Obituary

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Ron Loveridge

Dispensing optician Ron Loveridge has died, aged 59, following a short illness. His career in the contact lens industry spanned nearly 30 years, most recently as Professional Services Manager at CIBA Vision UK.

Ron qualified in dispensing optics from City College in 1966, gaining his CL Hons in 1968. For 11 years, he worked with Theodore Hamblin in various contact lens fitting roles, eventually becoming the group's Contact Lens Controller.

In 1977, he joined solutions manufacturer Contactasol as Group Technical Manager for its Consoft division. Contactasol was sold to CooperVision and, in 1985, Ron was promoted to Professional Relations Manager of the new company. Following the sale of CooperVision's contact lens business to Pilkington Barnes Hind, in 1989 Ron became Professional Services Manager at PBH.

In 1996, PBH was acquired by Wesley Jessen and Ron remained in his position until, four years later, the company was bought by CIBA Vision. In his role as Professional Services Manager for CIBA Vision UK, Ron represented the company at high-profile events, organised the Specialist Club meetings, arranged clinical trials and ran the technical consultation and training for CIBA Vision.

Throughout his career in the contact lens industry, Ron also prided himself on remaining in touch with real patients and worked in practice on a part-time basis to keep his hand in.

Among his many achievements, Ron was a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Fellow of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators, and a Member of International Society of Contact Lens Specialists. In 1993, he served as President of the British Contact Lens Association.

Ron's professional duties included membership of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians’ Contact Lens Committee and practical examiner for the ABDO Contact Lens Examinations. He served on the Clinical Advisory Board of Optometry Today and Advisory Panel of Dispensing Optics.

Ron published and lectured extensively on contact lenses and was the inventor of the Loveridge grid, a device for assessing the tear film.

His colleague at CIBA Vision UK, Head of Professional Affairs Marcella McParland, said: ‘Ron was always enthusiastic and willing to do his best. He was so kind and gentle, had a wealth of knowledge in all contact lens matters and had a particular interest and passion for specialist lens fitting. He had a keen, witty sense of humour that made him fun to work with as part of the CIBA Vision family. It has been an honour and a privilege to have worked with such a dedicated and respected man. He was very well known in the industry and will be missed by many. Ron's friends and colleagues at CIBA Vision want to convey their condolences to his family and close friends.’

Ron died on Saturday November 18, surrounded by his close family members. He leaves his wife Liz, two daughters Joanna and Michelle, and grandson Jacob.