportunity for participants to experience what makes an education at the Illinois College of Optometry so unique.

A special thank you to Teisha Johnson, Senior Director of Admissions, for leading another successful FOYF program, and to our amazing Admissions team, faculty, staff, and student ambassadors for making the week such a memorable experience!

After 41 remarkable years at Illinois College of Optometry, Dr. Stephanie S. Messner, O.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, has announced her retirement, effective January 22, 2027.

Since joining the ICO faculty in 1985, and serving the past 15 years as Academic Dean, Dr. Messner has helped shape generations of optometrists through her work in the classroom, laboratory, and clinic. Her leadership roles at ICO have included Primary Care Service Chief, Residency Director, and Assistant Dean for IEI Patient Care Education.

Beyond ICO, Dr. Messner's influence has reached the entire profession: eight years on the Illinois Optometry Licensing and Disciplinary Board, national leadership with ASCO, and nine years on the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), including two as Chair, where she guided the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Messner for over four decades of extraordinary service and celebrating a legacy that will inspire ICO students, faculty, and clinicians for years to come.

Congratulations to two outstanding ICO students on their recent recognition from the Vision Care Section!

Jackson Ernst '27 has been named the recipient of the 2026 VCS Morton W. Silverman Outstanding Student-Paper (Project) Award for his research, "Risk Factors for Increased Cup-to-Disc Ratio: A Cross-Sectional Study."

Caroline Onwuzu '28 has received the Distinguished Student Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Vision Care Section!

We are so proud of both Jackson and Caroline for their exceptional efforts and well-deserved recognition. Their dedication to research, service, and the profession reflects the very best of ICO, and they've set a great example for their fellow students by going above and beyond to excel in optometry.

Congratulating the following ICO faculty who have been promoted as of today, July 1st!

Please join us in celebrating:

🔹 Kathryn Hohs, OD, FAAO - Associate Professor of Optometry
🔹 Mallory McLaughlin, OD, FAAO - Associate Professor of Optometry
🔹 Jaymeni Patel, OD, FAAO - Associate Professor of Optometry
🔹 Danielle Piser, OD, FAAO - Associate Professor of Optometry
🔹 Reneta Simeon, OD - Assistant Professor of Optometry

These promotions are well-deserved, reflecting years of dedication to patient care and mentorship at ICO and the IEI. Congratulations, Doctors! We're proud to have you on our faculty.

ICO was honored to be represented by Dr. Leonard Messner at a reception for Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth earlier this month!

Sen. Duckworth has long been a champion for optometry and for ICO specifically, most recently securing a $750,000 Congressional Directed Spending grant to support the renovation of our Illinois Eye Institute.

This investment will directly enhance patient care and strengthen the clinical training experience for our students and we're grateful for Sen. Duckworth's continued advocacy and partnership in advancing eye care and education in Illinois!