Wills Eye Conference

Alexandra Benavente-Perez, PhD, MCOptom, FAAO, FARVO

Associate Clinical Professor, Biological and Vision Sciences
SUNY College of Optometry​

Alexandra Benavente is a Research Professor at the SUNY College of Optometry and the Principal Investigator of her federally and industry-funded research lab, focused on identifying the mechanisms that lead to myopia and associated blinding consequences. She received her degree in Optometry and Optics from the College of Science and Medicine in Valladolid, Spain; MS in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science from the University of Manchester, UK; and PhD in Vision Science from Aston University, Birmingham, UK. She has been a part of the clinical research effort at the college through the Clinical Vision Research Center from its creation in 2013, where she has been Principal Investigator in a multi-center research study and sub-Investigator in more than 20 clinical studies.

Since joining SUNY Optometry, Sandra has published 30 peer-reviewed research papers, 2 book chapters and over 85 conference abstracts on her doctoral research, work on experimental myopia models and ongoing multidisciplinary collaborations. She has served as Chair of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting Program Committee (Anatomy section) and is an appointed member of the Scientific Committees of the American Academy of Optometry, and International Myopia Conference. She has received the Josh Wallman Memorial Award/Zeiss Young Scientist Award in Myopia Research at the International Myopia Conference, and the American Academy of Optometry Professional Career Development Award.