Professor Christine Purslow started her career in hospital optometry in 1991, after which a variety of clinical roles followed including private practice, part-time teaching and specialist contact lens practice. Chris was awarded her PhD from Aston University in 2005 and went on to become a senior lecturer and director of postgraduate taught courses within WOPEC, based at Cardiff University, as well as director of the contact lens and anterior eye research unit. Her most recent academic post was professor and head of optometry at Plymouth University. In 2013, she was appointed as head of medical affairs for Thea Pharmaceuticals (UK & Ireland), alongside continued research interests as visiting professor at Plymouth, Cardiff and Aston Universities. Chris has authored over 100 scientific papers and professional articles, and presents regularly to both national and international audiences, generally on anterior eye topics. In 2020, she was appointed to her current role – to lead, grow and develop the hospital optometry team at SpaMedica, as their first Director of Optometry.