The Institute of Optometry

The Institute of Optometry is one of the United Kingdom's leading centres for optometry, based in south London, England. It was established in 1922 as the London Refraction Hospital.

History

London Refraction Hospital

The London Refraction Hospital (LRH) was formed in October 1922, the first institute of its kind in the world, through the efforts of several dedicated people. Three outstanding men of vision were Owen Aves, James Forrest and Anthony Preston. The first committee of management consisted of Owen Aves (Chairman), F.W. Bateman, J.H. Cuff, F.W. Dadd, G.E. Houghton and W. H. Nichols. The first secretary was F.T. Gregg. The LRH was enlarged and re-modelled in October 1928 and re-opened in February 1929 by the Rt. Hon. the Countess of Mayo. In November 1938 the LRH was reconstituted by order of the Charity Commission.[1]

The involvement of Forrest, who was a surgeon oculist, in the founding of the LRH in 1922 was a foregone conclusion because he was already teaching optometry students about ocular diseases in 1906 and by 1911 he had published a text book for optometrists.[2] Numerous distinguished optometrists, clinicians, educators, vision scientists and authors of text books on optometry were associated with the LRH since it started. For example, the second Lord Charnwood who was a distinguished optometrist was active in the management of the London Refraction Hospital after the second world war.[3]

In 1985 it was suggested by Rishi Agarwal in a letter published in Optometry Today that 'in addition to making efforts for a Royal College of Optometrists, efforts should also be made to achieve a Royal status for the LRH i.e. Royal London Refraction Hospital'.[4][5] The title Institute of Optometry was approved three years later.

Institute of Optometry

In 1988 the LRH changed its name to the Institute of Optometry, when it expanded to include postgraduate training, education and research. The Institute continues strong links with City University in London and provides clinical facilities and supervisory support to some PhD students.

The Institute of Optometry is an independent self-financing registered charity, relying on voluntary support for its services. A fundraising appeal was launched in 2003 to refurbish the John Francis Clinic at the Institute.[6]

In 2005 the General Optical Council agreed to grant provisional approval for the theoretical elements of the Institute of Optometry's level 2 (additional supply) and supplementary Prescribing Training Qualification.[7] This enabled the Institute to offer assessments to prospective candidates.

In 2008 the Institute of Optometry, in partnership with London South Bank University, established a post-graduate Doctor of Optometry programme. This was the first professional doctorate in optometry by that description offered in the UK, distinct from a traditional PhD.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ Hardy, W.E. and Hogg, A.E., eds. (1943), The London Refraction Hospital: Its History and Work 1922-1943, Borough Press, London, pages 1-47.
  2. ↑ Agarwal, R. (1997), The Institute of Optometry: 75 years, British Journal of Optometry and Dispensing, volume 5, mumber 3, page 92.
  3. ↑ Agarwal, R. (1999), The 2nd Lord Charnwood (1901-1955), a distinguished optometrist, British Journal of Optometry and Dispensing, volume 7, number 3, page 91.
  4. ↑ Agarwal, R. (1985), Royal LRH?, Optometry Today, volume 25, number 11, page 374.
  5. ↑ Mullins, P.(1983), The Editor's Round, The way we thought 10 years ago, Optician, volume 185, number 4795, page 6.
  6. ↑ Anon (2003), Continuing the quest for clinical excellence, Optometry Today, volume 43, number 13, page 15
  7. ↑ Anon (2005), Therapeutics boost for the Institute, Optometry Today, volume 45, number 12, page 12.
  8. ↑ Agarwal, R. (2008), Integrating theory with practice, Optician, volume 236, number 6167, page 12.
  9. ↑ Agarwal, R. (2014), Developing the doctorate, Optician, volume 247, number 6439, page 26.

Address

56–62 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6DS, United Kingdom.

External links