2026 Thomas E. Anastor GPLI Distinguished Service Award

Presented to Dr. Nicky Lai

About the Recipient

I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles (1998), and a Doctor of Optometry degree with a concurrent Master of Science degree in Vision Science from The Ohio State University (2003). I completed a Clinical Residency in Contact Lens at The Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2004 to gain more expertise in my clinical area of interest.

During optometry school, I discovered my interest in clinical teaching and was fortunate to find a position as an auxiliary clinical faculty member, where I precepted optometry interns in the Contact Lens Service, Primary Care Service, and Pediatric Service. As I gained more clinical teaching experience, I was appointed as service chief of the OSU Wilce Student Health Center Optometry Service and then to my current position as the service chief of the Contact Lens Service at the OSU College of Optometry Main Clinic. I have been in my current position as Associate Professor of Clinical Optometry since 2012.

Along with my clinical responsibilities, I am also the course and primary lab instructor for Optom 6770 Advanced Optometric Procedures and Optom 7510 Contact Lens I Lab. I am also the course instructor for Optom 7520 Advanced Contact Lens. My main objective in teaching is to translate classroom knowledge into clinical practice. In the laboratory courses, I emphasize procedural skills beyond repetitive practice to include interpretation of findings and understanding of techniques so students know how to troubleshoot during complex or difficult cases. In my lecture-based contact lens course, I summarize presented material in a case-based format to help students apply knowledge. I also use clinical cases to approach course content and demonstrate concepts relevant to patient care.

As chair of the Admissions Committee, I understand the importance of a diverse and well-prepared student body. We use a holistic approach in our selection process, where we consider each candidate’s academic success as well as leadership potential, communication skills, ability to show empathy, and personal uniqueness. We are looking for students with the desire to be excellent optometric clinicians but who also want to be leaders in their profession, develop their professional identity, and find their niche. We want our alumni to contribute beyond the immediate impact of each patient and toward changing their community in their own unique ways.

Nicky Lai, OD, MS
The Ohio State University College of Optometry
(614) 292-1726
lai.102@osu.edu