Jan Lovie‐Kitchin

All Eyes On Her: Celebrating Women In Low Vision History

“…Lovie-Kitchin, born in Melbourne, Australia, completed her Bachelor of Science degree in optometry, as well as her Master of Science degree from the University of Melbourne in the 1970s (and eventually her PhD in 1996). 11 Perhaps her most notable accomplishment was the development of the LogMAR chart with Dr. Ian Bailey in 1976, also known as the Bailey-Lovie chart. 12 The chart ultimately allowed for practitioners to more accurately and precisely assess visual acuity by providing more letters at larger sizes, more testable levels and working distances and identical tasks at each level.…”

“…15 Despite encountering limitations such as a male-dominated science field and significant gender wage gap, she became one of the first Australian female researchers to run her own lab and conduct her own research, leading to over 130 successful publications and a lasting impression on women world wide. 11,15 While Goldmann, Feinbloom, and Kestenbaum are widely remembered as great pioneers of low vision, many of the field's greatest advancements were propelled by the hard work and perseverance of women like Keller, Faye, and Lovie-Kitchin. They helped to significantly reform research, examination techniques, rehabilitation, relations, disability rights and more within the field of low vision.…”

Kenneth J Bowman AM

“…The staff that he gathered around him provided the platform for the department's growth over the next decade. Peter Swann had joined QIT earlier from the UK; Jan Lovie‐Kitchin 3 and later David Atchison 4 were recruited from Melbourne (Jan started at QIT on the same day as Ken), Christine Wildsoet, Michael Collins, Jennifer Bevan and Kel Cameron were all QIT graduates and Brian Brown was recruited from the Smith‐Kettlewell Institute in San Francisco with the specific role of building up the research program of the department. Brian had visited QIT on study leave and obviously saw good potential as he later took the opportunity to join QIT full‐time.…”