James Wolffsohn

James Wolffsohn is an Eddie Goldenberg Impact+ Chair of Canada and a Professor of Optometry at the University of Waterloo. His previous roles were Dean of Optometry, Head of Audiology and Biomedical Engineering Schools, Deputy Dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences and a deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor at Aston University, UK. His main research areas are the development and evaluation of ophthalmic instrumentation, myopia management, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, presbyopia and the tear film. He is a National Teaching Fellow, has published more than 390 full peer-reviewed papers and presented at numerous international conferences. He is the Chief Scientific Officer of the International Myopia Institute (IMI) and is a past Director of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface society (TFOS), and President (2005-6) and Academic Chair (2014-25) of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA). He holds the BCLA Medal (2021), AoA Glenn Fry (2022), Don Korb (2026) and AAOptom CCLRT Founders (2024), and College of Optometrist’s Frank Petticrew research (2026) awards.

A list of publications is available through Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?hl=en&user=XX7SmA0AAAAJ.

• Dry eye disease

• Contact lenses

• Myopia

• Presbyopia

• Intraocular lenses

• Ophthalmic Instrumentation

Dr. James S. Wolffsohn is an internationally recognized scholar in optometry and vision science whose research has had a major influence on clinical eye care, vision correction technologies, and ocular health worldwide. He has held academic leadership positions and is widely known for his contributions to the development and evaluation of ophthalmic instrumentation, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, dry eye disease management, and myopia management. A defining feature of Dr. Wolffsohn’s scholarship is its strong translational focus, bridging laboratory research and clinical practice. His work has advanced the understanding of the tear film and dry eye disease, helping to establish internationally adopted standards for diagnosis and treatment. He played a key leadership role in the influential TFOS Lifestyle & DEWS II / III reports, which have become essential references for clinicians and researchers worldwide. Dr. Wolffsohn has also been a leading figure in myopia management research. As Chief Scientific Officer of the International Myopia Institute, he has contributed to globally recognized guidance on myopia prevention, control, and management, helping practitioners adopt evidence-based approaches to reduce the progression of childhood myopia.

• 2026 Don Korb award for research excellence of the American Optometric Association Contact Lens and Cornea Section

• 2024 Founders Award of the American Academy of Optometry section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies for outstanding contribution to the clinical aspect of the art or science of contact lens fitting.

• 2024 Hood Fellowship (University of Auckland, New Zealand) for a distinguished visiting academic

• 2023 Vice Chancellor’s Engagement & Impact Award to the School of Optometry

• 2023 Partnership Between Academia and Business Medilink Award Midlands Winner and National “Highly Commended”

• 2023 Association of Optometrists Excellence in Research Award

• 2022 Glenn Fry (Research) Award of American Optometric Association

• 2021 British Contact Lens Association Medal

• 2017 International Optometrist of the Year Award from Universitat Polytecnica de Catalunya

• 2016 Chancellor’s Medal [Aston University]

• 2016 International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) Educator of the Year (Europe/Africa-Middle East region)

• 2015 Wavefront & Presbyopic Refraction Corrections Founders Award – Best invited presentation

• 2015 British Contact Lens Association Honorary Life Fellowship

• 2014-5 Astonishing Aston Academic – Nominated for both Most Engaging and Most Inspiring Academic in LHS

• 2014 Aston Excellence Award for outstanding established Researcher of the year

• 2014 Visiting International Research Innovative Health and Biomedical Institute (IHBI), Queensland Institute of Technology, Brisbane, Australia (2 months)

• 2014 Visiting International Research scholarship – Titech University, Tokyo, Japan (2 weeks)

• 2013-4 Aston Astonishing Academic – Best Use of Feedback in LHS

• 2013 British Contact Lens Association Pioneer’s Award

• 2011 Aston Excellence Award for Innovation / Technological Improvement Yellow fluorescein enhancement filter distributed by Bausch and Lomb

• 2009 British Contact Lens Association Dallos Award

• 2001 - 2024 Council member as Optometric section chair

• 2001 - 2004 Team leader of Communication committee

• 2004 - 2005 President Elect

• 2005 - 2006 President, Introduced Fellowship scheme & initiated management review

• 2007 - 2016 Fellowship Consultant

• 2014 - 2025 Academic Committee Chair

• 2016 - 2025 Conference Programme Chair

• 2000 - Present British Universities Committee of Contact Lens Educators (BUCCLE)

• 2002 - Present International Society of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE)

• 2012 - 2015 Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS)

• 2016 - Present International Myopia Institute (IMI)

• 2016 - Present Americal National Standards Institute (ANSI)

• 2026 - Present Review of Myopia Management

• 2021 *National Teaching Fellow (NTF)

• 2014 *Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) [Fellow since 2001]

• 2012 *Fellowship of the College of Optometrists [member since 1997]

• 2011 *Diplomate of American Academy of Optometry (Cornea, Contact Lens and Refractive Technologies Section) [Fellow since 1998]

• 2011 Fellowship of the Royal Society of Biology

• 2010 *Membership of Beta Gamma Sigma as top 20% MBA student in recognised Business School

• 2015 Life Fellowship of the British Contact Lens Association (FBCLA) [*Inaugural Fellow 2006]

• 2002 *Fellowship of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (FIACLE), Lifetime status awarded Dec 2017