Optometry in Hong Kong faces the worst projected workforce shortfall among all regulated health care professions. Local professional optometric education has been available since the 1970s and continues to evolve to keep pace with technological advancements and optometry programs in the region and beyond. However, optometric legislation and practice, particularly in relation to public health care, often lag behind. This leads to the slow progress of the development of optometry in Hong Kong. This article provides an overview of the current status of optometry in Hong Kong, particularly regarding the education, legislation and practice of the profession, and adds some thoughts toward future development.
This 2025 Commencement Address briefly highlights the contributions of the Veterans Health Administration, Indian Health Service and Military (Federal Service Optometry) to the Marshall B. Ketchum University - Southern California College of Optometry’s education and training programs as the profession transitioned from detecting eye disease conditions to diagnosing, treating and managing them in the 1970s and 1980s. From 2000 to 2021, the Veterans Administration expanded VA Optometric Student Externship, post-graduate Residency and Advanced Fellowship programs to better meet the optometry profession’s education and training needs as State Practice Acts continually evolved. Veterans’ access to primary eye care, diabetic tele-retinal screening as well as low vision and brain injury vision rehabilitation services were greatly enhanced.
Blast from the Past Essay (Third Place), A Visionary Pioneer: The Legacy of Dr. Patricia Bath
Blast from the Past Presentation (First Place), Trailblazer in Low Vision: Dr. Ian Bailey
Fluorescein angiography is an important tool used in diagnosis and management of retinal pathology. By allowing visualization of the retinal vasculature, fluorescein angiography is instrumental in detecting diabetic and hypertensive eye disease, macular degeneration, diseases of the choroid and cancers of the eye. What follows is the chronological account of how and why this procedure was developed.
This article explains events leading to the decision to attempt to pass legislation establishing a school of optometry in the state of Alabama. It was the vision of Dr. Donald Springer that prompted the idea that such an accomplishment was possible but the political expertise of Sen. Alton Turner that made the school a reality. There were many members of the Alabama Optometric Association, legislators, education administrators, public officials, and others who played significant roles that contributed to the success of this effort. The establishment of the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Optometry (UABSO), from its inception, as an integral part of an academic medical center was an educational model that had not been utilized by the profession of optometry before. The school, which began Sept. 1, 1969, has contributed significantly to the advancement of the profession of optometry and vision science.
This article explores the significant contributions of Dick Whitney to the field of optics, focusing on his pivotal role in developing American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, advancing optical technology and preserving optical history. Through an in-depth interview, Whitney shares his journey, from his early beginnings at American Optical (AO) to his leadership in international standards. The narrative is a summary of the interview and captures key historical moments, professional milestones and Whitney's insights on the evolution of optics, offering a valuable perspective for researchers, practitioners and historians.
The image of Christ’s robe, seen through the orb held by Christ in the painting Salvator Mundi by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, has led to speculation that the orb consists of a glass (or rock crystal, calcite) sphere that is either hollow or solid. Da Vinci’s drawings and notes indicate that he had an intense interest in the optics of the eye and in the natural world around him. Is it possible that he was depicting the optical quality of the spherical fish lens, a lens with a gradient refractive index that neutralizes the spherical aberration that would otherwise exist?
Goss David A., and Pike Scott E. Carol B. Pratt: Pacific University's Original Optometric Genius. N.p., Bee Tree Books, 2023. ISBN 978-1-945-39814-8. 113+13 pages. Paperback.
Nancy Carlson, O.D., had a prestigious career in academia at the New England College of Optometry (NECO) for over three decades and served as a mentor to many students, optometrists and optometric educators. In an interview, Dr. Carlson discusses her own mentors during and after optometry school as well as the significant role that mentorship plays in the profession. Those who have worked with or were mentored by Dr. Carlson also provide their insights on the topic.
