Professor Mohammed (Mo) Jalie DSc SMSA FBDO (Hons) Hon FCGI Hon FCOptom MCMI – internationally renowned dispensing optician, scholar, and ophthalmic lens innovator – has passed away.
Members of the ophthalmic community have paid tribute to Prof Jalie’s contribution to eye care, with Dr Grant Hannaford describing it as “difficult to overstate”.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Prof Jalie devoted himself to advancing the science and practice of ophthalmic lenses and vision care. That commitment was recognised in 2002 when he was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO).
A prolific author, he produced nearly 200 papers and several major texts covering ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses, dispensing techniques, and optical theory. As Dr Hannaford observed, “for many in our profession his textbooks formed the foundation of our understanding of spectacle optics”.
Mo Jalie’s passing is not only a great loss to the ophthalmic industry but for all those who knew him
As Head of the Department of Applied Optics at City and East London College, he taught dispensing opticians and optometrists from 1964 until his retirement in 1995. In 2018, Ulster University awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Science in recognition of his contributions to optometry, education, and the ophthalmic industry.
His work in lens design, aberration control and surface geometry influenced modern spectacle lens manufacturing, and professional practice. His mathematical and optical contributions helped connect theoretical optics with practical lens design, establishing standards that remain in use internationally.
A Great Loss
Rodenstock’s Nicola Peaper first encountered Prof Jalie through his textbook The Principles of Ophthalmic Lenses, now in its sixth edition, before meeting him in person in Australia from 2011 onwards.
“It wasn’t until I had the privilege of meeting him in Australia several times and hearing him lecture that I appreciated the passion he still had for the subject and how well he translated a complex topic to all levels of audience,” she said. “What I really discovered from those meetings was that Mo had a great sense of humour, a passion for wine – both growing vines and production – and was above all a gentleman. Mo Jalie’s passing is not only a great loss to the ophthalmic industry but for all those who knew him.”
Influence Beyond Publishing
Dr Hannaford undertook an intensive 12-month course from Australia, supervised by Prof Jalie in the United Kingdom. He recalled that Prof Jalie never simply provided answers, but guided students towards genuine understanding rather than compliance.
“We developed a wonderful rhythm of challenge, discussion, and refinement that made the learning process genuinely enjoyable. I still remember carrying his text with me through Nepal and Mongolia while trying to keep pace with weekly deadlines,” Dr Hannaford said.
That working relationship continued as Prof Jalie supervised Dr Hannaford’s examination of spectacle lens aberrations and optical behaviour. One exchange proved particularly formative: when Dr Hannaford questioned why certain assumptions in ophthalmic calculations were treated so rigidly, Prof Jalie’s view was that refining the understanding of the lens-eye interaction was not simply a worthwhile exercise, but an important contribution waiting to be made. Dr Hannaford credits that conversation with shaping much of his later work in visual system modelling and lens design.
Prof Jalie also encouraged and supported the completion of Dr Hannaford’s doctorate at Aston University under Professor Nicola Logan.
“Mo was also a source of steady support when professional pressures encouraged compromise. His advice was thoughtful, principled, and unwavering. That kind of mentorship leaves a lasting mark.
“It is a genuine sadness that he will not see some of the next developments in this work, but I remain deeply committed to ensuring that his legacy, and his vision for ophthalmic optics, continues undiminished,” Dr Hannaford said.
A respected figure within the profession, Prof Jalie served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers from 1993 to 1994, acted as a consultant to major international lens manufacturers, and contributed to the Varilux University in Paris – the first European education centre dedicated to presbyopia and the ageing eye, established in 1989.