July 21, 2026
Renowned Costa Rican optometrist and myopia management pioneer brings nearly five decades of industry leadership to the global vision care organization
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Javier Prada-López, OD, to its Board of Directors. A trailblazer in contact lens specialization, myopia management, and optical industry development across Latin America, Dr. Prada-López brings more than 47 years of experience spanning clinical practice, education, manufacturing, and executive leadership.
Dr. Prada-López is the founder of CEOM (Centro de especialidades Oculares y manejo de Miopía) in Costa Rica and currently serves as president of the Latin American Academy of Ortho K and Myopia Control, a role he has held since 2024. He is also a fellow of the International Academy of Ortho K and Myopia Control (FIAOMC) and a member of the Board of the International Academy of Ortho K and Myopia Control (IAOMC).
A graduate of the University of Costa Rica with a Bachelor’s degree in Optometry and Optics, Dr. Prada-López went on to complete specialized training in contact lenses in 1983, followed by fellowships in Fort Lauderdale and London in 1983 and 1984 respectively. His clinical expertise in contact lenses and the treatment of refractive errors spans more than four decades, with a particular focus on myopia prevalence and management over the past 14 years.
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Prada-López has played a defining role in shaping the optical industry across Central America. He served as director of Grupo Visión — a chain of optical clinics with 140 locations in Costa Rica and 16 in Nicaragua — for nearly five decades, and was instrumental in developing the first optical laboratory in Costa Rica based on the Essilor philosophy in 1984. He has also served as president of DIOPSA, a distributor of optical, ophthalmological, and pharmaceutical products, since 1984, and as president of VisionLab, a digital laboratory of specialized contact lenses, since 2012.
His commitment to optometry education is equally distinguished. Dr. Prada-López served as director of the Ophthalmology Postgraduate Program at the University of Costa Rica from 1996 to 2016, and has been a lifelong advocate for advancing the profession throughout Latin America.
“We are thrilled to welcome Javier to the OGS Board,” said Juan Carlos Aragón, co-chair of the Optometry Giving Sight Board of Directors. “His depth of experience across every dimension of the optical industry, combined with his leadership in myopia management and his deep roots in Latin America, make him an extraordinary addition to our team. We look forward to the perspective and expertise he will bring to our mission.”
“Throughout my career, I have seen firsthand the ways in which access to primary eye care can change the trajectory of a life. Optometry Giving Sight is doing the essential work of ensuring that access is not a privilege, but a right. I look forward to supporting that mission in every way I can,” said Dr. Prada-López.
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) raises funds from the optometric community to support programs that end preventable blindness and vision impairment worldwide. By offering immediate eye care and building the sustainable infrastructure needed to expand permanent access, OGS empowers communities to thrive. Over the last 20 years, OGS funding has provided primary eye care services to more than 15 million people, assisted in training over 14,000 professionals, and established more than 200 vision centers in over 70 countries.
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Media Contact:
Emma Alvarez Gibson
Director of Marketing and Communications
Optometry Giving Sight
emma.alvarezgibson@givingsight.org