Prof. Simon Barnard

Professor Simon Barnard is a highly experienced Optometrist at Barnard Levit, as well as a Professor of Optometry, and the Chief Medical Officer of IRRIS Medical Technologies. He graduated from City University in 1976 with a First Class Honours degree. Following his work at NOOR Eye Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, he completed his training in private practice and at the Department of Contact Lenses and Prosthetics at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.

From 1979 to 1999, Professor Barnard served as a full-time Lecturer in Clinical Optometry at the Department of Optometry & Visual Science at City University, London. He was the Director of Paediatric Clinics until 2002 and a Tutor in Ocular Disease until 2004. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the Department of Optometry & Visual Science, School of Health Sciences at Hadassah College in Jerusalem, Israel, where he oversees the clinical section of the Master's Degree program, including modules on Dyslexia & Learning Difficulties and Paediatrics. Additionally, he is the Director of Ocular Medicine at the Institute of Optometry, London. He served as a UK representative on the European Council of Optometrists (ECOO) Board of Examiners until 2009, where he was the Convenor of the Abnormal Ocular Conditions module of the European Diploma of Optometry and Chairman of the Scope of Practice Committee. He is also a member of the Society for Coloured Lens Prescribers and a founding member of the European Academy of Optometry.

Professor Barnard was awarded his PhD for his research on eye movements in 1999. He is a Fellow of the College of Optometrists and the American Academy of Optometry. His qualifications include Certificates in Ocular Therapeutics from both the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia, USA, and City University, London. He holds a specialist Diploma in Contact Lens Practice from the British College of Optometrists and certifications in Contact Lenses for Abnormal Ocular Conditions, Diabetic Shared Care, Glaucoma Shared Care, Learning Difficulties, and Paediatric Optometry from City University, London. He earned the Diploma in Clinical Optometry (with Distinction) in 2001 and qualified as an Independent Optometrist Therapeutic Prescriber in 2011, subsequently entering the GOC register in this specialty. He was awarded a Fellowship of the European Academy of Optometry in May 2014.

With over 30 clinical papers published in journals or books, Professor Barnard is the co-editor and author of the textbook "Paediatric Eye Care," published by Blackwell Science in 1996. He is also the co-inventor of the Volk Eye Check. He has delivered over 150 invited postgraduate lectures and research presentations across various countries, including Croatia, France, Holland, Hong Kong, Italy, Israel, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Trinidad, the UK, and the USA. His primary clinical interest lies in paediatric optometry and the visual aspects of learning difficulties, where he adopts an evidence-based approach.