Full Professor José González-Méijome, from the School of Sciences of the University of Minho (ECUM), has just been elected president of the European Academy of Optometry and Optics (EAOO), a benchmark institution in promoting clinical, scientific, and educational excellence in the field.
Among the priorities for his mandate are strengthening Portuguese participation in European discussions regarding training, research, innovation, and primary visual healthcare policies, all of which carry growing relevance.
“The development of academic training, professional practice, and scientific activity shows different levels across partner countries. We will seek to align initiatives, knowledge, and best practices, supporting the challenges faced by professionals and bringing advancements of excellence to the public,” states José González-Méijome.
His team also aims to modernize management through automation strategies, boost continuous training via digital channels—including an integrated professional development platform—and support research by young investigators.
José González-Méijome began his term this week at the EAOO Annual Conference in Riga (Latvia), organized in partnership with the European Council of Optometry and Optics and the Latvian Optometrists Association. He was elected after serving as vice-president (2024–2026) and chairing the Educational Committee for two terms (2018–2024). He considers this election an international recognition of his career and of the Optometry and Vision Sciences department at ECUM.
Professional Background and Achievements
Born in Lalín, Galicia (Spain), and about to turn 50, José Manuel González-Méijome graduated in Optics and Optometry from the University of Santiago de Compostela (1997) and earned his PhD in Sciences (Physics) from UMinho (2007), where he has been teaching for 25 years. He is the President of the School of Sciences, directs the Clinical and Experimental Optometry Research Lab (CEORLab) at the Physics Center, and coordinated the international ITN-MSCA doctoral network “OBERON”.
As the first honorary member of the Galician Society of Clinical Optometry, he was named International Optometrist of the Year 2016, received the UMinho Scientific Merit Award in 2018, and the Essilor Excellence in Optics Award in 2020. He currently ranks 50th in the Global Optometrist Research Ranking. He has coordinated and participated in dozens of projects with multinational institutions and companies, serves as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Optometry, has been an invited speaker at around 150 lectures in over 20 countries, and has authored or co-authored nearly 400 publications, including articles, book chapters, and books.
About the EAOO
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in London, the EAOO brings together around 700 members, fellows, professionals, students, and higher education institutions from Europe and partner countries. Its activities include a traveling annual conference, regular training sessions and seminars, research and continuous education networks, thematic working groups, and fellowship programs. Eduardo Teixeira, who holds a Master’s degree in Advanced Optometry from UMinho, was a co-founder and the first Portuguese national to preside over the EAOO, serving from 2017 to 2019.
