AOP lifetime award for Prof Bruce Evans

Clinical optometrist Professor Bruce Evans has been recognised with a national accolade.

The researcher and author has been presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Association of Optometrists (AOP). Professor Evans, the author of the third to sixth editions of Pickwell’s Binocular Vision Anomalies, has written more than 260 publications, including eight editions of textbooks.

He said: “It is a real surprise, a huge honour, and a slight sense of impostor syndrome, because I know lots of people in the profession who I think deserve it much more than me.

“It is really a reflection of the teams that I’ve worked with and of the people that have inspired me.” 

Professor Evans has delivered over 300 invited lectures as a visiting professor at City, University of London and also at London South Bank University. He is also director of research at the Institute of Optometry.

AOP chair Dr Julie-Anne Little said she was delighted to be giving the award to “someone who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication and commitment across his career – making such a far-reaching impact on optometry, and I’m sure there is more to come!”

The Recognising Sustainable Excellence award went to Simon Berry, commending his outstanding work to champion sustainability and reach net-zero targets. Mr Berry said: “It was a complete surprise. The award means that people care about the issues.” 

The Excellence in Community-led Care award went to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Cardiff University for developing the national electronic patient record and electronic referral system for eyecare in Wales.

Professor James Wolffsohn received the Recognising Research Excellence award. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed research papers. He led the diagnostic committee for the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society DEWS 2 report and spearheaded white paper reports in myopia for the International Myopia Institute and the BCLA.

For more information on all the winners, visit www.aop.org.uk/excellence