The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry and Vision Science.
It was designed to meet a need for objective, academically-grounded research to support a growing contact lens industry. Over the next two decades, founding director Desmond Fonn developed the organization from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research.
Our roots are in contact lens research.
We played a significant role in the early development and testing of silicone hydrogel lenses and the role of oxygen in corneal health, and continue to play a significant role in the development of new contact lens materials, designs and care systems.
Our research vision has broadened significantly over twenty-five years.
Lyndon Jones was appointed director in 2011. His vision has continued to inspire our evolution as an integrated site for ocular research and education, combining clinical, laboratory and socio-behavioural methodologies and packaging results in a way that facilitates evidence-based clinical practice.