Speakers
Ron Beerten BOptom, FAAO, FBCLA
Graduated from the Christiaan Huygens Opticien School in the Netherlands in 1983.
He started his career in the Dutch Naval contact lens clinics, soon becoming involved in range of contact lens related studies on behalf of the Dutch armed services. In 1986 he joined a group of hospitals in the Netherlands specialising in contact lenses and low vision. In 1988 Ron joined Visser Contact lens Practice in Nijmegen. During this time he became involved in FDA studies and clinical trials for the contact lens industry.
In 1996 Ron graduated from the Hoge School van Utrecht, (Optometry School). He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Fellow of the BCLA. He was awarded a lifetime honorary member ship of the ANVC (Dutch contact lens association) in 2012.
Ron joined Procornea Contact Lens Laboratory in Eerbeek as Professional service manager in 1996. He plays a key role in product development and is still in clinical practice for one day a week.
In recent years Ron has travelled extensively throughout Europe delivering contact lens training seminars and lectures on various topics including topography, orthokeratology, RGP and scleral lens fitting
Andreas Berke B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD.
Graduated in physics (MSc) and biology (BSc) at the University of Muenster. Took a PhD in Physics. Currently senior lecturer for Biomedicine and Physiological Optics at the School of Optometry Cologne. Teaches at the University of Applied Sciences Innsbruck, Austria. Chairman of the Board of Examiners ECOO- European Diploma. Chairman of the Scientific Board of the German Ophthalmic Journal (DOZ). Authored and co-authored 12 books on optometry, biomedicine, contact lenses and history of ophthalmology.
Basil H. Bloom, BSc(Hons), FCOptom
Basil Bloom obtained an honours degree in Optometry at the City University in London in 1971 and, after finishing his pre-registration year, gained his professional qualifications in 1972.
He practised in partnership for many years and has been a sole practitioner for the last 20 years, working in South London.
He has a special interest in contact lenses in general and in Orthokeratology in particular.
He is a founder member of BOKS, the British Orthokeratology Society, and was the treasurer and an accredited Member.
As a BOKS committee member he organised all their conferences and produced a fitting CDROM on Orthokeratology for a major Contact Lens Company. He has lectured on three continents on Orthokeratology and his latest paper was published in Optometry and Visual Science in August 2009.
As well as Optometry he founded a software company, Acme Software, in the early 1980’s which specialised in software security systems and he has consulted with major companies on projects ranging from Financial Analysis to Database Systems.
He retired from practice at the end of 2012 and intends to spend more time making furniture, playing the guitar and lying in the sun.
Antonio Calossi, Dip Optom, FBCLA, FIACLE
Graduated in Optics at Istituto Superiore di Optometria "Vasco Ronchi", Vinci (FI) in 1980 and specialized in Optometry in 1983 at the IRSOO School of Optics and Optometry (Vinci, Italy).
Until ’97 he was a member of the Dr. Franco Verzella staff. From 1988 to 1994 he was a lecturer at the IRSOO School of Optometry (Vinci, Italy). Currently he is a didactic consultant for schools, scientific associations and CET providers. The main areas of didactic interest are contact lenses, anterior eye, and visual optics. In 2007 he was elected professor of Contact Lenses at University of Turin (Italy). In 2011 he was elected professor of Contact Lenses at University of Florence (Italy). He has also a specialty contact lenses and optometry practice in Certaldo (Florence, Italy) and, as an independent consultant, he is involved in R&D programs in the fields of ocular diagnosis, corneal topography, aberrometry, refractive surgery, contact lenses and orthokeratology. He holds a patent on orthokeratology lens, the copyright of a corneal ablation algorithm, and an IOL power calculation formula. He is a fellow of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA), International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE), Accademia Italiana Lenti a Contatto (AILAC), and Accademia Italiana di Ortocheratologia (AIOK). Member of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), International Society of Refractive Surgeons (ISRS), Optical Society of America (OSA), and Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists (CLAO); He is a founder member of the Società Optometrica Italiana (SOptI), Accademia Italiana Lenti a Contatto (AILAC), European Academy of Optometry and Optics (EAOO), and European Academy of Orthokeratology (EurOK); Speaker of the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners (USA).
He contributes as a reviewer to several journals. He was a lecturer in several optometric and ophthalmologic meetings, published several scientific papers in peer review journals, has written a book on physiology of vision, a monograph on optical quality of the corneal, and 18 book chapters in 14 ophthalmology books.
Patrick J. Caroline FAAO
Mr. Caroline serves as Associate Professor at Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove Oregon. He is a Fellow member and Diplomat of the Cornea and Contact Lens Section of the American Academy of Optometry. Patrick is a Council member of the International Society for Contact Lens Research as well as a member of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators and the American Association of Optometric Educators.
For the past fifteen years Patrick has served as a contributing editor for the Contact Lens Spectrum and is on the editorial board for Contact Lens and Anterior Eye Journal. He has published over 300 papers on a wide range of contact lens topics and has lectured extensively throughout the world.
Gonzalo Carracedo, OD, Msc, PhD
Associate Professor of Optometry and Contact Lenses at Optics School in Complutense University of Madrid and R&D Manager in Laboratorios Lenticon. Author of 20 papers in peer-review journals, over 70 communications to international meetings and 2 patents related with dry eye. He has participated in projects related with ocular surface and ocular hypertension. Member of the Spanish College of Optometrists and belongs to research group “Ocupharm Diagnostics”. He has done his PhD Thesis on nucleotides as a marker of dry eye in different conditions such as contact lens wearing, refractive surgery or systemic disease related with dry eye.
Jennifer D. Choo, OD, PhD
Currently serves as Manager of Global Specialty Lenses for Menicon Co. Ltd in Nagoya, Japan. She had previously served as Project Leader for Corneal Implant projects and Project Director for Orthokeratology research at the Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) in Sydney, Australia. Dr. Choo obtained her BSc in Cell Biology & Genetics from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, her OD from Pacific University in Portland, USA and her PhD from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. She has presented extensively overseas and is a recipient of several research awards including the prestigious American Academy of Optometry William C. Ezell Fellowship. Dr. Choo is also an Adjunct Professor of Optometry at Pacific University as well as an Advisory Board Member for the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
Sami El Hage, OD, PhD, DSc
Received his O.D. degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, and his Ph.D. and D.Sc. from the University of Paris. He is a former student and colleague of professor Yves Le Grand in Paris, France. He has taught at the University of Paris and the University of Houston College of Optometry, where he was a tenured full professor and graduate faculty at the age of 33. He has lectured extensively nationally and internationally.
He was invited by the British Council to the City University in London for post doctoral work. He initiated the Corneal Research Laboratory at Professor Herbert Schober "Institut fur Mediziniche Optik der Universitat Munchen", in Munich. He was invited by professor Vasco Ronchi of the "Istituto Nazionale Di Ottica" in Florence - Arcetri . He was elected as an honorary fellow of the "Collegio de Optometrista de Venezuela" . He received the Grand Honors Award of the National Eye Research Foundation. He received the 2005 Founders Award at the Global Orthokeratology Symposium meeting in Chicago. He serves as a consultant to several scientific and board organizations.
He has published numerous articles and chapters in scientific journals and books. He also co-authored a book with professor Yves Le Grand on optics of the eye, published by Springer Verlag.
Professor El Hage holds several patents and trademarks on corneal topography and contact lens design; he maintains a private practice in Houston, Texas.
Ian Flitcroft D.Phil(oxon) FRCOphth
2002 -present Consultant Ophthalmologist at Children's University Hospital Dublin
Early career: Dr Flitcroft studied medicine at Oxford University and completed his D.Phil in Oxford on the Neurophysiology of Accommodation. He completed his medical training at St Marys/Imperial College London. Post graduate training: He completed his postgraduate training in London (Western Eye Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital) and Dublin.
Visiting Professor at New England College of Optometry (1998)
Goodger Scholar, University of Oxford.
Oxford-Rockefeller Exchange Fellow
Fincham Medal awarded by Worshipful Company of Spectacle makers (2001)
Alessandro Fossetti, Optom.
Graduated in Optometry at the school of Optometry in Vinci, Italy. In 1983 completed, at University of Pisa, Italy, a Degree in Philosophy, with a Master Thesis in Experimental Psychology. He is currently Dean of the I.R.S.O.O., the first Italian School of Optometry, and contract professor at the Optic and Optometry Course of the University of Florence. He has been involved in optometric training since 1977, as a teacher in Visual Optics, Optometry and Contact Lenses. He is a frequent speaker at national meetings and conference, and author of many journal articles and some book chapters.
Gonzàlez – Meijome, O.D., PhD.
Bachelor of Optometry (Graduated with Honors) University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, 1998
PhD in Sciences (Optometry) Portugal, University of Minho, Portugal 2007
Associate Professor with habilitation (University of Minho)
Published over 100 papers in peer-review ISI journals with impact factor and 3 books.
Editor in Chief of Journal Of Optometry, (Peer-review journal of the Spanish General Council of Optometrists)
Coordinator of the Clinical and Experimental Optometry Research Lab (CEORLab, Univ. Minho)
Member of of the International Society for Contact Lens Research (ISCLR)
Member of the Spanish (GCOO) and Portuguese (APLO) Associations of Optometrists
Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry
Caroline Guerrero Cauchi, OD, FIAO
Graduated from the University of California School of Optometry and Practices in La Mesa CA. She became a Fellow of the OAA in 2007 and was elected to the OAA Board of Directors in 2008 where she is the chair of membership, mentoring and fellowship. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the International Orthokeratology Academy of America and is the chiari f the international fellowship program. She is the founder of “Boot camp for Newcomers” a one day program designed to give new orthok fitters a solid foundation for practicing orthokeratology.
Dr Guerrero Cauchi also volounteers her time with the Lion’s Vision Clinic and the California Vision Foundation providing pro bono care to California’s Spanish-speaking working poor.
Prior to her career in optometry, she received graduate training in the field of Human Behavior and has worked extensively with multiply challenged children and Project Head Start. She has published and lectured in this field as well.
Cary M. Herzberg O.D. FIAO
Has been practicing Orthokeratology for over twenty- five years. He has lectured extensively on the topic, written numerous articles and holds a patent on the first scleral Orthokeratology design. He is the president and board member of the International Academy of Orthokeratology(IAO) and the founder, president, a board member and fellow of the Orthokeratology Academy of America(OAA). He is an advisory board member of the Gas Permeable Lens Institute(GPLI) and a former contact lens design consultant to C&H Contact Lens.
Takahiro Hiraoka, MD
Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Graduated from University of Tsukuba School of Medicine in 1993 and completed postgraduate training in 1999. In 2005, I assumed the present post.
Nikola Jagodic, M.D.
Graduated at Belgrade University Medical School, completed ophthalmology residency at Military Medical Academy in Belgrade, practicing general ophthalmology and special contact lens fitting as well as corneal refractive surgery in private clinic settings.
Randy Kojima, FAAO, FSLS, FIOS
Director of Technical Affairs for Precision Technology, a GP lens manufacturing company based in Vancouver, Canada. His primary role is to assist practitioners with their GP and specialty contact lens fits. In recent years, he has been focused heavily on topographical interpretation and the development of a wide variety of contact lens designs and fitting methods.
He also serves on faculty at the Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Oregon where he teaches, provides clinical support and does research in contact lenses and the analysis of corneal and scleral shape. Additionally, Randy serves as a clinical advisor to Medmont Instruments in Melbourne, Australia.
Randy has published numerous papers and presented posters on many topics, been a contributing author in text book chapters and has lectured on every continent in the areas of corneal topography, OCT analysis and specialty contact lenses. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society and a Fellow of the International Orthokeratology Society.
Wolfgang Laubenbacher , Optom.
Graduated from the Munich optometry school in 1987. Has worked in clinical practice for many years. Since 1997 working with Techno-Lens in customer service and contactlens developpment. Since 2000 involved intensively in orthokeratology and was instrumental in the development of these lenses in Europe. Wearing Ortho-K lenses himself since 12 years. Lecturing and giving seminaires in Orthokeratology in Germany. Since 2012 Managing Director of Techno-Lens in Germany. Member of the professional Orthokeratology Group of the scientific Association of Ophthalmic Optics and Optometry (WVAO in Germany). Certified Ortho-K lens fitter.
Michael J. Lipson, O.D. FAAO
Is an optometrist/assistant professor at University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, at the Livonia location. He works with all types of contact lenses with emphasis on specialty contact lenses for overnight corneal reshaping, keratoconus, post-corneal transplant, post-refractive surgery and severe dry eye patients. He has been the principle investigator for studies on corneal reshaping, visual quality of life and new lens designs published in peer-reviewed journals. He attended Michigan State University and received a doctor of Optometry degree from Illinois College of Optometry in 1977 and is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.
Dmitry S. Mirsayafov, M.D.
Graduated with Honours as MD (therapy) from Novosibirsk State Medical Institute (Russia) in 1988. Worked as researcher in the Institute of Biochemistry, Novosibirsk, since 1988 till 1993, as visiting specialist in Free University of Brussels (Belgium) in 1993. In 1993 has established CL practice and trading company on CL products in Novosibirsk. In 2002 in Moscow with partners established Doctor Lens Company performing orthokeratology and specialty RGP lens practice as well as RGP lens manufacturing. Has been working as Head Manager of Doctor Lens Co. till now.
John Mountford Dip. App. Sc. FAAO, FCCLSA, FBCLA
Graduated from the Queensland University of Technology in 1975 and entered private practice specializing in contact lenses for keratoconus, post-PK, paedriatric aphakia, orthokeratology and the medical applications of scleral lenses.
He has published numerous papers and articles on Silicone lenses, scleral lenses and Orthokeratology as well as text-book chapters on the subject for Phillips and Speedwell’s Contact lenses, 4th and 5th Edition, and Hom’s Contact Lens Practice. He is the Principal author of “Orthokeratology; Principles and Practice, published by Butterworth-Heinemann.
He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Foundation Fellow of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia, and a fellow of the British Contact Lens Association.
In 2003 he was Awarded a Don Fraser Fellowship by QUT, and is a Research Fellow and visiting lecturer to the Departments of Optometry at QUT and UNSW.
He was awarded the Roger Kame Award for outstanding contributions to the field of Orthokeratology in 2005, the Hamlyn Brier Award and the Hon. Bill Hayden Queensland Optometrist of the year in 2006. He has also been awarded the Excelllence in practice Award from the OAA (2009) and Life membership of the OSO (2010).
Amelia Nieto Bona, PhD
Is an optometrist/professor at Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). Graduated in Optics and Optometry (1989) at the UCM. Completed her formation Master in Optic, Optometry and Vision (2008) and PhD in 2010. Founder and Coordinator of the Contactology and Optometry Research Group (GICO) from 2011. She work has focused on corneal surface changes in relation to contact lens wear.
Jaume Paune, DOO, M.Sc.
Degree in Optics and Optometry and Master in Optometry and Vision Sciences by the Barcelona Tech (UPC). Currently conducting his Phd on a myopia control with peripheral gradient lenses. Awarded by the Spaniard National Council of Optics and Optometry by his work about “Myopia Control with Contact Lenses” in 1992 and for “A New Contact Lens Design for Hyperopia Overnight Orthokeratology” in 2010. Is Fellow of the International Orthokeratology Academy and behalf a Orthokeratology lens Patent and a other two patents on contact lens designs. Works on a clinical practice at the Centro Médico Teknon in Barcelona, Spain.
Professor helen Swarbrick, PhD, FAAO, FIACLE
Gained her optometric qualifications in New Zealand and spent eight years in private optometric practice in New Zealand and England. In 1995 Professor Swarbrick joined the School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW, with responsibility for contact lens education. Professor Swarbrick’s primary research interest is the corneal response to orthokeratology for the correction of refractive errors, for which she has received substantial funding through the Australian Research Council Linkage project scheme. She has published widely on orthokeratology and other contact lens-related topics in the international scientific literature and has presented many talks at national and international conferences. In 2012 she was honoured with the Don Noack award from the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania, and the Ken Bell medal from the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia, in recognition of her contributions to research and teaching in contact lenses, and specifically in orthokeratology.
Brian Tompkins, BSc Hons, FC Optom, FBCLA
Experienced independent practitioner in his stunningly refurbished and contemporised Victorian house-practice in Northampton UK.
He is a council member and Fellow of the BCLA and is extremely proactive in fitting all types of contact lenses to any age and prescription. He feels that the market for contact lenses can be expanded to many more patients from children to presbyopes, and many opportunities are currently missed. He has a large continuous wear and presbyopic patient base and is keen on imaging and video capture for enhanced patient education.
He has been awarded the accolade ''One of The Best Clinical Photographers in the World Today'' by Prof Nathan Efron and regularly supplies images for lectures, magazine articles and publications worldwide. His work in contact lenses has included collaborative clinical trials with Eurolens Research, Visioncare Research Ltd and OTG Research & Consultancy.
He is a Key Opinion Leader and Clinical Advisor to Bausch & Lomb and Coopervision and Professional Consultant to Alcon, a Professional Advisory Panel Member for J&J Visioncare. And a Faculty Member of the Ciba Academy of Excellence.
He lectures internationally on business, dry eye and contact lens topics, all based on real life experience in the consulting room. More recently he has been trying to spread the concept of charging proper fees and business development following the implementation of a Care Plan System in his own practice 6 years ago.
When voted “Best in Show” at a Bausch & Lomb Global Symposium, Brian learnt that people retain more by being entertained while being educated and so since that time his lectures and workshops have been interactive and fun, sometimes even hilarious, but always informative.
He is maybe Optometry’s best known EDUTAINER.
Arthur H-C, Tung OMD, FIAO, NCLEC
Licensed in Taiwan as a specialty of Ophtalmologic doctor. Private practice of Ophthalmology in Taiwan. Consultant of Vision Related Delayed developmental and LD children in Taiwan for several government sponsored investigation projects
Currently, he is the president and worldwide representative of Shinyeyes Corp. and Global-OK Vision Inc. His company develops advanced orthokeratology contact lenses that are sold internationally. He holds 19 contact lens patents. Presented various courses on Orthokeratology fitting in Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Mainland China, USA and Canada
Eef van der Worp PhD FAAO FIACLE FBCLA FSLS
Educator and researcher. He received his optometry degree from the Hogeschool van Utrecht in the Netherlands (NL) and his PhD from the University of Maastricht (NL) in 2008. He is a fellow of the AAO, IACLE, BCLA and the SLS. He is currently affiliated with the University of Maastricht as an associate researcher, a visiting scientist at Manchester University (Manchester UK) and adjunct Professor at the University of Montreal University College of Optometry (CA) and adjunct assistant Professor at Pacific University College of Optometry (Oregon, USA).
Bruce T. Williams, OD, FIAO
Practices in Seattle with an emphasis is on complex contact lens fitting, including Orthokeratology. He has been actively involved in clinical trials for several lens manufacturers and has published, lectured and conducted workshops across the US as well as in Canada, Australia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Chile, Taiwan, Thailand, China and the UK. Currently he is working with extreme molding and multi-geometry lenses for correction of higher degrees of myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and presbyopia. Dr. Williams is a Fellow of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and a member of the Board of Directors. He is Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Other memberships include the AOA and the British Contact Lens Association.
Pei-ying Xie M.D, Ph.D., FIAO
Granted Doctor of Medical Science from Juntendo University School of Medicine in Japan(M.D, PhD.) Her post- doctoral research was at the same University. 1994~1999 She was an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Beijing Tongren Hospital Contact Lens Centre. 1999~Now She is Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of Peking University Optometry & Ophthalmology Center. Be engaged in clinic and education in optometry and ophthalmology field, special in contact lens and keratoconus research