Meet the Editors

Dr. Jason J. Nichols, editor of Contact Lenses Today and Contact Lens Spectrum, is the Kevin McDaid Vision Source Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. His clinical, research, and teaching interests are in the ocular surface and contact lens areas. In addition to his experience in private practice, research and education, Dr. Nichols has published numerous articles in leading peer-reviewed professional publications and served as a contributing editor for Contact Lens Spectrum for several years, focusing on contact lens materials, dry eye, and lens care solutions. He is also a member of the International Society of Contact Lens Research (ISCLR), a diplomate in the American Academy of Optometry's Cornea and Contact Lens Section and has received top honors from the Academy as well as other professional organizations.

In addition to receiving federal National Institute of Health funding to support his work in contact lens-dry eye, Dr. Nichols has worked with most major contact lens and lens care companies in a variety of capacities. These have included clinical research projects on current products, in addition to developmental projects on new and upcoming materials, care solutions, and pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Gromacki is Chief Research Optometrist at the Keller Community Hospital at West Point, NY. A nationally-recognized clinician, educator and author, she serves as Contributing Editor of Contact Lens Spectrum, Contact Lenses Today, Review of Cornea and Contact Lenses, and Contemporary Optometry. She is a Diplomate in the Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies section of the American Academy of Optometry. She serves the National Board of Examiners in Optometry as an author and on the Refraction Committee and Part II Council. She specializes in contact lenses, refractive surgery, and anterior segment disease.

Dr. Gromacki has been named to "America's Best Optometrists," the Marquis Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in the World, and The Leading Health Care Professionals of the World (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England).

Brien Holden is Professor of the University of New South Wales, CEO of the Brien Holden Vision Institute (formerly the Institute for Eye Research), CEO of the Vision Cooperative Research Centre, and CEO and President, Adventus Technology Inc.

Professor Holden is internationally recognized for his work in eyecare. He has received five Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Science from universities in the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa, as well as numerous other national and international awards, including a special recognition Award from the Association for Research in Vision and Optometry, Honorary Fellowship from the British College of Optometry and the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1997 for contributions to eyecare research and education.

He is also very active in public health through his role as CEO of the International Centre for Eyecare Education. He was appointed Chair of the Refractive Error Working Group of the World Health Organization and is on the Board of Trustees of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness. He was Founding Co-Chair of the Vision 2020 Australia group and Executive Chair of the global Optometry Giving Sight fund-raising initiative.

Dr. Nichols is FERV Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Nichols has received two NIH-funded grants to study dry eye in postmenopausal women and is currently on the steering committee of NIH-funded planning to assess omega fatty acid supplementation in dry eye. She has been the principal investigator on several pharmaceutical studies for investigational dry eye medications, in addition to participating in many dry eye and contact lens studies. Her current research interests are cross disciplinary in nature.

She serves as medical advisor to the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation and the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society and the Ocular Surface Society of Optometry, on the editorial board of The Ocular Surface, Refractive Eyecare and Contact Lenses Today. Dr. Nichols lectures and writes extensively on dry eye, contact lenses, diabetes and public health, and women’s health issues.

Dr. Szczotka-Flynn is Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and Director of the Contact Lens Service at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a Diplomate in the Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies of the American Academy of Optometry and Program Chair for the Section. She is on the editorial board for Optometry and Vision Science and is a Contributing Editor for Contact Lens Spectrum and Contact Lenses Today.

Dr. Szczotka-Flynn’s research interests include contact lens complications, extended wear, silicone hydrogels, keratoconus, post-surgical contact lens fittings and corneal topography. She has written numerous peer reviewed manuscripts, book chapters and scientific meeting abstracts, and has presented at conferences world-wide. Dr. Szczotka-Flynn has also been honored with several awards and grants including the Nissel Award from the British Contact Lens Association, two Ezell Fellowships from the American Optometric Foundation, a Female Scholar Award from Prevent Blindness Ohio, and a grant from Prevent Blindness America to support her research in silicone hydrogel related infiltrative complications.

Dr. Watanabe is an Associate Professor of Optometry at the New England College of Optometry where he teaches Contact Lenses and is Supervisor for the Residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses. He is a Diplomate in the Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies of the American Academy of Optometry. He also maintains a private practice in Andover, MA.

Dr. Watanabe is a contributing editor to Contact Lens Spectrum and Contact Lenses Today. He has lectured worldwide on various contact lens topics and is author of Clinical Cases in Contact Lenses as well as several book chapters and numerous articles. His clinical interests include specialty GP contact lens design, contact lenses and presbyopia, keratoconus, post-surgical contact lens fitting, orthokeratology, and corneal topography. He has participated in numerous contact lens clinical trials both independently and as a consultant for various manufacturers.