ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
New England College of Optometry to honor Indo-Canadian optician
Yavar Ali Khan is known for founding the Academy of Ophthalmic Education and advancing eye-care training in North America.
-
Malvika Choudhary - Sat, 11, Apr 2026
- 13:43 EDT
- 8
Yavar Ali Khan / linkedin.com
The New England College of Optometry will confer an honorary degree to Indo-Canadian optician Yavar Ali Khan at its 132nd commencement ceremony on May 17.
He is being honored for his decades-long contributions to the field, regulatory leadership and advancing accredited eye-care education across North America.
Also Read: Neeli Bendapudi honored for advancing public-impact research
Born in Hyderabad, India, Khan immigrated to Canada in 1968. He entered the optical industry that year as a lab trainee and within two years had gained expertise across multiple areas of optical practice, going on to build a career spanning more than five decades in eye-care education, professional standards and patient-care access.
Khan was appointed by the Government of Ontario to the College of Opticians of Ontario, where he served as chair of the governing board. In that role, he contributed to regulatory and professional oversight of opticianry and participated in provincial discussions on scope of practice and interprofessional collaboration.
He later founded the Academy of Ophthalmic Education, which has provided accredited continuing education to eye-care professionals across North America for more than three decades. The organization conducts conferences, seminars and online learning programs and is associated with industry events such as Optifair Canada.
Khan also founded the Canadian Society of Eye Health Practitioners, a charitable organization that has raised funds for hospitals and eye-care initiatives, supported students through educational programs and encouraged industry collaboration.
He owns and operates two independent optical dispensing stores and currently serves as president and chief executive officer of the Academy of Ophthalmic Education.
Khan completed the ophthalmic dispensing program at Ryerson Polytechnic University in 1973 and has been a licensed optician in Ontario since then.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login