Dr Jackson is an award winning Optometry graduate (1st) from Glasgow College of Technology (1981) with a PhD in Corneal Physiology from Queens University Belfast (1993). After completing a Pre Registration year in Moorfields Eye Hospital London (1982) he returned to Belfast to establish a Hospital Optometry Dept in the Dept of Ophthalmology at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Since qualifying he has been awarded Fellowships from both the American Academy of Optometry and the British Contact Lens Association and holds Diploma level qualifications in independent therapeutic prescribing and Low Vision Research.
In 2007-2008 Dr Jackson completed an R&D funded Fellowship at University College Berkley (California) and from 2011 to 2014 he headed up clinical optometry services at the Australian College of Optometry in Melbourne Australia. He has co-authored over 125 peer reviewed papers, many of which have focused on visual disability, corneal disease, blindness and low vision. He has also supervised, either as lead supervisor or main clinical supervisor, 5 PhDs and 4 MPhil higher degrees, and examined 6 higher clinical research degrees and acted as peer reviewer for multiple journals and research granting organisations. Over a 30 year period he has successfully led research grant applications worth more than £1m and contributed, as a named co-applicant, to a similarly funded number of shared successful applications.
Dr Jackson {BSc (Hon 1st) PhD MCOptom (DipTp IP) FAAO (LV Dip Res) FBCLA } has been a co-lead for the Clinical Research Network (Vision) since 2015.
