PRESS RELEASE
July 10, 2025
For Immediate Release
Blair Wong among six global finalists for prestigious IOA honor; winner announced September 2025 in Paris
NEWTON, MA – Blair Wong, Board President of GoodVision USA and Department Chair of Eye Health Technology at Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute, has been named a finalist for the 2025 International Opticians Association (IOA) International Optician of the Year Award.
Wong joins five other distinguished opticians from Canada, Belgium, and the United States competing for the international honor. The winner will be announced at the SILMO d’Or ceremony in Paris this September.
The nomination recognizes Wong’s dual impact in education and humanitarian vision care. As Department Chair at Franklin Cummings Tech, Wong built an opticianry program achieving a 99.5% job placement rate. Under his board leadership, GoodVision USA has supported over 2.2 million free eye screenings and distributed almost 1 million pairs of glasses across 11 countries in Asia, Africa and South America.
“Blair exemplifies what we see globally: the most powerful change happens when leaders bridge technical excellence with community-driven solutions,” said Matt Gianino, Executive Director of GoodVision USA.
The IOA award evaluates candidates across eight criteria including clinical excellence, innovation, community engagement, and professional development contributions. Wong was inducted into the Opticians Association of America Hall of Fame in 2022 and was also honored with the #EBGameChanger Award by Eyecare Business the same year.
Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 26, Wong transformed his personal experience with vision loss into educational strength, using his insights to enhance student understanding of patient needs.
GoodVision USA’s innovative approach creates sustainable vision care through locally-manufactured glasses costing approximately $1 in materials. The organization will deliver its one millionth pair of glasses later this summer, approaching a milestone that has accelerated under Blair’s leadership.
The recognition follows GoodVision USA’s recent 2025 NOW Optical Achievement Award, highlighting growing international acknowledgment of sustainable, locally-led vision care approaches.
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About GoodVision USA
According to a WHO study, over 950 million people worldwide experience preventable vision loss but do not have access to quality eye care including glasses. Without good vision, children cannot learn, adults cannot work and care for their families, and individuals can’t participate fully in their communities. GoodVision is changing this. GoodVision USA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives in developing countries by providing high-quality and affordable vision care. Through innovative programs, establishing sustainable local vision care infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and advocacy, GoodVision works tirelessly to ensure that everyone, regardless of location or economic status, has the opportunity to see clearly and reach their full potential. GoodVision’s award-winning and sustainable model has strong alignment with several of the United Nation’s Strategic Development Goals (SDGs) and has a presence in 11 developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America. For more information, please visit www.goodvisionusa.org.
News Media Contact:
Matt Gianino
GoodVision USA, Executive Director
617.798.7986
Interview with Blair Wong – a Founding Board Member of GoodVision USA
Q: What inspires and excites you most about our GoodVision mission?
As an optician, and especially when serving the most underserved and vision needy populations in the world, there is no greater professional responsibility than enhancing, preserving, protecting, and restoring a person’s vision so they can attain their greatest potential.
Q: What has been a highlight concerning your work on the board so far?
As a founding member of the GoodVision USA board I am so inspired and proud of the growth and accomplishments of our work in establishing an important life-altering presence in Liberia, our meaningful and fulfilling connection to GoodVision International and all of the other project countries, and that collectively, and through the dispensing of a pair of customized prescription glasses, we are about to change the life of our first 1 millionth person.
Q: What keeps you inspired to continue this work?
Helping people, especially those who are most vulnerable, to be successful in the world by providing a simple pair of prescription glasses.
Having access to sight is a human right.
Q: What are your greatest skills, strengths, and experiences that you bring to GoodVision USA to support our mission?
As an optician, as a blind person, and as a citizen of this world, I am passionate and committed to the GoodVision cause and mission.
I am fortunate to be surrounded by so many amazing people who share their special talents, devotion, energy, and passion for our mission. I am honored and privileged to work with so many caring and committed people throughout the GoodVision global organization.
Q: What is a fun fact that most people may not know about you?
In order to raise funds for “Canines For Kids”, I repelled off an eleven story building… during a thunder and lightning storm! It was electric!
Q: What is your favorite book, podcast, or quote?
Favorite Podcast: This American Life
Favorite Quotes:
The two most important days in a person’s life are the day they were born, and the day that they find out why. – Mark twain
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead