Harold Wiener, OD ’50: Remembered as a Vision Therapy Pioneer

Harold Wiener, OD ‘50, FCOVD, a nationally known lecturer, author, and practitioner of developmental and behavioral optometry, passed away March 23, 2025, at 97. 

After graduating from the Pennsylvania State College of Optometry (PSCO), Dr. Wiener went into practice as a behavioral and developmental optometrist. In 1982, he chaired a special committee at the University, which had changed its name to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) in 1964, to advise faculty and administration on curricular changes incorporating behavioral optometric practice. 

Dr. Wiener’s continued support of PCO included terms as president of the PCO Alumni Association (1990 and 1991), and a member of the Board of Trustees (1992 through 1994). He also established the Harold and Ginny Wiener Scholarship in 1999, which has supported PCO students from New Jersey for years. To donate to this scholarship, click here.  

“Harold Weiner was a bright and talented man, who loved optometry,” said Thomas Lewis, OD ‘70, PhD, FAAO, president of PCO and then Salus University from 1989 to 2013. “He was totally dedicated to vision therapy as a mode of practice and helped countless patients with visual perception problems. Hal served on the Board of Trustees of PCO for a period and supported the institution in so many ways.”   

Dr. Weiner received many awards, including a President’s Medal during PCO’s 75th anniversary celebration; Optometrist of the Year; the PCO Alumni Association Albert Fitch Memorial Alumnus of the Year Award; Outstanding New Jersey Optometrist — the E.C. Nurock Award, 1995, the highest symbol of recognition from the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians; and the prestigious Dr. Gerald Getman Award for contributions to Behavioral and Developmental Vision from the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. He has written three books for the Optometric Extension Program and one for the general public titled “EYES OK-I’M OK.”  

Among the survivors are his wife, Virginia J. “Ginny” Wiener; and his son, Mark Wiener, OD ‘83.