Through Her Lens

A true trailblazer, Dr. Daddi Fadel pushes boundaries and empowers women through her unique perspective and expertise in the specialty contact lens field

Dr. Daddi Fadel’s journey from Lebanon to Italy, and eventually Canada, epitomizes resilience and determination. Her pioneering work in optometry, particularly in specialty contact lenses, reflects her commitment to overcoming challenges and pushing boundaries. What’s more, Dr. Fadel’s advocacy for education and the empowerment of women highlights her multifaceted contributions to the world of eye care.

All her life, Dr. Daddi Fadel—a clinical scientist at the Center for Ocular Research and Education (CORE) and an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada— has never been afraid to leave her comfort zone, fearlessly turning every challenge into motivation and aspiration.

Born in Lebanon, her family emigrated to Greece when Dr. Fadel was 14. After completing her high school education in France, she pursued further studies in optics in Italy, which became her home for the next three decades, profoundly shaping her career and personal life.

It was during this time that she established herself as a pioneer in contact lens designs and gained international recognition for her expertise in various areas— particularly in contact lenses for irregular cornea, scleral lenses, myopia control, and orthokeratology.

“Looking back, my parents thought it would be beneficial for me to continue my studies in France after high school and have my older brother there to look out for me. However, this wasn’t what I desired,” shared Dr. Fadel. “I wanted to affirm my independence, rely on my own strengths, and shape my path in life on my own terms.”

During her last year in school, she underwent an appendectomy performed by a Lebanese surgeon. “He shared stories about his brother who practiced optics in Italy, and how fulfilled he was in his career. Inspired by his words, I decided to go to Italy and study optics despite not being familiar with optometry at that time. My parents finally relented but thought I would return home after a few months,” she recalled.

Finding her true passion

It turned out that the two years of studying optics were transformative for Dr. Fadel as she discovered the field of optometry. She decided to pursue it further, earning an Honor Degree from the Istituto Superiore di Scienze Optometriche in Rome.

While she already had an interest in contact lenses, she soon realized that she was seeking more substantial challenges beyond those presented by soft contact lenses. She developed a profound passion for specialty contact lenses, mainly corneal and ortho-k lenses, at that time.

“The uniqueness of each patient and their individual needs for customized care and lenses deeply resonated with me,” she shared. “Every day presented a new set of experiences to me, and witnessing the life-changing impact that these specialty lenses had on patients further motivated me to embrace these challenges wholeheartedly.”

Once again, Dr. Fadel faced a dilemma: Should she let the lab handle the lens design within the constraints of known parameters and limited modification options, or should she take full control over every aspect of the lens parameters, including the risks involved in the fitting process? She opted for the latter.

“The uniqueness of each patient and their individual needs for customized care and lenses deeply resonated with me.”

– Dr. Daddi Fadel

“Despite the scarcity of technology at the time, I was fortunate to have access to a corneal topographer, which aided me in the lens design process. However, the topographer scanning capabilities were limited to an 8 mm radius of the cornea, leaving my designs somewhat blind in the peripheral cornea.

“Nevertheless, through trials and errors with the initial lens designs and careful observation of the fluorescein patterns, I could identify areas needing adjustment and confidently make the necessary changes, armed with a comprehensive understanding of all the lens parameters,” she explained.

Transforming challenges into triumphs

It was during her time in Italy that Dr. Fadel met her husband, with whom she built a family together, raising two boys now aged 18 and 16. While her practice had brought her great satisfaction, she said achieving recognition in Italy as a professional came with many challenges.

“Generally, being an optometrist in Italy was challenging, as it was not recognized as a healthcare profession. Additionally, I faced bullying and moral harassment from other eye care professionals. Nevertheless, these obstacles served as catalysts, igniting within me a fierce determination to persist, evolve, and enhance myself further,” she remarked.

Such challenges led Dr. Fadel to actively seek opportunities outside of Italy in recent years. The slow economic climate has also prompted many professionals to seek better opportunities abroad.

“Throughout my career, I’ve thought about providing my children with a brighter future and greater opportunities. Canada was an appealing option due to its reputation for being a safe country with promising career prospects. CORE presented an ideal platform for me to expand my knowledge in research and contribute to cutting-edge research initiatives,” she noted.

Dr. Fadel is particularly enthusiastic about contributing to the development and expansion of research in specialty contact lenses within this facility. “It’s a challenge I’m thoroughly enjoying,” she shared.

Recognizing the power of personalized precision

Contact lens technology has evolved to encompass a wide array of therapeutic applications, extending beyond mere vision enhancement to preventing or slowing the progression of myopia.

According to Dr. Fadel, the use of contact lenses for drug delivery, whether soft or scleral, has transitioned from theoretical to practical application. Scleral lenses, in particular, have also emerged as a versatile solution for promoting ocular surface healing across a spectrum of ocular diseases. Today, they are increasingly being prescribed even for mild cases of dry eye.

“I have always firmly believed in the potential of customized specialty lenses, seeing them as the future of optometry. And, now, that future has become a reality,’’ enthused Dr. Fadel. ‘’Nearly half of my patients, previously unaware of scleral lenses, opted to transition to this modality after experiencing its benefits. Thus, it is imperative for practitioners to actively assess the symptoms of dry eye and offer scleral lenses as a viable solution to prevent patients from discontinuing contact lens use,” she added.

Integrating research and education in eye care

Besides research, Dr. Fadel’s other passion lies in education. “I’m involved in a committee for PhD students, where I follow their academic journey and offer assistance. It is a rewarding experience which exposes me to new perspectives and ideas,” she shared.

Practitioners often encounter challenging cases that require creative solutions and innovative approaches, inspiring further research. “Indeed, research should be closely connected to the needs of patients and address real-world challenges,” she added.

“Therefore, researchers must ensure their work has a clinical impact. This involves staying in constant communication with practitioners who are on the frontlines to understand what is needed, provide effective solutions, and develop new products for patients.”

Writing also holds a significant place in Dr. Fadel’s professional endeavors. She’s an author and co-author of several papers, with her primary objective being to share her knowledge with other eye care professionals, specifically focusing on specialty lenses.

“The challenges faced by a female optometrist remain formidable. Women continue to bear a disproportionate burden, requiring double the effort to attain half the recognition compared to men. Women should not be subjected to the risk of burnout solely because of their gender. Much work still needs to be done, and GLOW aims to address these issues.”

Dr. Daddi Fadel

“I feel a sense of duty to disseminate knowledge to my peers worldwide, as I firmly believe in the ripple effect of education. By empowering practitioners with the necessary knowledge and skills, I am indirectly contributing to the well-being of countless patients across the globe,’’ she enthused.

One of the most rewarding aspects of her work is when her publications are read by eye care professionals around the world. This validation holds profound significance for Dr. Fadel as it indicates that her aspirations are being translated into tangible impact, positively influencing her peers and practitioners despite not having any previous affiliation with an academic institution.

Breaking barriers through language and empowerment

In addition to her numerous contributions to the field of optometry, Dr. Fadel established the European School of Scleral Lenses (EUROSCOLE) and Global Ophthalmic Women (GLOW).

“EUROSCOLE translates my educational vision into reality, while GLOW empowers women to support each other, fostering robust female leadership through adequate education and support,” she explained.

“The challenges faced by a female optometrist remain formidable. Women continue to bear a disproportionate burden, requiring double the effort to attain half the recognition compared to men. Women should not be subjected to the risk of burnout solely because of their gender. Much work still needs to be done, and GLOW aims to address these issues,” she shared.

A woman of many talents and aptitudes, Dr. Fadel is a polyglot who speaks five languages: Arabic, English, French, Greek, and Italian. She is also currently learning Spanish.

“I am incredibly fortunate to speak multiple languages, a skill cultivated through my education and experiences in various countries,” she noted. “Learning a language not only enables communication but also offers insight into the associated culture. It allows me to better empathize with people from various countries, whether they’re eye care professionals or patients.

“Additionally, it enables me to read publications from different countries, gaining diverse insights that enrich my understanding and provide a broader range of perspectives into my work,” she concluded.

Editor’s Note: This article was published in COOKIE Magazine Issue 15.