Meet the
Faculty
The World Council of Optometry has engaged global experts as lead faculty for its dry eye education initiative. These world-renowned leaders in optometry will distill the growing amount of research and clinical evidence into accessible educational content.
Professor Jennifer Craig
PhD FCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA, FCLS, heads the Ocular Surface Laboratory in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland (New Zealand). As a therapeutic research optometrist, she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students, leads international multicenter clinical trials, and holds visiting academic appointments around the world.
Her research focus is the ocular surface, primarily dry eye disease and tear film dysfunction. She regularly delivers continuing education and research lectures and publishes widely in scientific and clinical press. She has contributed to the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society’s (TFOS) International Workshops on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Contact Lens Discomfort and served as Vice Chair for TFOS Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) II.
Professor Lyndon Jones
DSc, FCOptom, FAAO, is the Director of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo (Canada). His research interests focus on the interaction of novel and existing contact lens materials with the ocular environment, dry eye, and the development of novel materials for ocular drug delivery.
He has authored more than 450 refereed and professional papers (including serving as lead author on the TFOS DEWS II Management and Therapy Report), a textbook, and has given more than 1,000 invited lectures at conferences worldwide.
Professor James Wolffsohn
BSc, MBS, PhD, FCOptom, FAAO, is Head of the School of Optometry and Department of Audiology at Aston University (United Kingdom). His main research areas are the development and evaluation of ophthalmic instrumentation, myopia management, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, and tear film.
He is a National Teaching Fellow, has published more than 290 full peer-reviewed papers, and presented at numerous international conferences. He is the academic chair of the British Contact Lens Association, having previously served as President and was chair of the BCLA Contact Lens Evidence-based Academic Reports (CLEAR).
Sandra S. Block
OD, M. Ed., MPH, FAAO, FCOVD, FNAP is President-Elect of the World Council of Optometry and Professor Emeritus at Illinois College of Optometry. She was a Global Clinical Advisor to the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program for 27 years, and past co-chair of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health. Dr. Block received her O.D. degree (1981) and Pediatric Residency (1982) at the Illinois College of Optometry.
She is a Diplomate in Public Health and Environmental Vision at the American Academy of Optometry and a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academy of Practice. She has authored numerous publications and conducted presentations worldwide.
Saleel Jivraj
OD, MBA, FAAO, FEAOO, FCOptom, FIACLE, FBCLA is clinical director of Market Mall Eye Clinic and Southcentre Eye Clinic inside LensCrafters, Calgary. He focused his MBA thesis on the Development of Specialist Dry Eye Services in Optometric Practice.
He is the creator of the DryiRelief app to help dry eye sufferers. The app was designed to help patients with their dry eye management and increase compliance with their dry eye treatment.
Dr. Jivraj is a member of the World Council of Optometry Membership Board Committee and is currently conducting research on IPL treatments and machine learning/artificial intelligence in the management of dry eye disease. Dr Sal was appointed to the TFOS 2021 Workshop: Digital Environment Subcommittee.
Our Faculty Behind the Scenes
The World Council of Optometry and Alcon dry eye disease education initiative faculty is passionate about helping optometrists and other eye care professionals improve their patients’ quality of life. Here are some behind-the-scenes photos from our webinar video shoots:
