Dr. Wiffen studied medicine at University of Queensland and worked in country Queensland in Emerald, Charters Towers and Bundaberg for 3 years before training in ophthalmology in Western Australia. He then undertook 2-year fellowships in cornea and refractive surgery at both the Corneo-Plastic Unit, East Grinstead, UK, and the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. He was Director of the Corneo-Plastic Unit and Eye Bank in East Grinstead 1993-1994.

He is currently a Consultant Ophthalmologist in private practice at Lions Eye Institute and in the public system at Fremantle Hospital.

He has been Director of the Lions Eye Bank of Western Australia since 1997. He was Associate Professor in the Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Western Australia from 1997-2014.

Dr. Wiffen has held numerous other positions, including Head of Department of Ophthalmology Fremantle Hospital, Chair of the Qualifications and Education Committee of the WA Branch of RANZCO, Chair of Eye Banks Australia and New Zealand and Chair of the Cornea Standing Committee of the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand.

He has special expertise in corneal transplantation, including endothelial transplantation and DMEK, pterygium and cataract surgery, management of ocular surface problems, as well as laser and refractive surgery.