After attending medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Robert Hampton completed a fellowship in vitreo-retinal disease and surgery at Albany Medical College in Albany, New York and in medical retinal disease at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, England. He began his career as Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Albany Medical College and, in 1985, moved to Syracuse to join Retina Vitreous Surgeons of Central NY.

Dr. Hampton is a Clinical Associate Professor at SUNY Upstate Medical University where he helps educate and mentor medical students and residents. An internationally recognized educator, he serves as a visiting surgeon with ORBIS International in 13 countries. He is the primary author of numerous scientific papers and book chapters and co-edited the first authoritative textbook on macular degeneration. He presents frequently at national medical meetings.

Dr. Hampton is actively involved in clinical research, serving as principal investigator on more than 25 national pharmaceutical industry and National Eye Institute-sponsored research trials. A frequent instructor at the national meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, he has been awarded both the Academy’s Honor Award and Senior Honor Award, and each year since 2005 has yearly been named to the "Best Doctors in America" list.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Hampton is a member of the Retina Society, the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the Society of Heed Fellows, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Dr. Hampton is a Senior Aviation Medical Examiner for the Federal Aviation Association and served on the national Aeromedical Standards Review Project, a joint undertaking of the FAA and the American Medical Association. Dr. Hampton is an FAA commercially-rated pilot and, in his spare time, also enjoys racing vintage hydroplanes, scuba diving, downhill skiing and creating fine art photography.