Nick Rumney

Chairman, BBR Optometry Ltd, Hereford, United Kingdom.

Honorary Professor of Clinical Optometry, University of Manchester

Visiting Professor of Optometry, University of Applied Sciences, Oulu, Finland

Immediate Past President, European Academy of Optometry and Optics

Nicholas Rumney is currently in a full-scope, award-winning practice in Hereford. A 3rd-generation optometrist, he graduated from Cardiff, did his pre-reg year at Bristol Eye Hospital, and completed an MSc in low vision in Melbourne. He was a Professional Qualifying and Fellowship examiner and was one of a handful of College of Optometrists members to complete the Fellowship by examination. He has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry FAAO since 1995.

During his 13 year term at the General Optical Council Prof. Rumney was part of the GOC team that developed the regulations underpinning Specialist Therapeutic registration, and in 2012 he qualified as an Independent Prescriber himself. His practice was the only one in the UK dually registered for Investors in People (Gold) and ISO 9000, and was the first in the UK to introduce first 3D-OCT, upgraded to swept-source OCT. Mr. Rumney regularly presents on this technology at meetings as far apart as Japan, Finland, South Africa, Colombia and India.

He was a founding member of the European Academy of Optometry and Optics and was until 2022 the Presidency of the European Academy of Optometry. He has consulting interests with Topcon, Scope and Lumenis and has consulted with Alcon, Thea, Santen, Glaukos and Novartis. In 2018 Nicholas was made Honorary Professor in Clinical Optometry at the University of Manchester. In 2019 he was appointed Visiting Professor of Optometry, University of Applied Sciences, Oulu, Finland.

BBR Optometry has recently joined forces with the Hakim group. The UK’s largest group of Independant Optometrists. Outside optometry Nick is a passionate car enthusiast and rugby union supporter.