MONTREAL, September 20, 2004 -- The Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry announced today the creation of a new research chair in presbyopia and visual perception, funded by Science and Engineering Research Canada (also known by its acronym NSERC), at the Université de Montréal. Presbyopia, or farsightedness, is a well-known consequence of aging in the human eye and affects most people in their fifties. The work of this new chair will contribute to the manufacturing and testing of improved corrective lenses to boost the quality of life of our aging population. There are 70,000 new cases of presbyopia reported each year in Canada. "The NSERC-Essilor Chair in Presbyopia and Visual Perception will have an innovative and timely research program that will certainly attract more top- notch researchers and additional investment from private industry in the Montréal area," stated Mr. Emerson. "Vision correction research is very important to the well-being of the Canadian population," he added. The holder of the Chair, Dr. Jocelyn Faubert, explained that "aging baby boomers want to maintain an active lifestyle. Presbyopia is an obstacle they face in both their professional and social lives. Better corrective lenses will help those with presbyopia perform tasks such as reading or using a computer more easily. It is expected that the Chair's research results will make it possible to better assess the consequences that distortion from ophthalmic lenses have on the day-to-day activities of people with presbyopia, with a view to designing lenses more suited to their needs." The $650,000 federal contribution to this chair is being provided under NSERC's Industrial Research Chairs program. The Chair will also receive support from Essilor Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of Essilor International, which is the world's largest manufacturer of corrective eyewear. Essilor is contributing $500,000 in cash and $150,000 in kind. The company designs, manufactures and sells corrective lenses. It specializes in progressive lenses, which it developed. The Chair will be training three master's or doctoral students each year. Qualified professionals in this field are highly sought-after. NSERC President Dr. Tom Brzustowski pointed out that Dr. Faubert is eminently qualified in this field. "Recognized the world over for his work on visual perception and applied optics, Dr. Faubert is just the person to do the research that will lead to better corrective lenses for presbyopia. The students working under his direction will acquire experience that will be invaluable to them in the pursuit of a career in research or in private industry." Science and Engineering Research Canada (also known by its legal name "Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada" as well as the acronym NSERC) is a key federal agency investing in people, discovery and innovation. It supports both basic university research through research grants, and project research through partnerships among postsecondary institutions, government and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people. - 30 - For further information: Martine Perreault Media and Public Affairs Officer Communications Division, NSERC (613) 995-8824 martine.perreault@crsng.ca Jocelyn Faubert School of Optometry Université de Montréal (514) 343-7289 jocelyn.faubert@umontreal.ca
