IRIS is a proud Canadian company that is passionate about vision. We work hard, we play hard, and we have fun striving to be the best at what we do. We are a team who shares the core values of Passion, Honesty and Respect. Our values drive everything we do.
These values are shared by the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Waterloo, where close to 3,500 optometrists who practice in communities nationwide have successfully graduated. IRIS and the School of Optometry and Vision Science work in partnership to promote optometry as a rewarding career and ultimately improve the vision of Canadians.
IRIS connects with Waterloo optometry students in their first year to share internship options, career preparation, and industry seminars. As students enter their 4th year, IRIS offers an opportunity for rotations at the Guelph Optometry Clinic in Ontario. IRIS is invested in ensuring success for Waterloo optometry graduates by actively participating in career days and recruiting events at the school.
In November of 2022, IRIS pledged a commitment of 1 million dollars to The School of Optometry and Vision Science as part of the Seeing Beyond 2020 campaign. This investment was made to support the creation of the Waterloo Eye Institute (WEI) – Canada’s leading eye and vision care center of excellence.
“We are always looking at how technology can play a role in eye care and enhance the level of service we provide for patients,” says Dr. Daryan Angle, Vice President of Business Development and Optometrist at IRIS. “Contributing specifically to the imaging lab will help bring quality care to future generations and prepare optometrists for the highest level of practice, including specialty practices.”
IRIS’s commitment will allow the WEI to develop and teach the latest technology in diagnostic imaging resources, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), the science behind a non-invasive test that uses retina images to enable early detection and treatment of ocular diseases. IRIS currently uses OCT in several locations, providing patients with a high standard of care. This example is one of the many advancements demonstrating the strength and importance of IRIS’s partnership with the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Waterloo.
Photo credit: Lauren Ward
