Anthony “Tony” Adams, O.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.O., renowned for his many contributions to education and research, has died. Roughly 35 years ago, Dr. Adams issued the report “Myopia Progression and Prevalence,” regarding late-onset myopia. The report, which attracted national attention, is credited with helping the NEI recognize the importance of human myopia, according to John Flanagan, dean and professor at the Berkeley School of Optometry, who wrote about Dr. Adams’ recent passing. Dr. Adams’ served as dean of the School from 1992 to 2001.

 

 

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Roughly five years after the myopia report, Dr. Adams, along with then Ph.D. students Karla Zadnik and Donald Mutti, conducted the Orinda Longitudinal Study of Myopia, which was comprised of 530 children ages 5 to 12 and “was the most extensive longitudinal study of myopia ever undertaken,” writes Dr. Flanagan.

Drs. Zadnik and Mutti are dean and the E.F. Wildermuth Professor, respectively, at The Ohio State University College of Optometry.

“I knew Tony as an optometry student, as his Ph.D. student, as his colleague and as a friend. Tony Adams had the right stuff. He was already famous in psychophysics, electrophysiology, diabetes, aging and blue-on yellow-perimetry,” says Dr. Mutti. “But he had the foresight to know that myopia research was going to be important, even before it was a key word for ARVO abstracts. He made sure the NEI director and staff understood the need for funding. He made my career possible. For all of that — but mostly for his friendship, humor, supportive pushing and brilliance — I will miss him forever.”

“Tony Adams was my Ph.D. advisor. He encouraged, pushed, cajoled and motivated me to career heights I could only dream about,” explains Dr. Zadnik. “His humor, doggedness and creativity taught me how to conduct my career and live my life. I loved him.”

Dr. Adams’ other research interests: color vision, the retina, oculomotor function, contrast sensitivity and visual change linked with diabetes. Also, he held many positions and received several accolades:

• Chair of the Committee on Vision of the National Academy of Science’s National Research Council (1985-88)
• President, National Board of Examiners in Optometry (1985–87)
• Chair of the Committee on Research of the American Academy of Optometry (1988–90)
• Distinguished Practitioner, National Academies of Practice in Optometry (1998)
• President of the American Academy of Optometry (1998–2000)
• National Optometry Hall of Fame (2004)
• President, American Optometric Foundation (2008)
• American Academy of Optometry; H. B. Collin Research Medal (2012) OM