College awards President’s Research Medal to Doctor David Elliott FCOptom

The medal was presented by the College’s outgoing President Dr Gillian Rudduck MCOptom, during the College’s AGM at Optometry Tomorrow in Harrogate. The accolade recognises experienced individuals who have contributed outstanding research during a lifetime’s career in research in optometry, vision science and eye health. The medal is awarded every two years. Past recipients of this award include Professor Bernard Gilmartin, Sir Colin Blakemore and Professor Larry Thibos. 

The College recognised Dr Elliott’s significant contribution to research in optometry and vision science throughout his career, both in the UK and internationally. Dr Elliott’s research has extended across a wide range of topics, with his research in the following areas having had particular impact on the profession:  

• Geriatric optometry: Exploring the link between vision, gait and balance, particularly regarding fall prevention This work led to professional guidelines on ‘vision and falls’ for the UK, Europe and Australia
• Evidence-based practice: Developing improved methods for refraction and prescribing as highlighted in his textbook Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care
• Cataract outcomes: Researching ways to enhance patient satisfaction after cataract surgery

Dr Elliott’s contributions recognised by the awards panel also included his 11-year tenure as the editor-in-chief of The College of Optometrists’ research journal Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, where he led the journal’s growth, developing OPO to its highest impact factor and ranking as the mostly highly ranked optometry journal at that time, and his continued service to academic publishing as the current editor of the American Academy of Optometry’s journal Optometry and Vision Science. 

He has previously been presented with a Life Fellowship by The College of Optometrists and the Glenn Fry Award by the American Academy of Optometry. Alongside his research, Dr Elliott has also remained committed to teaching, through his leadership of CPD and professional education as well as teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, showing a clear and sustained commitment throughout his career to developing other researchers and working collaboratively in pursuit of scientific knowledge. He was awarded distinguished teaching awards at the Universities of Waterloo (Canada) and Bradford.