Remembering Dr. Anthony "Tony" Adams

Dear Academy members:

With a heavy heart, we inform you of the passing of an optometry legend and Academy past president, Anthony "Tony" Adams, OD, PhD, FAAO, who passed away peacefully last week, surrounded by his loved ones.

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, he came to the United States as a faculty member first at Indiana University and then joining Berkley Optometry as an assistant professor two years later. Following completion of his PhD in Physiological Optics, he continued his teaching tenure and served as Associate Dean from 1985-1992, and then Dean from 1992-2001.

A longtime supporter and friend to the Academy, he served as Chair of the Research Committee from 1988-1990 and was instrumental in establishing travel grants to help graduate students attend the annual meeting. As President from 1998-2000, he diligently gave of his time to improving the admittance process and growing the organization's international presence, as well as focusing on the optometry student population, garnering their attention early in their education to instill a lifelong passion for the Academy. His Academy leadership did not stop following his Presidency. He went on to serve as President of the Academy's Foundation from 2008-2010, as well as serve as Editor in Chief of Optometry and Vision Science from 2009-2016.

His Academy accolades also include being the recipient of the Glenn Fry Award in 1970, the Charles F. Prentice Medal in 2003, the Eminent Service Award in 2004 (which was renamed in his honor in 2020), and the Life Fellowship Award in 2016.

The Academy is grateful to have had his leadership, expertise, camaraderie, and lasting accomplishments towards advancing the profession.