Derek Swan

Derek Swan joined Optos in 2002 and now serves as chief technology officer. He has an academic background in optical physics, obtaining his BSc in laser physics from the University of St. Andrews and an MSc in optoelectronics from Heriot-Watt University. Derek spent the early part of his career in research, working on enabling technologies to help people with visual impairment, before his move to industry, designing integrated photonics solutions in the telecoms sector. He was then able to combine his passion for technology and patient-focussed applications in his move to Optos, where he started as an optical design engineer, working on Optos’ first generation of ophthalmic products. Derek has since dedicated his 20-year tenure to helping Optos achieve its mission to save sight and save lives. Derek is a strong proponent of driving change and improvements in the medical device sector, with the belief that ophthalmic care is entering an exciting phase. Specifically, that novel technologies and data-driven healthcare can enable clinicians and medical professionals to obtain a greater insight to ocular and systemic pathologies and disease management pathways. Under Derek’s leadership, his group of engineers and technologists have pioneered innovative technologies that have driven the standard of care in retinal imaging and improved patient outcomes worldwide.