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.
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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.
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 textbook for optometrists. Numerous distinguished optometrists, clinicians, educators, vision scientists and authors of textbooks 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.
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'. 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.
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. 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.