Ammann Thomas

I entered the field of optometry rather by chance in 1975. My vision was to do something that involved people, brains, and hands. My enjoyment of the profession has grown steadily since I received my federal diploma in 1983. In addition to optics, contact lens fitting requires anatomical, physiological, and pathological knowledge, excellent spatial awareness, psychology, chemical knowledge, empathy, and much more.

In the 1980s and 90s, I gave many lectures at specialist conferences in Switzerland and abroad, held workshops, and worked in the contact lens care products industry. As a lecturer, I taught at the former Higher Technical College for Optometry and Optometry as well as at the Mechanical-Technical Department of the Zurich Trade School. For over twenty years, I served as an expert examiner for advanced professional examinations in contactology. At the same time, I built up my own business.

From 2001 to 2003, I completed a Master of Science in Optometry at Salus University in Philadelphia in order to become more involved in research and teaching. I soon realized that I enjoyed advising people much more than initiating and supervising studies.

I have been familiar with contact lenses since 1975, so I have witnessed the entire, surprisingly continuous development of contact lenses from the early days of the first oxygen-permeable lenses and am familiar with the respective advantages and disadvantages of the individual models.

I have been self-employed at Hohlstrasse 25 in Zurich since 1988.