Dr. Dirk Booysen

FSCLS, FSLS, FOA

Dr. Dirk Booysen

I am a clinical optometrist with 37 year experience trained in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. I am currently in private practice and have held teaching positions at the University of Johannesburg and the Orange Free State, both South African Universities. Although I specialize in contact lens practice as well as ocular therapeutics, my practice deals with whatever walks through the door. I have been fortunate to lecture extensively in South Africa as well as abroad on many topics concerning our profession. I am passionate about optometry’s role in ocular therapeutics and advocate further training to all my colleagues whenever the opportunity presents itself. I have been honored by the profession receiving a distinguished service award as well as a certificate of tribute for my ongoing contribution to South African optometry. I hold a doctorate in optometry from Aston University as well as fellowships in the British College of Optometrists, international society of contact lens specialists, scleral lens society, and the South African optometric association. I am a passionate pilot, flying, building and restoring vintage aircraft and have many hours on a WW2 Tiger Moth. I serve on the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s Aeromedical Committee which deals with aircrew medical fitness to fly as well as writing policy on medical matters in aviation. Recently I was invited to join the WHO’s work group on interventions for glaucoma to establish international standards of care used by governments when dealing with glaucoma diagnosis and management. I am happily married with two children, three dogs and two cats. Although the children are no longer in the house we are a close family spending as much time together, preferably on safari in the bush, as possible.