Thanasis Panorgias

Dr. Thanasis Panorgias is an Associate Professor of Vision Sciences and Director of Graduate Studies at the New England College of Optometry (NECO). He holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Manchester (UK) and an MSc in Optics and Vision from the University of Crete (Greece). His research focuses on retinal electrophysiology, color vision, myopia progression, and age-related visual changes.

Dr. Panorgias’ lab pioneered a system to enhance the spatial specificity of the multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG), addressing challenges posed by involuntary eye movements. This innovation improves diagnostic accuracy for retinal disorders. Collaborators include prominent researchers like Prof. Vera-Diaz and Prof. Bex. Current master’s students include Alison Taylor (2024), Raviv Katz (2025), Srini Srirangam (2025), and Simon Wong (2025).

Key research themes include:

• Electrophysiological analysis of retinal function
• Optical blur modeling using novel ERG stimuli
• Age-related changes in retinal signaling
• Blue light’s role in photophobia mechanisms

Recent publications span topics like caffeine’s effects on mfERG responses, predictive metrics for myopia progression, and retinal aging dynamics. His work integrates clinical optometry with advanced imaging technologies like adaptive optics.