For Optometrists and Vision Scientists

Establishing a long record of distinction in research will typically require that the nominee be beyond the mid-career stage. The nominee will be judged by the quality, significance, and impact of his or her career-long body of work in vision science. The recipient need not be a Fellow of the Academy nor an optometrist. The recipient will present a special lecture at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry on his or her current research contributions. It is also expected that the recipient will submit a manuscript on that topic to Optometry and Vision Science.

This award is not limited to Academy Fellows nor to optometrists, but may be presented to physicians, educators, or others who have made an outstanding contribution in that direction, worthy of national attention. Academy members make nominations to the Awards Committee and the Awards Committee makes selections with the Board of Directors' approval.

Life Fellowship Award is usually given to Academy Fellows who had contributed significantly to the Academy with years of service being a factor in the selection.

The award is not limited to Academy Fellows or to optometrists. The Awards Committee selects one person and submits their recommendation to the Board of Directors for approval.

Individuals considered for this award will be widely recognized by both Academy peers and the profession for their clinical expertise and willingness to share their knowledge for the benefit of improved patient care. Awardees are required to be active in direct patient care. Additional contributions to the ophthalmic literature relative to sharing clinical knowledge may also be considered.

At the time of nomination, a Borish Award nominee should be within 6 years of the date of completion of his or her final degree. Typically this degree will be the PhD but, in exceptional circumstances, current research accomplishments and promise for the future may qualify an individual for consideration for this award with the degree Doctor of Optometry, Master of Science, or other professional or research degree. The recipient need not be a Fellow of the Academy nor an optometrist.

Recognizes an individual(s) or organizations whose direct efforts and contributions have resulted in unquestionably significant and extraordinary advances in optometry and eye care internationally. The recipient's contributions should be clearly documented and self-evident, in that the excellence and importance of the contributions have been established and known to the international optometric community.

Recipients are asked to present a twenty minute lecture during the Cornea and Contact Lens Section’s meeting held at the American Academy of Optometry’s Annual Meeting. The topic and content of the lecture are left to the discretion of the recipient and the Committee but it should relate to the recipient’s work in the cornea and contact lens field.

The award is open to all faculty and researchers in optometry and vision science. Preference will be given to North American applicants. The Principal Investigator must be a member of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO). It is also encouraged that the Co-Investigators be a member.

Eligible applicants must be optometrists at schools and colleges of optometry in the United States (or optometrists in other academic settings, such as Departments of Ophthalmology). The applicant must hold a full time academic appointment at the level of assistant or associate professor at their institution. Applicants with a prior NIH R01, R21, R34, or U10 award, NSF grant, or VA Career Development Award are ineligible.

The educational grant may be used to provide care, to support personnel, to provide equipment or to fill any other need in the field of low vision as identified by the institution and consistent with the AAOF mission.