Stuart Paul Richer, OD, PhD, FAAO.

WILMETTE, Ill.—Friends and professional colleagues in the U.S. and around the world are mourning the loss of Stuart Paul Richer, OD, PhD, FAAO, who passed away on Oct. 26, surrounded by his family. A very well known figure in the scientific community, Dr. Richer was a leader in vision science, optometry and disease prevention and wellness promotion. His work in the Department of Veterans Affairs, The American Academy of Optometry (AAO), The Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology  (ARVO), The Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society (OWNS) and the Optometric Retina Society (ORS) was widely known and respected.

Dr. Richer was the longtime president of the Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society, and his colleague, Dorothy Hitchmoth, OD, FAAO, ABO, ABCMO Diplomate, a fellow OWNS board member, said, "Stu, as he is affectionately known to many, was a brilliant, widely respected luminary, innovator, researcher, professor and compassionate human who has changed the way we think about taking care of patients.

"Dr. Richer’s contributions to the science of vision loss prevention cannot be understated. His clinical and laboratory discoveries have given hope that vision loss from Age-Related Macular Degeneration and other causes of visual impairment and poor health can be prevented. His research regarding the ensuring the Socratic method was respected and toward this end he achieved the highest level of advancement in clinical and vision science research and practice respectively.

"He was kind, compassionate, consummate professional no matter what challenge presented. His life’s work was dedicated to taking care of our nation’s veterans and the science of vision loss prevention. He was and will continue to be highly respected across all sectors of the profession and has provided leadership, counsel and imparted knowledge to thousands of trainees and colleagues over 40+ years in clinical practice and research and as faculty of numerous optometry and medical schools.

"His research in the area of visual function and nutrition in macular degeneration and other retinal and systemic disease has led to important discovery that has already changed public health outcomes and quality of life for millions of patients in the United States and worldwide.

"Dr. Richer was not only passionate about clinical research that focuses on sight and life preservation but more importantly shared this knowledge with patients and doctors across the country and the world. His passion for sharing knowledge is clearly evidenced in his accomplishments as a scientific writer and clinical researcher and his long tenure as the president of OWNS, a scientific group dedicated to teaching doctors and patients’ methodology for improved quality of life and vision loss prevention.

Dr. Hitchmoth added, "In the last few years, his vision of creating a prevention and wellness guide for eye doctors led to a new publication that coalesces the best in prevention research. This publication is now a much anticipated annually published clinical guide that is distributed to over 40,000 eye doctors internationally. Dr. Richer was selfless in his dedication to teaching optometry and medical students and residents and seasoned colleagues likewise.

"Most importantly, Dr. Richer he was a passionate patient advocate whose legacy will continue in perpetuity because of the foundation he created for all of us. He continuously provided education to his own patients as well the public at large. He will be most known for his compassion, empathy and respect for patients and providers alike. He will continue to be an inspiration to all of us. He will be missed by his friends, professional colleagues, and his loving family," Dr. Hitchmoth said.

Dr. Richer earned his undergraduate degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology after which he completed a dual OD MS (physiological optics) at University of California at Berkeley in 1981 followed by a residency in low vision at the Kansas City DVA Medical Center. He was chief of Optometry at DVA Medical Center, North Chicago for over 30 years.

He has been involved in teaching optometry and medical students and postdoctoral fellows. In 1996 Dr. Richer earned his PhD in human physiology and biophysics from Chicago Medical and taught in many academic settings. Dr. Richer published numerous papers in prestigious journals from his 35 research projects and was a sought after speaker worldwide.

His family obituary and the opportunity to send condolences can be found here.