Vision and its protection. A symposium on visual efficiency and eye protection at work

Historical Significance: This is a collection of papers originally published in Aust J Optom 1973 56(2). The papers were presented at a symposium organised by the Victorian College of Optometry and held in Melbourne (in the former Science Centre in Clunies Ross House on Royal Parade, Parkville since demolished) on June 1 and 2 1972 and in Adelaide on August 21 and 22 1973. It was organised to be of interest to occupational medical officers and safety officers in industry. It covers the eye and visual capacity, vision disorders and their effect on job performance, the handicap of abnormal colour vision, the protection of vision at work (6 chapters) and the eye protection program (3 chapters). The was the College's first foray into organising a symposium to reach out to medicine and other professions, and indicative of new confidence in the profession as to the value of its knowledge base. The College at the time had strong research programs in visual ergonomics and eye protection. The latter was lead by Eric Wigglesworth (19?? - 2009) (pictured) who completed a Masters degree in the College. He was a technical officer at Defence Standards Laboratory and taught in the occupational optometry course. He later headed up the Menzies Foundation and was a tireless advocate in occupational health and accident prevention. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia.