Award 2021

AWARD FOR THE BEST OPTOMETRIST OF THE YEAR 2021

COLM MCALINDEN

Colm McAlinden is one of the few eye care professionals who is both an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. He originally qualified in Optometry at Cardiff University, followed by a traineeship at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, followed by an MSc and PhD in refractive surgery. He then completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Flinders University in Australia, before entering medical school, where he graduated in medicine and surgery (MB BCH) with elective periods with the Boston Keratoprosthetics Group at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard University and the Department of Cornea at the Hôpital de la Timone in Marseille, France.

He then undertook his work in medicine and surgery in Wales and Bristol, during which time he received a doctorate for his research. Following this, Colm entered specialist ophthalmology (resident) training in Wales and was awarded, by examination, the prestigious fellowship status at both the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth) and the European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO). ).

Colm currently works at Swansea Bay University Health Board and is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University.

He has broad research interests, ranging from psychometrics of patient-reported outcome measures, cornea, cataract and refractive surgery, evaluation of ophthalmic instrumentation, public health and epidemiology. Colm developed the Quality of Vision (QoV) questionnaire, which has become a widely used tool to evaluate the outcomes of cataract and refractive surgery in clinical practice, research studies, clinical trials and approval studies. regulations, including FDA and CE.

He is a prolific researcher, with over 145 publications in peer-reviewed journals and numerous awards to his name. He serves on the editorial board of 6 peer-reviewed journals, including Eye and Vision. Despite his numerous successes and being very young, he remains incredibly modest, approachable and practical.

Below you will find the presentation ceremony of the International Optometrist of the Year Award2021: