WCO Honours Australian Optometry Luminary Brien Holden

Australia has given the world one of its foremost optometry specialists – Professor Brien Holden. During a career spanning more than four decades, Holden has led the way in contact lens development, worked relentlessly to promote eye health and established the Brien Holden Vision Institute to foster innovation and facilitate commercialisation of eye care products. During that time, Holden has won virtually all global awards in the optometry field, but he has now added to his list of accolades the highest honour bestowed by the World Council of Optometry (WCO) – the Distinguished Service Award.

This outstanding recognition for Holden's scientific and humanitarian achievements came during the annual meeting of the WCO in Malaga, Spain. The event took place between 18 and 21 April, bringing together optometry specialists from all over the world. Holden thanked the WCO for acknowledging his work, pointing out that he had had the good fortune to work with the best specialists in his field. An award as prestigious as this one inevitably recognises the contribution of fellow workers and the inspiration their achievements have provided, he said.

Holden also pointed out that optometry had presented him with amazing opportunities in life. In addition to being a great profession, optometry has the capacity to deliver tremendous benefits to the billions of people in need of eye care. This is especially true for underprivileged people, who are in even greater need of affordable care. The WCO is the guardian, strategic leader and conscience of the profession and being recognised by it is an exceptional honour, Holden stated.