Q: Who can attend the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS)?
A: The GSLS is open to all eye care professionals seeking continuing education in everything 'lens'—ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians and lens fitters—and their support staff.
A: We do allow attendees to purchase a guest pass(es) during registration at a discounted rate. This pass is typically for the partner, spouse or other 18+ accompanying guest of an attendee, and only includes exhibit hall access with food and beverage. All guests must be over the age of 18 and not hold a position related to the industry. This pass can be added under the 'Additional Attendees' section of registration and paid for at checkout along with the primary attendee's pass.
Q: Are all courses approved for CE credit?
A: Each year, we submit each course to COPE, NCLE and JCAHPO for approval. We will continue to update the course descriptions with an approval indication and ID numbers throughout this process. Due to various restrictions, the All Poster and two Free Paper sessions will only be eligible for COPE credit.
Q: How do I modify my registration record?
A: You can make changes to your registration here. On the first page, enter the email address you originally used to register and the universal password, 'gsls2019' (case sensitive, no quotes).
Q: Can I register on-site?
A: Yes, registration will be available at the conference, but we strongly recommend you register in advance to take advantage of the best pricing, as fees increase as the event date further approaches and on-site, and we cannot guarantee short wait times at the registration desk.
Q: What are the guidelines for a free paper or poster submission?
A: You can read, print or download a PDF of the official rules and guidelines for GSLS 2019 paper and poster submissions here.
Q: How do I know my abstract submission has been received?
A: Once you complete a full submission via the portal, you should receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours. If you believe you have not received it, please check your spam or junk folder. If you cannot locate the email by any means, you should check the status of your submission by logging into the portal and clicking the "Submissions" tab on the navigation menu at the top of the page. For any major issues, contact Kimberly Bydlon.
Q: I submitted an abstract to present a free paper or scientific poster at the 2019 meeting. When will I be notified of a decision regarding my submission?
A: The submissions window closes on Friday, August 31st, 2018, at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). The education committee will take time to review and notifications will be sent to submitters on or after September 15th, 2018. All submitters will be notified whether their submission is accepted or declined. For students and residents, the deadline is October 15th, 2018.
Q: I submitted an abstract to present a free paper or scientific poster at the 2019 meeting. Should I register for the conference next?
A: The conference management team asks that you wait to register for the conference until after notifications have been sent so that you may be provided with a discount code should your submission be accepted. A link to registration will be included in the email notifications. First Authors of selected free papers will be offered $150 off registration, and those of selected posters will receive $100. Note: The submissions system is completely separate from event registration; you will need to create separate login credentials for each module.
Q: How many free papers will be accepted for the 2019 meeting?
A: A total of ten (10) free paper submissions will be accepted for 2019 presentations. A much greater number of posters will be accepted, and the exact number is unknown at this time but could be up to roughly 100.
Q: My poster or free paper abstract has been accepted. Now what?
A: Once all reviews and acceptances have been completed and notifications sent, you should register for the conference and begin making your hotel and travel arrangements. We will send updates and reminders via email in the following months. This information is also posted the Abstracts page of this website.
