SYDNEY, Australia—A global leader in eyecare and vision research, internationally renowned and awarded scientist and humanitarian, Professor Brien Holden OAM, CEO of Brien Holden Vision Institute, a Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at UNSW Australia, passed away suddenly here on July 27 of a heart attack, at 73.

Known as one of the most influential optometrists in the world, Holden’s career was involved in inspiring scientists and health care professionals around the world with his dream of “vision for everyone, everywhere.”

Deputy CEO, Professor Kovin Naidoo, spoke on behalf of the Brien Holden Vision Institute organization. “Today is a very sad day in the history of our organization, Brien was a man of extraordinary vision who devoted himself to the service of mankind. He demanded that the research be indivisible from the service to society. He was truly an intellectual giant in eye health and vision, a powerhouse driving change by mobilizing teams globally united in science and service to the disadvantaged of our world.”

The board of the Brien Holden Vision Institute has appointed Professor Naidoo to the position of interim CEO.

Whilst accepting the Charles F. Prentice Medal, optometry’s highest honor, and acknowledging contributions and collaborations throughout his career, Professor Holden quoted Sir Isaac Newton saying, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Professor Brian Layland, Chair of the Brien Holden Vision Institute board and life-long friend of Professor Holden said, “Brien’s efforts and achievements have been recognized, applauded and adopted worldwide. All who have worked with him will have fond memories to cherish; all will miss him. His legacy will encourage all to strive to achieve the goals he had set.”

Brien Holden was a beloved husband, father and grandfather. His contributions extend across research, education, public health and social enterprise. He has been awarded: an Order of Australia Medal for his work in eye health and vision science; the Schwab Social Entrepreneur Award for Africa 2010 at the regional World Economic Forum; and seven honorary doctorates from universities in Africa, Australia, Canada, Europe and the U.S.

He has generated over $1.3 billion in research, education and humanitarian funds over the last 20 years and has been described by Professor Earl Smith at the award of his Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters at the University of Houston as, “the most influential optometrist of our generation.”

In addition to his many achievements in the contact lens arena, The Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit (CCLRU) was established in 1976 by Holden to develop the specialty within what was then known as the School of Optometry at UNSW (it later became the School of Optometry and Vision Science). The success of the CCLRU spurred him onto further challenges as Holden and his colleagues saw the need for an independent, but University affiliated, Australian institute to promote and develop eye research and education.

When the Australian Government established the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program in 1991, Brien saw an opportunity to create new breakthroughs through the relationships between research and industry that the Program promoted. The Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology (CRCERT) was established in 1991 and through this program with Holden as Director, developed collaborations with Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, CSIRO, University of western Sydney, Queensland University of Technology, the Optometric Vision Research Foundation and later the University of Houston and the Centre for Eye Research Australia among many others. In 1998, he co-founded the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) (now called Brien Holden Vision Institute, Public Health) to establish eyecare services in developing communities throughout the world. Along with colleagues Dr Gullapalli ‘Nag’ Rao and Dr Serge Resnikoff, Holden made important representations to have refractive error recognized as the main cause of blindness and impaired vision by the WHO. This is now a key theme for Vision 2020, the global initiative of the IAPB and WHO to eliminate avoidable blindness.

The Institute instigated the inaugural World Congress on Refractive Error in 2007 which has further promoted global efforts in this area. Holden was appointed Chair of the WHO’s Refractive Error Working Group in 2001 and has been a Member of the Board of Trustees of the IAPB since 2004. In 2003, the World Council of Optometry, the Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness created Optometry Giving Sight to mobilize resources from the global optometric community to help eliminate refractive error blindness and low vision.

“While we mourn the loss of our beloved leader and friend we are reminded that the goals we collectively set and share, the movement that we began together, that changed the course of our industry’s history and millions of lives, will live on with passion, conviction and commitment to Brien’s legacy and our purpose to see vision for everyone…everywhere,” Professor Naidoo said.

Condolences can be e-mailed to condolences@brienholdenvision.org. Donations (www.brienholdenvision.org/donate.html) will be directed by Brien Holden Vision Institute to support the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, for the Aboriginal Health College.