About Us

Thomson Software Solutions is the leading supplier of software for vision testing and screening in the UK. Our portfolio of programs is at the cutting edge of vision assessment and is already in use in more than 8000 consulting rooms, hospitals and schools.

Our software has been adopted by most major hospital eye departments including Moorfields, Great Ormond Street, Southampton, Bristol, Addenbrookes and many more. It is also used in the clinics of all the University Optometry and Orthoptics Departments in the UK and many overseas..

However, we never stand still and are constantly adding new tests and features. We believe that this keeps the software at the vanguard of innovation in clinical vision assessment – and our 8000 or so users seem to agree!

The Thomson Team

Founder and CEO

Prof David Thomson

The company was founded by Professor David Thomson in 1995. Professor Thomson started his professional life as an Optometrist but spent most of his career at City University where he lectured in Clinical Optometry and Visual Perception before becoming Head of Department. In the late 90s he recognised the potential of emerging computer and display technology for clinical vision assessment and started developing software to exploit the new technology The first program was launched in 1992 and from these humble beginnings, Thomson Software Solutions has become the leading supplier of vision assessment software. Professor Thomson continues to lead the company while lecturing widely in the UK and overseas.

Sales & Marketing Director

Tom Sturge

After obtaining a degree in marketing, Tom travelled the world for a year before joining Thomson Software Solutions over ten years ago. He is an avid Spurs fan (and therefore used to disappointment) and in what little spare time his two young children allow, he is to be found on the golf course.

Software Development and Support

Jon Lee

Jon manages our software support and contributes to testing and software development. Jon has a Masters degree in Computer Science from the University of Lancaster. His interests include amateur dramatics, stand up comedy and he is a volunteer helper with the North Mymms Youth Project.

Accounts and admin support

Janice Rathbone

Janice oversees the accounts and administration in the office and provides software support. Janice was previously PA to the Headteacher in a large secondary school. Her interests include theatre, music and keeping fit.

Support Engineer

Chris Hunt

Chris has worked in the world of software for over 30 years, having worked in Banking for a while then running his own software company, City Visual Systems. Chris also spent over 10 years working in the Department of Optometry and Visual Science at City University. Chris acted as a a consultant for Thomson Software Solutions before joining the company full time approximately 10 years ago where he took on responsibility for software testing and support. Chris has recently taken semi-retirement but still advises Thomson Software Solutions and looks after some on-site installations.

Professional Support

Dr Nadia Northway

Dr Nadia Northway is an Academic and Clinical Orthoptist who has spent nearly 30 years teaching eye care professionals all over the world and is a visiting lecturer to a number of academic institutions in the Uk and overseas. Her research interests include dyslexia and other developmental disorders with a particular focus on oculomotor and neurophysiological processing in reading. Her research concentrates on how binocular vision affects learning and motor skills. As well as providing exceptional Orthoptic care, she is a specialist in the use of colour to alleviate visual discomfort and sees patients with stroke, migraine and other neurological deficits where she has developed a high level of expertise in treating visual stress related to neurological disorders. She is interested in developing new digital tests that investigate binocular vision and visual stress. She runs her own company Successful Learning that provides clinical services, educational services and consultancy on a wide range of matters related to eye care and education.

Director and Business Support

Mark Clement

Mark Clement FCA FCSI MBA BSc Hons
Mark is a well-respected business professional with over 30 years’ experience in human healthcare. He was CEO of one of Europe’s foremost Life Science Venture Capital groups and has significant experience in building successful companies in the Biotechnology sector. Mark is a Chartered Accountant by training and has an MBA from Durham Business School where he is a Fellow.

Eye Movements and Reading Project
Project lead

Prof Simon Liversedge

Simon is Professor of Cognitive Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire. He received his undergraduate degree and Ph.D. from the University of Dundee and has since worked at the Universities of Glasgow, Nottingham, Durham, Southampton and most recently at Central Lancashire. He has also worked internationally and spent significant periods of time in the USA (UMass and UCSD), China (Tianjin) and Finland (Turku). His research interests lie in the field of cognitive psychology, and in particular eye movements, reading and language processing, and human visual cognition. Throughout his research career he has used eye movement recording techniques to investigate a variety of aspects of human visual, linguistic and cognitive processing. Eye movement data provide an excellent on-line behavioural measure from which to infer moment to moment visual and cognitive processes that occur during the completion of a visually mediated task. He has an outstanding publication record with most of his work being published in high profile, international, peer reviewed journals (e.g., Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition; Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance; Cognition; Journal of Memory and Language, etc). He has an extended track record of securing research income from a variety of funders (e.g., ESRC; Leverhulme Trust; China Scholarship Council; UK Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory; etc). He has edited multiple volumes and journal special issues and has held numerous editorial roles. He was Editor in Chief of Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, the journal of the Experimental Psychology Society, from 2017-2021.

Project supervisor

Dr Hazel Blythe

Hazel is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Northumbria University. Her primary research interest is children’s typical and atypical literacy development. She uses eye movement recordings to study children’s cognitive processing during reading on a moment-to-moment basis. Hazel’s research has been supported by a number of funding organisations including the ESRC, the Wellcome Trust, and the Leverhulme Trust. She is a Chartered Psychologist (British Psychological Society), a member of the Experimental Psychology Society, and a member of the American Psychological Association.

Project Supervisor

Dr Sara Milledge

Sara is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire with research interests that lie in the field of cognitive psychology. In particular, the insight examining eye movements during reading can give into typical and atypical literacy development in children.
Sara obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Southampton working with Prof. Simon Liversedge and Dr. Hazel Blythe. For her Ph.D., she recorded eye movements of adults and typically developing children during reading to examine the development of a skill that is critical to skilled adult reading. She has published in a number of leading international peer-reviewed journals.

Ph.D Student

Kendall Walter

Kendall is a Ph.D. student at the University of Central Lancashire studying in the field of Cognitive Psychology. Her research interests include visual cognition, eye movements, and reading, particularly regarding children. Kendall’s studentship is a part of the Doctoral Training Centre for Industry Collaboration at UCLan which promotes collaboration with external organizations in industry settings. Through collaboration with Thomson Software Solutions, the aim of Kendall’s project is to develop a software-based assessment tool that is capable of accurately measuring reading performance in children by utilizing eye movement data. The system will be developed to deliver assessments for different aspects of children’s reading performance If we are successful, we will develop a system that can accurately assess and relatively automatically deliver reading performance metrics. Kendall’s Ph.D. project has the potential to contribute to the understanding of children’s reading and literacy development and to inform teaching practices and support remedial reading interventions.

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