Dr. Thomas is a 1981 graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and a 1976 graduate of the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina. He is in full-time clinical practice in Concord, North Carolina. He was presented the "Glaucoma Educator of the Year" award by the American Academy of Optometry in 1997. He and Dr. Ron Melton co-author Review of Optometry's "Annual Drug Guide to Ophthalmic Drugs," now in its sixteenth year. He is on the Professional Staff at Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast where he also serves on the teaching faculty of the Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Thomas has served as a consultant to the American Optometric Association on its Council on Clinical Optometric Care and Hospital Privileges Committees. He has served as an ophthalmic drug principal investigator for the FDA. Dr. Thomas has lectured world-wide with Dr. Melton on the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. He and his wife Cheryl have two daughters.