Ben Thompson is a Professor within the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo. Ben is also the CEO and Scientific Director of the Centre for Eye and Vision Research in Hong Kong, a collaborative initiative between The University of Waterloo and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Ben’s research interests encompass human visual development and neuroplasticity. His collaborative research has led to a promising new video-game based treatment for amblyopia (sometimes referred to as “lazy eye”) and he also co-invented new technology for the assessment of vision in children that is undergoing commercialization. More recently, Ben has led the development of new techniques for improving vision in older adults with macular degeneration.
Ben holds appointments as an Honorary Professor at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand and as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Department of Ophthalmology, McGill University.
Ben completed his BSc and PhD in Experimental Psychology at the University of Sussex, UK and took up a postdoctoral research position within the Department of Psychology at UCLA in 2004. In 2006, Ben moved to the Department of Ophthalmology at McGill University and in 2008 he joined the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Auckland, New Zealand as a faculty member. Ben took up his current position at the University of Waterloo in 2014.
In addition to his research and teaching roles, Ben has served in several administrative positions including Graduate Officer, Gender Equity Advocate and Associate Director for Research.