The European Academy of Optometry and Optics

Professor Crelier qualified in 1980 as an Optician and in 1985 as a dipl. Augenoptiker at the Schweizerische Höhere Fachschule für Augenoptik (SHFA). He completed a Master of Science in Clinical Optometry at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (SALUS University). In 1988, following a period in optometric practice, Professor Crelier began to lecture at the SHFA, becoming Dean of the SHFA between 2003 and 2007. In 2007, when the SHFA merged with the University of Applied Science of Northern Switzerland, he became Director of the University’s Institute of Optometry. In 2008 he was appointed to professorship. Professor Crelier has held various positions in optometry including member of the executive committee of the International Association of Binocular Full Correction, Convenor of the Binocular Vision section of the Board of Examiners of ECOO and Chair of the Education Committee.

Dr Murphy has worked in optometry for over 20 years, graduating from Cardiff University in 1998. He has worked in private practice and in hospital optometry at Newcastle General Hospital and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Dr Murphy completed his PhD at Glasgow Caledonian University in 1996. He has been involved in optometry training since 1997, firstly at Glasgow Caledonian and from 2001 at Cardiff University, where he is Director of Teaching. Dr Murphy publishes regularly in scientific journals on contact lenses, cornea and tear film. He has collaborative links with fellow researchers in the UK, Germany, USA, Japan and New Zealand. Paul is a Member of the UK’s College of Optometrists, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Member of the International Society of Contact Lens Researchers and a Fellow of the British Contact Lens Association.

Nick Parker is a Non-executive Director of Pension Insurance Corporation Holdings LLP and Advisory Partner of Pension Corporation LLP, for which he chairs the Audit Committee, is a member on the Allocations Committee and provides advice to the senior executive team. Nick Parker is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Corporate Finance Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Mr Parker currently holds a number of chairs and directorships in the private equity, waste management and agricultural sectors. Mr Parker was a part time senior civil servant at The Scottish Executive and a member of the UK College of Optometrist’s Lay advisory panel and Board of Trustees

Dr Feike Grit qualified in 1969 as an optician at Christian Huygensschool in Rotterdam in The Netherlands and in 1973 in optometry at City University, London (UK). He spent internships at Optische Werke G. Rodenstock in Munich (Germany) and at Guy’s Hospital and Moorfield’s Eye Hospital in London (UK). Between 1982 and 2000 Dr Grit was President of the Dutch Optometric Association (OVN). He co-founded the Dutch school of optometry at Hogeschool Utrecht in 1988 and played a key role in the development of the legislation regulating the optometric profession in the Netherlands (2000). Dr Grit has held positions in international optometry including: Chair of the World Council of Optometry’s Education Committee and International Admittance Committee, American Academy of Optometry and President of the European Council of Optometry & Optics. He is Adjunct Faculty in the rank of Clinical Professor in Optometry at the University of Houston College of Optometry, Texas (USA) and the Inaugural President of the European Academy of Optometry & Optics (2009). Dr Grit’s main area of interest is in the professionalisation of optometry.

Frank Buijs is the Course Manager of the Master of Health Optometry and Orthopitics degree at the University of Applied Sciences, Utrecht, Nederlands. He first trained as a physiotherapist, then went on to become a teacher of physical education - a career which has progressed into academic management.  He has been at Utrecht since 2008 and was instrumental in establishing the course offerred there, working with the Dutch optometric association to establish optometry as an autonomous and recognised profession, not only in the eyes of the government and the public but also with the medical profession.  He was a trustee of the Association of European Universities, Schools and Colleges of Optometry (AEUSCO) and was instrumental in helping establish the European Academy.

Dr Ellen Svarverud is Assistant Professor at the Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences of Buskerud University College, Norway, an organisational member of the European Academy. Ellen received an MSc in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences from the University of Manchester UK in 1999. Later, she undertook postgraduate studies at Buskerud University on Teaching in Higher Education (2003-2004). Ellen holds a MSc in Clinical Optometry (Salus Univeristy , Philadelphia/USA, 2005) and gained a PhD from the University of Reading UK in 2010. Ellen is a member of the Norwegian Optometric Association and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She also holds membership of the Applied Vision Society.

Prof. Anderson undertook his primary degree in optometry at the University of Wales in Cardiff, graduating 1986. His pre-registration year was completed at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and membership of the College of Optometrists obtained in 1987. This was followed by a period in clinical practice during which time he studied for a Master of Philosophy degree at the University of Wales. His PhD was undertaken in the School of Optometry at Indiana University, USA and the following two years spent as a Research Fellow in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Edinburgh, before joining the University of Ulster in 1995. Since 2007 he has also been Principal Optometrist (Research) and Professor of Visual Neuroscience at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

He is currently a serving member of the General Optical Council (GOC), a member of the College of Experts of the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Life Sciences Committee of the Royal Irish Academy.

Since 2004 Dr Teixeira has served as President of the Board of APLO, the Association of Licensed Optometrists, Portugal. From July 2001 Dr Teixeira has worked as an optometrist, co-ordinating the clinic’s activities and conducting eye examinations at the Centre of Vision and Optics, Setubal, Portugal. Between 1999 and 2000 he was a member of Senate of the University of Beira interior, representing students of the Pedagogical Science Unit. Dr Teixeira served as President of the Board of the organization of student of Applied Physics at the same university between 1998 and 1999. Between 1997 and 1998 he was a member of the Board of NEFAO and from May 1998 he has been a member of the organizing committee of the II International Symposium, XIII Congress of UPOO, V Congress of NEFAO of Optometry and Optics.

Dr Fonte has been practising optometry since qualifying at the Institute of Optometry, Venice in 1986. She completed her Doctor of Optometry degree at the New England College of Optometry in Boston in 1996.  Dr Fonte is currently teaching at the University of Milan.  Rossella is President of the College of Italian Optometrists (Federottica)  and a Fellow of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE). In July 2009 she received the Doctor of Optics and Optometry degree at the State University of Milano Bicocca.

Prof Dr Holger Dietze has been working since 2005 as Professor for Pysiological Optics and Optometry at Beuth Hochschule fuer Technik Berlin (Germany), an organisational member of the European Academy. He practiced optometry from 2001 to 2005 and was lecturer and clinical demonstrator in Germany, UK and the Netherlands during this time. Holger has a European Diploma in Optometry (2004). He gained an MSc in Clinical Optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia/USA in 1996 and his PhD from Bradford University, UK in 2003. Positions in the area of education include Head of Educational Commission (Beuth Hochschule Berlin), Member of the ZVA Educational Commission (Germany) and Member of the Task Force Ophthalmic Optics.

For the last 40 years Gerhard Gschweidl has worked as a self employed optometrist in Klosterneuburg, near Vienna. Mr Gschweidl has been heavily involved in the training, development and education of young optometrists through his practice. Since 1977 he has worked for a number Austrian examination boards, specialising in optics and contact lenses. Mr Gschweidl has played an active role in the legal representation of the interests of the profession in Austria since 1975, initially in the low Austrian guild committee and from 1989 to 2005 as a country guild master of Lower Austria. Since 2005 he has served as President of the professional association of the opticians, orthopaedic technicians and hearing device technicians.

Since 2001 Christian Stebler has been President of the Swiss Optical Association (SOV). Mr Stebler is a self employed optometrist, working in independent practice in Aarau, Switzerland. He qualified in 1981 in Olten, Switzerland, and went on to study Diplomas as Licensed Optician and Expert and Leading Optician, between 1982 and 1991. Over the last three decades Mr Stebler has played an active role in the development of optics in Switzerland, becoming an Executive Council Member (President of the Business Management Commission) of the SOV in 1990. Between 1993 - 1996 he was President of the Board of Examiners for SOV Examinations and since 1996 he has been Chairman of Visus Members. Between 1999 - 2003 he was a Board Member of the Foundation Schurmatt. Mr Stebler served as a Municipal Council Member for Cantou Aargau between 1999 and 2003 and as Executive Committee Member of the Trade Association of Canton Aargau between 1997 and 2004.

Dr Rob Hogan is President and a Trustee of the College of Optometrists, London, England. Dr Hogan is a Board member of the General Optical Council, London, England and Director of Professional Services for Dollond and Aitchison, UK. Rob is a Trustee of Vision2020 UK and at a local level, a member of the Birmingham Local Optical Committee.