Joan M. Exford received optometry degrees from Indiana University and Pacific University and, an honorary degree from The New England College of Optometry. She is a past president of the American Academy of Optometry and Prevent Blindness Massachusetts, and the past Chairwoman of the Board of Registration of Optometry, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Well-known in the field, she has been a recipient of the Massachusetts Society of Optometrists' Optometrist of the Year Award and she is a member of the Optometry Hall of Fame. She has participated in numerous research studies on dry eye, contact lenses and myopia. Dr. Exford is no longer regularly seeing patients but continues to be active in research.