Henry W. Hofstetter

Henry W. Hofstetter (September 10, 1914 – May 10, 2002) was an American optometrist and the author of two books and 500 research papers. He is a past president of the American Optometric Association and a member of the National Optometry Hall of Fame.

Early life Hofstetter was born on September 10, 1914, the eighth of 11 children born to Swiss and German immigrants. His father, Kaspar Hofstetter, was a farmer from Switzerland while his mother Augusta Kresin Hofstetter was from West Prussia. He grew up on a farm in Huntsburg, Ohio, with three brothers and seven sisters. For two years, he attended Western Reserve University and went to Kent State University during the summer, where he got a teacher's certificate. In 1952, Hofstetter arrived at Indiana University to assume the directorship of the newly created Division of Optometry. He held this post until 1970, when he resigned from his administrative duties. Hofstetter remained an active member of the faculty, receiving the Rudy Professorship in 1974. He retired from his academic position in 1979 and was awarded the title of Rudy Professor Emeritus by the Board of Trustees.

Hofstetter authored two books and more than 500 articles. In 1991, Hofstetter was awarded the International Optometrist of the Year award by the International Optometric and Optical League. He was given Distinguished Service Awards by the World Council of Optometry, the American Optometric Association and the Indiana Optometric Association. He also received both the Prentice Medal and the Orion Award.

Two awards from the Indiana chapter of the American Council of the Blind are named for Hofstetter. The Hank Hofstetter Opportunity Grant assists blind individuals, while the Hofstetter Award recognizes outstanding contributions to blind citizens in the state.