University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science

Dynamics of an Artificial Tear Film on Contact Lenses in Response to a Moving Force Mimicking Fingertip Application Globally, it is estimated that more than 140 million people wear contact lenses. As a result, users demonstrate varying levels of dexterity and consistency when inserting lenses, often requiring fine adjustments. Moreover, the diverse structure and quality of individuals’ precorneal tear films lead to different tear film responses under various insertion conditions. In this work, we mimic such tear film dynamics using a force probe coupled with reflection interference contrast microscopy. We use an in-house prepared artificial tear film solution that mimics human tear film composition deposited on commercially available soft contact lenses. The probe is used to replicate contact forces that resemble the pressure and motion of a human fingertip during lens insertion. Our findings reveal that contact-induced deformations and resulting film morphologies are sensitive to the volume, i.e., thickness of the tear film: from localized wetting ridges with memory effects for thicker films to traveling deformations with permanent wrinkling for thinner films. In extremely thin films, we observe that film evaporation dominates over contact-driven dynamics, although mobile contact forces can locally reverse rupture spots in the tear film.

Congratulations to Dr. Lyndon Jones for his publication with colleagues, "Dynamics of an Artificial Tear Film on Contact Lenses in Response to a Moving Force Mimicking Fingertip Application"
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Congratulations to Dania Abuleil, Dr. Daphne McCulloch and Dr. Ben Thompson on their publication with colleagues, "Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation does not alter GABA concentration or functional connectivity in the normal visual cortex" www.frontiersin.org/journals/neu...

Frontiers | Didactic strategies for conceptual understanding and motivation in university mathematics: a systematic review The conceptual understanding and motivation for learning and teaching math constitute a challenge for didactic research at all levels of education. However, ...

Congratulations to Dr. Vasudevan Lakshminarayanan for his publication with colleagues, "Didactic strategies for conceptual understanding and motivation in university mathematics: a systematic review."
www.frontiersin.org/journals/edu...

International vision science collaboration continuing to 2030 | Waterloo News The world’s first international hub for vision science, a research collaboration between the University of Waterloo and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has had its funding extended throu...

The world’s first international hub for vision science, the InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), a research collaboration between the University of Waterloo and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has had its funding extended through to 2030.

uwaterloo.ca/news/science...

Join us for our webinar on November 25, 2025 (6:00-7:00PM EST).
In this webinar, Dr. Kristine Dalton will be talking about "Post-Concussion Optometry".
This event is free and open to patients, families, caregivers and anyone interested in learning more about concussion.
#Concussion #Visiontherapy

Congratulations to Drs. Amir Moezzi, Jill Woods, Lyndon Jones and Will Ngo for their publication with colleagues, "Novel Ocular Thermography Metrics for Dry Eye Screening"
tvst.arvojournals.org/article.aspx...

Optimizing Optometric Scope is A Safe, Evidence-Based, and Essential Step Forward to Improve Access to Care.

Read the CAO media release here: opto.ca/document/opt...
#VisionCare #Optometry #AAO #OAO

Optimiser le champ de pratique de l'optométrie représente une avancée sûre, fondée sur des données probantes, et essentielle pour améliorer l'accès aux soins.

Lisez le communiqué de presse de l’ACO : opto.ca/fr/document/...

Curriculum changes to include additional term | Optometry & Vision Science | University of Waterloo Optometry school curriculum changes will be built into the whole program to better prepare students for the future of the profession

The University of Waterloo Senate and the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) have approved curriculum changes that include inserting an additional study term after the winter term of second year.
#Optometry @uwaterloo.ca @waterloosci.bsky.social
uwaterloo.ca/optometry-vi...

Everyday Consequences of Childhood Intermittent Exotropia To assess the impact of intermittent exotropia (IXT) on eye-related quality of life (ERQOL), reading speed, motor skills, and self-perception in children.Fifty-one children with basic or pseudo div...

Congratulations to Dr. Krista Kelly on her publication with colleagues, "Everyday Consequences of Childhood Intermittent Exotropia."
www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/...

Improving Peripheral Reading With Noninvasive Transcranial Electrical Stimulation of Early Visual Areas - PubMed Noninvasive brain stimulation may enhance how the brain processes visual input from a diseased eye, complementing standard eye-based treatments of retinal and macular diseases.

Congratulations to Drs. Andrew Silva, Melanie Mungalsingh and Ben Thompson on their publication with a colleague, "Improving Peripheral Reading With Noninvasive Transcranial Electrical Stimulation of Early Visual Areas"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40990861/

Congratulations to Dr. Nadine Furtado on her publication with colleagues, "Trust and accuracy in AI: Optometrists favor multimodal AI systems over unimodal for glaucoma diagnosis in collaborative environment" https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010482525014854

A better vision test for toddlers | Waterloo News The development of a new tool for testing the eyesight of children under three could mean more children receive treatment for vision difficulties earlier, leading to positive effects on learning and d...

Researchers at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science/Waterloo Eye Institute have developed a new tool, the Waterloo Differential Acuity Test (WatDAT), that helps detect vision problems in children as young as 18 months.

uwaterloo.ca/news/media/b...

So exciting to have one of the pioneers of adaptive optics for ocular imaging here at the School!

Congratulations to Dr. Daphne McCulloch on her publication with colleagues, "Minimizing Pupil Size Dependence in Flicker ERG Using Stiles–Crawford Compensation."
https://tvst.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2803116

On November 4th, 2025 you are invited to attend Dr. Edward Doolittle’s lecture, Indigenous Mathematics: Foundations.

The lecture is open to everyone and free to attend!

More info here: uwaterloo.ca/hagey-lectur...

Congratulations to Dr. Krista Kelly on her publication with colleagues, "Eye-hand coordination during visually-guided reaching in children with monocular deprivation amblyopia" https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0042698925001695?via%3Dihub

Debbie Jones and two colleagues holding Garland Clay Award plaques

Congratulations to Dr. Debbie Jones and her colleagues on winning the prestigious Garland W. Clay Award for the most important paper published in the journal Optometry and Vision Science in the last five years! uwaterloo.ca/.../game-cha....
#Academy25 #Optometry #VisionScience

Congratulations to Dr. Lisa Christian and alumni Drs. Molly Brawdy and Ethan Wohlgemuth on their publication, "Barriers and facilitators influencing access to primary eye care among transmasculine individuals in Canada: A qualitative analysis"!
http://bit.ly/3IDKKZ7

Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Hunter on her publication with colleagues, "Radiometric and safety assessment of a ‘low-level red-light’ myopia control device". The researchers concluded that the 'low-level' moniker is inappropriate for these devices and caution should be exercised.
bit.ly/4h85KnL

Congratulations to Drs. Marlee Spafford, Amrita Stalin, Ben Thompson, Lisa Christian and their colleagues on their publication, "Patching the robot: Perspectives about amblyopia and the feasibility of social robots supporting patching therapy"!

journals.lww.com/optvissci/fu...

Today, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we recognize the harm inflicted on Indigenous Peoples by the Canadian residential school system. We encourage you to take time to learn more about the impact that residential schools, and colonization, have on Indigenous communities.

#NDTR2025

Congratulations to Dr. Krista Kelly on her publication with colleagues, "Slow binocular reading during rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) in children with amblyopia and the role of fixation instability"

http://bit.ly/4n6D28N

Congratulations to Marc Schulze, Sarah Guthrie, Brandon Ho, Jill Woods and Lyndon Jones on their publication, "A Clinical Evaluation of Lifitegrast Ophthalmic Solution 5% in Symptomatic Contact Lens Wearers"

http://bit.ly/4nFgGev

YouTube video by Waterloo Optometry and Vision Science Aging and the eye

The eyes change in multiple ways as we age. Learn from Dr. Tammy Labreche what's normal, what's an eye disease and how you can best take care of your eyes as you age. For more details, check out our article: uwaterloo.ca/.../what-you....
#HealthyAgingMonth #Optometry
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf1N...

Congratulations to Drs. Supriya Aryal, Elizabeth Irving, Lisa Christian, Debbie Jones, Daphne McCulloch and Susan Leat on their publication, "The Waterloo Differential Acuity Test (WatDAT)—Testability and normative data"! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Remembering Professor Kostadinka Bizheva (“Dida”) | Science | University of Waterloo It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Kostadinka Bizheva, Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, affectionately known as Dida to her colleagues and friends.

With great sadness, we acknowledge the unexpected passing of our friend and colleague Dr. Kostadinka (Dida) Bizheva, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy cross-listed at our school.

See memories of Dida, including from School faculty members: uwaterloo.ca/science/news...

Images from the Alumni newsletter. Text: September 2025. Our alumni newsletter is out now! Link in bio!

Stay connected with our community through stories and news. Check out the latest alumni newsletter for new achievements, updates, and more!
bit.ly/3K6Du8k

Our Waterloo optometry clinic at 419 Phillip St., Unit C will be affected by roadwork on September 17 and 18, 2025. You will still be able to access the clinic but may have to take an alternate route at times. Expect traffic delays. Our Kitchener Clinic is unaffected.

Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth Irving on her publication with colleagues, "Exploring gender differences in aviation: Integrating high-fidelity simulator performance and eye-tracking approaches in low-time pilots"! https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3715669.3723124