Three Australian optometrists have been recognised as distinguished individuals by the American Academy of Optometry (AAO).

Dr Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu, Professor Isabelle Jalbert, and Emeritus Professor Stephen Dain received three of the 16 prestigious AAO awards, which are nominated by Fellows in recognition of “exceptional strides” in the fields of research, education, leadership, and service to the profession.

Dr Osuagwu received the AAO-Essilor Award for Outstanding International Contributions to Optometry, which recognises “an individual or organisation whose direct efforts and contributions have resulted in unquestionable significant and extraordinary advances in optometry and eye care internationally”.

Additionally, he was recently given the 2025 Humanitarian Service Award from Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity International, which recognises a volunteer “who has made a significant impact on visual welfare within the past year by contributing to leadership, education, innovation, public health initiatives, sustainable eye care development, or advancing the understanding and treatment of refractive error and visual impairment”.

Dr Osuagwu, a PhD graduate of Queensland University of Technology, the Inaugural President of the American Academy of Optometry-African Chapter, and the Founder of Africa Federation of Optometry Students (AFOS), is a global leader in optometry and public health, whose impactful contributions span research, education, clinical service, and advocacy across multiple continents. A Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead, Rural Health at the School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, his research specialises in rural health and diabetes prevention.

Prof Isabelle Jalbert, from the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales Sydney, was awarded the Michael G. Harris Family Award for Excellence in Optometric Education, which recognises an optometric educator who has demonstrated ongoing and consistent excellence in education of optometry students and/or advancement of optometric education.

Prof Jalbert’s teaching philosophy focusses on teaching lifelong skills and competencies in evidence-based practice and how to use these in developing appropriate ocular therapeutics knowledge and practices, rather than simply focussing on imparting facts. Her courses are designed to encourage critical thinking and deep learning in optometry students and use a combination of team-based learning, problem-based learning, and flipped classroom teaching strategies. Her courses feature pre-recorded online material supported by active learning facilitated tutorials, where students are presented with case scenarios to solve in groups and encouraged to learn how to apply the material taught in the course in practice.

Dr Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu receiving his award from Professor Jeffrey Walline, President of the American Academy of Optometry.

Prof Stephen Dain, from the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales Sydney, was recognised with the Public Health and Environmental Vision Section Henry B. Peters Memorial Award.

A globally respected vision scientist and educator, Prof Dain has significantly advanced the fields of optical safety, visual ergonomics, and colour vision standards through groundbreaking research and dedicated public service.

Recognised as the world leading researcher and expert in colour vision and standards, his work has shaped international health and occupational guidelines, safeguarding visual health for workers and communities across multiple industries.

Dr Debarun Dutta, who is based in the United Kingdom and is a regular contributor to mivision, was recognised as the American Academy of Optometry Foundation’s Outstanding Emerging Leader. Dr Dutta has also recently received the Maki Shiobara scholarship from the Optometric Vision Research Foundation (OVRF), and Brian Kirby prize for Research Excellence in Optometry for the quality of his PhD thesis. To further develop his scholarship of learning and teaching, he completed a higher education teaching qualification in Foundations of University and Teaching (FULT) at UNSW Sydney. He was the PhD student representative advocating for postgraduate research candidates during his own candidacy and later worked as a postdoctoral fellow and Associate Lecturer at UNSW Sydney, gaining industry research funding to support his laboratory-based work.

The AAO awards were presented at the annual general meeting in Boston in October 2025.