Person

Noack, Donald Bruce (Don) (1933 - 2012)

Born
27 March 1933
Western Australia, Australia
Died
28 June 2012
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Occupation
Optometrist

Summary

Don Noack was an optometrist whose skill in mathematics and writing computer software made him pioneer in contact lens design, manufacture and fitting. For nearly 50 years he ran his own practice as well as researching different types of lenses. He used programmable calculators in solving the problem of accuracy and repeatability in the manufacture of lenses, a particular difficulty with lathe cut soft lenses. His work with Penrhyn Thomas at the International Optical Company resulted in a patent for the world's first prism-free soft toric lens, designed to address problems associated with corneal oedema. Noack and Steve Newman developed and patented the first back-surface, reverse prism soft toric lens that became the industry standard of soft toric design and is still used. Other innovations included the BE and KBA lenses, developed with John Mountford. Noack published several papers on changes in corneal shape. The Don Noack Award is the life membership award of the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania.

Details

Chronology

1954
Education - Diploma of Optometry, State Optometry Board, Western Australia
1962 - 1963
Career position - President, Optometrists Association of Western Australia
2010
Award - Lifetime Achievement Award, Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia

Published resources

Journal Articles

  • Mountford, John, 'Don Noack (1933 - 2012) a profile of a lens innovator and pioneer', Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 98 (2015), 194-6. Details

Resources

Helen Cohn

EOAS ID: biogs/P005737b.htm

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