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Clinical relevance: Clinical optometric practice is underpinned by a rigorous research base, the primary evidence for which is publications in refereed scientific journals. Leading optometrists who publish this work should be identified and celebrated. Background: This work aims to derive publication metrics of the leading optometric researchers worldwide. Methods: An extensive global search was conducted to discover leading optometric researchers; 480 names were identified. A custom-designed bibliographic search tool was developed to interrogate the Scopus database (Elsevier) and extract publication metrics using the unique Scopus Author Identifier number for each optometrist. On 13 January 2021, the full list was reduced to 200 optometrists (the 'Top 200') ranked by h-index -the 'Global Optometrist Top 200 Research Ranking'. The output from the custom tool automatically updates every 24 hours and is available at www.optomrankings.com. Results: The Top 200 have h-indices ranging from 20 to 67 and have published between 28 and 440 papers. Sixty one (30.5%) are women. Konrad Pesudovs has the highest h-index (67) and citations (51,193). The most prolific author is Robert Hess (442 papers). David Piñero is publishing at the fastest rate (17.6 papers per year). The Top 200 work in 13 nations, of whom 172 (86.0%) work in four nations: USA -76 (38.0%), Australia -43 (21.5%), UK -41 (20.5%) and Canada -16 (8.0%). Of the 72 institutions represented, the University of California, Berkeley, USA is home to the most Top 200 optometrists (17) and has the highest combined h-index of Top 200 optometrists (132). Conclusions:The optometric profession is supported by a robust research base, prosecuted by a large international cohort of optometric researchers who publish extensively on a broad range of ophthalmic issues and whose work is highly cited. The 200 most impactful optometrists in the world are identified.

Understanding novel actuating materials which respond to a variety of stimuli is key in the development of micro/nanoscale robotics. In this work, the mechanism of actuation in nickel hydroxide/oxyhydroxide actuators by the intercalation/deintercalation of water is examined. This effect is studied under the stimuli of visible light, photoactuation, and by increased environmental temperature, thermoactuation. The photoactuation is modelled using a mechanical model, and it is demonstrated that the experimentally observed intrinsic strain can be achieved with a low deintercalation of water, around 1%. This low level of water exchange is supported by structural changes observed during heating using thin film X‐ray diffraction (XRD), as well as time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) by isotopic exchange using D2O. These results show the water intercalation hypothesis is both possible and measurable. Future development must take this mechanism into account when designing materials for improved actuation performance.