SEATTLE—Professor George Woo, visiting chair professor of optometry and emeritus professor of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s (PolyU) School of Optometry,  will be presented the Essilor Award for Outstanding International Contributions to Optometry by the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) on Oct. 25, 2013, at the AOA Academy to be held here.

The AAO Essilor Award for Outstanding International Contributions to Optometry recognizes an individual, individuals or organizations for extraordinary international contributions to optometry or international eyecare. The AAO’s award recognizes Woo’s outstanding leadership in the establishment of Hong Kong’s sole optometry program, his significant contributions to the development of optometry in the Pacific Rim and promoting optometry throughout the world.

Woo graduated with a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Waterloo in 1964 and completed his PhD at Indiana University in 1970. After serving at different universities in Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, he joined the then Hong Kong Polytechnic in 1987 and contributed to the development of its optometry program.

His research interests are in vision rehabilitation, psychophysics of vision, myopia, contrast sensitivity function, visual optics, vision of the aged and photometry. Professor Woo has published extensively and has been bestowed with many academic awards. He was appointed dean of PolyU’s Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, 1997-2004, and re-appointed, 2008-2011. He’s been president or chair of several professional bodies and membership of numerous committees in Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and worldwide. Internationally, Professor Woo is the former president of the World Council of Optometry and immediate past president of the Asia Pacific Council of Optometry. His vision is to unite optometrists and related professionals to treat and prevent blindness all over the world, especially in the Chinese Mainland.