Associate Professor Bente Aakre
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1998 - 2009 |
Doctor of Philosophy |
Ph.D. in recognition of a thesis entitled "Longitudinal assessments of corneal and tear film characteristics after LASIK versus continued contact lens wear". Glasgow Caledonian University, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Glasgow, Scotland |
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1995 - 1997 |
Master of Philosophy |
M.Phil. in recognition of a thesis entitled “Swelling kinetics of the corneal stroma under physiologically relevant conditions”. Glasgow Caledonian University, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Glasgow, Scotland |
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1993 - 1994 |
Contact Lens Diploma |
Buskerud College, Department of Optometry, Kongsberg, Norway |
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1989 - 1992 |
Diploma in Optometry |
Buskerud College, Department of Optometry, Kongsberg, Norway |
Bente Monica Aakre is an Associate Professor of Optometry with extensive experience in academic leadership, clinical education, and research in vision science. She holds a PhD and MPhil from Glasgow Caledonian University and has more than two decades of experience in optometry education, research, and professional development.
Her research focuses on the anterior segment of the eye, dry eye disease, corneal physiology, contact lenses, and refractive surgery outcomes. She has published widely in international peer‑reviewed journals and has supervised research projects at Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels.
Professor Aakre has held senior leadership roles in higher education, including long‑term service as Head of Department at the University of South‑Eastern Norway, where she led the development of national and international optometry programs, accreditation processes, and curriculum reform. She has been project leader and initiator of several internationally funded education and research initiatives, including large European collaboration projects aimed at strengthening optometry education and clinical standards.
She is actively involved in professional and academic service at national and international levels. Her appointments include membership of the European Qualifications Board for the European Diploma in Optometry (European Council of Optometry and Optics, ECOO), leadership roles within The Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions (UHR), advisory board membership for optometry programs and consultancy work for the Norwegian Directorate of Health. She has also served on boards and committees within the Norwegian Optometric Association, and the Norwegian Contact Lens Committee.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
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Year |
Source and project |
Amount | |
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2025 |
Synoptik-Fonden’s Honorary award 2025 for the work of leading and further developing optometry education in Norway |
DKK 200 000 | |
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2023 |
Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, Bransjeprogram detalj- og faghandelen 2022 - Grant to Fagskolen i Viken (Higher Vocational College) to establish the study "Optometry for retail employees" (Optometri for butikkansatte). |
NOK 2 180 000 | |
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2016 |
Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Erasmus+, Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices, Capacity Building in Higher Education, Joint Projects: “Optometry CUrriculum for Lifelong Learning through ErasmUS OCULUS”. Contribution: project leader. |
EUR 946 218 | |
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2016 |
SIU. Eurasia programme 2015. CPEA-2 015/10066 Moldova – Norwegian collaboration program in optometry. Enhancing primary eye health care in Moldova. Contribution: project initiator |
NOK 6 000 000 |
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2015 |
Senter for Internasjonal Utdanning (SIU). Erasmus Plus - Funding for project development 2015. EPLpd-2015/10027 Curriculum building in optometry education to enhance quality and cultural competency of evidence-based eye care education internationally.Contribution: project leader. |
NOK 100 000 | |
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2015 |
Senter for Internasjonal Utdanning. Seed money for the project CPEASM-2015/10015 “Primary visual healthcare in Moldova needs optometrists. Developing an academic education for optometrists”. Contribution: project initiator and project leader. |
NOK 100 000 | |
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2015 |
Norgesuniversitetet. P19/2015 – «En reise gjennom kroppen - forstå god helse". Contribution: project initiator. |
NOK 700,000 | |
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2013 |
Senter for Internasjonal Utdanning. PNA-2013/10122 - Project funds for North America 2013 submitted in collaboration with University of Houston. |
NOK 150 000 | |
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2004 |
Norwegian Optometric Association. PhD studies |
NOK 160 000 | |
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2002 |
Norwegian Optometric Association. PhD studies |
NOK 189 000 | |
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2002 |
Norwegian Contact Lens Committee. PhD studies |
NOK 15 000 | |
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2000 |
Hultgren’s Memorial Foundation. PhD studies |
NOK 30 000 | |
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2000 |
Norwegian Optometric Association. PhD studies |
NOK 20 000 | |
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1999 |
Buskerud University College. PhD studies (equipment grant) |
NOK 40 000 | |
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1999 |
Norwegian Optometric Association. PhD studies |
NOK 60 000 | |
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1996 |
Norwegian Contact Lens Committee. MPhil studies. |
NOK 10 000 | |
Synoptik-Fonden’s Honorary award 2025 for the work of leading and further developing optometry education in Norway, DKK 200 000