Vance Thompson

Vance Thompson, MD, graduated from Gregory High School in Gregory, South Dakota, and subsequently went on to complete his education at the University of South Dakota (BS-Chemistry), University of South Dakota School of Medicine (MD), Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Internship), the University of Missouri – Columbia (Ophthalmology Residency), and Hunkeler Eye Clinic (Refractive Surgery Fellowship with Daniel S. Durrie, MD). Dr. Thompson has been practicing refractive, corneal, and cataract surgery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota since 1991 and is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. Dr. Thompson has been the primary investigator in over 50 FDA-monitored clinical trials studying laser (excimer, holmium, and femtosecond) and implant (pseudophakic, phakic, and corneal inlay) vision correction since 1990. He was the Medical Monitor of the first FDA-approved ophthalmic use of an excimer laser in the United States. He has also been the Medical Monitor of other studies and most recently was the co-monitor of Avedro’s corneal collagen crosslinking trial which was recently FDA-approved. Dr. Thompson has numerous publications, including being a co-editor of the textbook Refractive Surgery and lectures and teaches throughout the world on refractive surgery. Dr. Thompson has numerous community interests which include serving on the Boards of the University of Sioux Falls, Sanford Health Foundation, the South Dakota Symphony, DakotaCare, US Bank, University of South Dakota, US Bank, a presidential appointment to the President’s Advisory Council for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC for 8 years during the Bush administration, and more.