Facilities

The Optometry building is equipped with research laboratories supported by metal, electronic and optical workshops, a library dedicated to vision science, histology and live-animal housing facilities. There are also computer and audio-visual facilities. A wide range of up-to-date equipment is available. Transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, fluorescent microscope and confocal scanning laser microscope facilities are also available on campus.

The School's clinic is integrated with the teaching and other research facilities. It is uniquely situated in Ontario to serve as a major referral centre for patients with a variety of special ocular conditions. The Clinic maintains connections locally as well as with communities well beyond the boundaries of Waterloo through special outreach programs.

The clinic is equipped with the latest in high-tech instrumentation, including diagnostic instrumentation, on-site spectacle fabrication and dispensing, and contact lens modification facilities. In addition to various video and photo-documentation instruments for the eye, there is a computer-assisted lens instruction facility.

Centre for Ocular Research and Education

The Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE) is an integrated research facility operating within the School. The CORE is a unique, Canadian facility that provides a focus for contact lens and cornea related research. It maintains a mutually supportive liaison with the contact lens industry and practitioners who share common interests and concerns.

The facility is equipped with state of the art technology to conduct basic and applied research into new contact lens materials and designs, contact lens care products, corneal and conjunctival physiology and refractive surgery.

Centre for Sight Enhancement

The Centre for Sight Enhancement (CSE) is a clinical research and teaching facility, which is exclusively concerned with the assessment and rehabilitation of visual disorders, visual impairments, visual disabilities and visual handicaps. The CSE has been designated by the Ontario Ministry of Health as the low vision service responsible for the assessment and provision of high technology sigh enhancement systems to visually impaired Ontario residents under the Assistive Devices Program (ADP).

A group of researchers work under the CSE umbrella on a host of issues relating to the assessment and rehabilitation of low vision patients. These studies include several government funded projects with national, international and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Contemporary low vision service standards and assessment methodologies have been developed at the CSE. The Centre is also involved in activities such as professional development seminars, co-operative contract research projects and consulting with business and industry employers seeking to adapt work environments for visually impaired individuals.

In recognition of the Centre's adherence to exceptional clinical service standards, Waterloo's Centre for Sight Enhancement has received accreditation through the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC). It is the only service to be accredited in Canada, and the second NAC-accredited service within any School of Optometry.