20 September 2024
“With the passing of Dick Pearson optometry has lost one of its foremost educators in the areas of contact lenses and orthoptics,” writes former colleague, peer and friend, Professor David Edgar.
“Dick’s long association with City, University of London began in 1956 when he joined the Diploma in Ophthalmic Optics course at Northampton College of Advanced Technology. After two years National Service, Dick spent time in optometric practice, including four years with Mr F.A.B. Hodd. Whilst in practice, Dick worked in the Orthoptic Clinic of the London Refraction Hospital (now The Institute of Optometry) teaching optometry students. In 1964 he joined the Department of Ophthalmic Optics as a lecturer, by which time Dick had already acquired his Diploma in Contact Lenses and Diploma in Orthoptics. He was awarded his MPhil in 1973 and became a senior lecturer in 1978.
“A naturally gifted and enthusiastic teacher, Dick taught contact lenses and orthoptics to two generations of City undergraduates during his long career. Students loved Dick’s clear, perfectly paced style of teaching, frequently embellished by his gentle sense of humour, which was aided by his amazing talent as a mimic.
“In addition to teaching, Dick served on many standards committees over the years, notably the BSI contact lenses technical committee and the BSI ophthalmic industry standards committee. He was an active member of the British Contact Lens Association, and the British & Irish University and College Contact Lens Educators. However, Dick’s interest in contact lens education had a truly international scope, and he was active in the International Association of Contact Lens Educators also. Dick was a regular contributor to the Swedish Contact Lens course and was frequently invited to present at international contact lens conferences.
“Following retirement in 2001, after 37 years at City, Dick continued to enjoy communicating with his former colleagues and friends in optometry. Dick was a supportive, generous colleague, admired and respected by all who knew him.”
Comments (3)
You must be logged in to join the discussion. Log in
APG21 November 2024
I was fortunate to work with Richard on various aspects of contact lens history where he always had even the most obscure details at his fingertips. When actively involved in teaching and research he did pioneering work, for example on the stability of various contact lens materials. His lectures were a delight to attend with his own distinctive and mischievous sense of humour.
ReportLike29
John Gurney23 September 2024
Lovely chap lived fairly local to me
I was lucky enough to be taught by Dick at undergrad level , excellent teacher
ReportLike53
Nicholas Rumney23 September 2024
a real gentleman and so helpful to others further down the greasy pole, he loved seeing optometry advance and was always interested in the developments in therapeutics. Vale Richard.
ReportLike66