The European Academy of Optometry and Optics

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.

Dr Mireia Pacheco-Cutillas obtained her Diploma in Optics and Optometry from the University in Catalunya (UPC), Spain in 1984. She qualified as registered optometrist in 1986 and obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry, USA in 1995. From 1986 to present, she has been working as Senior lecturer at the Department of Optics and Optometry (EUOOT) at the University in Catalunya. Her PhD on the relative loss of chromatic and achromatic sensitivity in POAG and ageing was completed in 2004 at City University, London. She held a Fellowship of the American Academy of Optometry from 1996 to 2009 and was a MBCO Member of the British College of Optometrists From 1998-2002. She has published and lectured widely on the areas of Peadiatrics, Binocular Vision, Colour Vision, Glaucoma, Motion Detection and Ageing.

Luca Benzoni received the diploma in optics in 1997 from the Institute of Optical and Optometric sciences in Milan. In 2002 he completed his degree in optometry at the same institute, and in 2006 received the Doctor of Optics and Optometry degree at the State University of Milano Bicocca.

He has been a member of the Italian board of optometrists since 2010, and  worked as clinical assistant in the contact lens clinic of the State University of Milano Bicocca from 2007 to 2009. Since 2010 he has taught at the university and is a Fellow of the BCLA and IACLE.

Dr Annemieke Coops qualified in 1996 as an optician at the ROC Zadkine College, Rotterdam, Netherlands, and completed her bachelor degree in optometry in 2001 at the University of Applied Science, Utrecht, Netherlands. After a research project at Eurolens, Manchester, UK, and a Master of Philosophy in contact lenses at The University of Manchester, she completed in 2006 her PhD in glaucoma detection and monitoring at the School of Medicine of The University of Manchester, UK. From 2006-2009 she held a faculty position at theoptometry department of the University of Applied Science, Utrecht, Netherlands. Concurrently, she became involved in hospital optometry in a private ophthalmic clinic, OMC Haarlem, Netherlands, where she is working to date. Currently, she is also serving as policy adviser for the Dutch Optometric Association (OVN). In addition, she is active in developing and lecturing continuing education courses on ocular pathology throughout the Netherlands.

Ignacio Costa Gonzales qualified in optics at the Complutense University of Madrid, and graduated in optical optometry from the University of Granada. Additionally, he qualified as University Specialist in pre- and post-surgery optometry at the University of Valladolid. Costa has been practicing optometry, contactology and primary eye care in their family company for more than 15 years. With the aim of continuing his formation and to acquire more knowledge in Optometry, he undertook a Bachelor and Masters degree in Science at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (USA). Since then, Costa has been involved in the political activities of the Spanish Council of Optometry. He was elected representative of the Council to the European meetings of ECOO and later the Academy. Costa has taught optometry for six years at the University San Pablo CEU in Madrid. Parallel to his professional career in optometry, Costa has been involved in politics, and elected Councilor in the City Government of his hometown for six consecutive four-year terms. Furthermore, Costa gained a degree in General Business Direction at the IESE Business School (University of Navarra) and a Marketing degree at the Business and Marketing School (ESIC). He is also involved in the works of the National Health Care Commission of the Popular Party in Spain.

Dr. Julie-Anne Little graduated in optometry from the University of Ulster in 2002. She undertook her pre-registration year in the Eye department of Arrowe Park Hospital, Cheshire and registered as an Optometrist with the General Optical Council in 2003. She then returned to the University of Ulster for post-graduate study concerning Visual loss in Down syndrome and graduated in 2007 with a PhD in Vision science. Julie-Anne is a member of the College of Optometrists and represents Northern Ireland as a Councillor for the Association of Optometrists. She was appointed as a lecturer at the University of Ulster in January 2007. Further to her research at the University of Ulster, she also has a part-time position as a research optometrist in the Royal Victoria Hospital. Dr Little is a member of the Vision Science Recognised Research Group, and also a member of the Biomedical Science Research ethics filter committee.

Judith Anne Morris qualified in Ophthalmic Optics (BSc) in 1970 and Physiological Optics (MSc) in 1973 at City University, London. She worked as senior optometrist and research fellow at the Contact Lens Department of Moorfield Eye Hospital, London until 1994, and senior lecturer at the Institute of Optometry, London from 1983-1991. In 1991, she was appointed Director of the same institute and later continued as Senior Contact Lens Practitioner. Since 2001, she has also been Director of Contact Lens Teaching at City University, London. Morris has published extensively in the area of contact lenses. She has been awarded numerous fellowships including Fellowship of the British Optical Association, the American Academy of Optometry, and Foundation Fellowship of the British College of Optometrists. Morris held many positions in international optometry including President of the British Contact Lens Association and President of the British College of Optometrists. Since 2000, she has been serving as IACLE President for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Dr Sotiris Plainis completed his Diploma in Optics in 1993 at the School of Health Sciences, TEI Athens in Greece, followed by a Diploma in clinical Optometry at UMIST, UK in 1994. He stayed at UMIST for a Masters in Optometry and Vision Sciences and for a PhD in Optometry and Neuroscience which was completed in 1999. During his PhD, he worked as Research Assistant at the Department of Transport and subsequently took up a position as Research Associate. Since then, Plainis has been involved in research, teaching and clinical work. He has been working as Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Optics and Vision at the University of Crete. In 2006, he was appointed Honorary Lecturer at the University of Manchester, Faculty of Life Sciences. He is co-owner of the optometric practice ‘Optical House’ in Heraklion, Crete. Plainis has published widely in his field and was invited for Fellowship of the International Society of Contact Lens Research in 2009. He is Reviewer of Postgraduate Scholarships of the British College of Optometry.

Dr Ellen Svarverud is Assistant Professor at the Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences of Buskerud University College, Norway. Ellen received an MSc in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences from the University of Manchester UK in 1999.  In 2003-2004 she undertook a postgraduate course in Teaching in Higher Education at Buskerud University. Ellen holds a MSc in Clinical Optometry (Salus Univeristy , Philadelphia/USA, 2005) and gained a PhD from the University of Reading UK in 2010. She 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.  In 2011, Ellen was co-opted onto the Academy's Board to fill the vacancy created by Dr Paul Murphy's election to President-elect.

Jo Underwood obtained her Diploma in Ophthalmic Dispensing in 1975 at City College, London. In the following years, she worked for Scrivens Opticians Ltd, Birmingham as Dispensing and Contact Lens Optician. At the same time, she also studied for Honours in Contact Lenses at City College. From 1977 to 1987, she was lecturer at City College where she was appointed senior lecturer and Head of Ophthalmic Lenses in 1987 and Head of contact lenses and Deputy Head of Department in 1991. Throughout her career, she has continued her education and received a Post-graduate Certificate in Education, Honours in Spectacle Lens Design and an MSc in mode of study & exam performance from University of Greenwich, UK. Since 1980, Underwood has been Principal ABDO examiner in various disciplines. She was appointed Principal and lecturer at ABDO College, Canterbury, UK in 2001. She is member of various committees and associations including the GOC education committee, IACLE, BCLA and the SMC&City of London.

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