Dr Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo is a Senior Lecturer and Former Head of Department, Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, where he contributes to training the next generation of optometrists and vision scientists. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 2017 at the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland; investigating the impact of macular carotenoid and co-antioxidant supplementation on visual function in patients with early age-related macular degeneration. His PhD work was supported by the European Research Council Grant 281096.

Dr Akuffo studied Doctor of Optometry (OD) at KNUST, graduating in 2011. During his studies at KNUST, he was on the Faculty of Biosciences Dean’s Honours List on three consecutive occasions for outstanding academic performance.

Dr Akuffo has been trained in retinal photograph grading at the Moorfields Eye Hospital Reading Centre, London, UK, and has been certified to grade cataracts using the Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) III by the Chylack Incorporated.

Dr Akuffo has published over 40 scientific peer-reviewed articles and has contributed to several conference proceedings in his research field. He currently has external collaborations with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC; South Africa) where he is using data from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES) to investigate prevalence of Eye Disease and its associated risk factors in South Africa. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and a member of the Ghana Optometric Association (GOA). He was recognized for his scientific excellence as ‘Affiliate of the African Academy of Sciences’ following a competitive evaluation process.

He is a Reviewer for the several journals including Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, British Journal of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Research, International Journal of Vitreous and Retina, and Eye and Vision. Currently, he serves as an Associate Editor for BMC Ophthalmology.

In addition to his academic and research work, Dr. Akuffo is very passionate about mentorship and the career development of young people. Throughout his mentorship, students have won several prestigious international awards including the Harvard Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program (CELP) Fellowship, and Developing Country Eye Researcher Travel Fellowship (DCERF). Dr. Akuffo currently serves as a Board Member of the African STEM Network and Youth Arise Organization.