Director Ben Thompson’s spring message reflects on a season of renewal, recent loss, and the strength of the School’s community. The update looks ahead to upcoming learning opportunities, research impact, and continued progress on the Waterloo Eye Institute.
In this section of the Insight alumni newsletter, we invite you to share your personal updates with other Optometry & Vision Science alumni, up to a maximum of 100 words, with an optional photo. We’d all love to hear about your weddings, babies, retirements, achievements, milestones and anything else you’d like to share.
Dr. Ben Thompson looks back over some recent achievements of 2025, including having raised $30 million out of the $35 million goal to build the Waterloo Eye Institute, having received approval for curriculum changes for the OD program that include an extra term of study, and the success of the Waterloo Eye Institute Fall Conference and Trade Show.
In his first message as director of the School of Optometry and Vision Science, Dr. Ben Thompson provides an update on the building of the Waterloo Eye Institute, welcomes new students and faculty, and details his own warm welcome both at the School and at the Canadian Association of Optometrists Congress in Halifax this summer.
Trained in physics and vision science, Dr. Jennifer Hunter (BSc '99; MSc '01; PhD '07) develops advanced fluorescence imaging techniques to examine individual retinal cell layers, which have historically been difficult to image without harming the eye. Her work could lead to earlier detection of retinal diseases and better testing and monitoring of ocular drugs.
Dr. Alexa Hecht (OD ’21) is an optometrist and social media influencer who emphasizes eye health and safety when it comes to educating the public, especially about beauty trends. She’s also a podcaster, speaker and brand ambassador building a not-so-traditional career alongside providing clinical patient care.
The Waterloo Eye Institute at Surrey Place project is bringing eye care to a highly underserved population – people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The project not only provides accessible patient care, it also trains the next generation of optometrists to see patients with special needs and researches the vision needs and outcomes of this special patient population.
Learn what your classmates have been up to and get inspired by the activities of alumni from other cohorts! Want to submit an update of your own? Please use the Class Notes form to tell us your news and include an optional photo.
In this section of the Insight alumni newsletter, we invite you to share your personal updates with other Optometry & Vision Science alumni, up to a maximum of 100 words, with an optional photo. We’d all love to hear about your weddings, babies, retirements, achievements, milestones and anything else you’d like to share.
Dr. Alex Müntz (PhD ’17) became head of the Institute of Optometry at a Swiss university just six years out from his PhD. His journey took him from Romania to Germany, Canada and New Zealand before Switzerland. He credits his success to his network and his willingness to be flexible and jump on opportunities.