Early ambitions
My interest in a profession-specific doctorate in optometry began in 1961 when I attended the International Ophthalmic Optical Congress in London, opened by the then minister of health Rt Hon Enoch Powell MP. It was inspiring to meet several Americans qualified with a professional doctorate in optometry. I wondered whether a profession-specific doctorate in optometry would ever be offered in the UK. Despite the fact it was not a realistic aspiration I decided to ask George Giles OBE, optometrist, barrister and BOA secretary who was at the helm of British optometry at the time, whether it would ever be an option. With his usual sense of humour he said ‘maybe you will start the course one day’. I soon realised that I was being over ambitious considering the professional culture in healthcare then prevalent in the UK. Professional degree courses in optometry were not even established as yet and Dr Max Sorsby, a member of the General Optical Council, also attending the congress, said he was not in favour of adopting the title optometrist.
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