Andrzej Grzybowski

Professor of Ophthalmology, Foundation for Ophthalmology Development, Poznan, Poland

Why did you decide to pursue ophthalmology/your subspecialty?

I wanted to reconcile clinical and scientific work, and thought that ophthalmology might be a good choice. 

Who are your role models?

I greet all those who have the courage to preach true content in ophthalmology, often against the prevailing views and financial interests. 

What is your proudest contribution to ophthalmology/your subspecialty?

1. I have worked in recent years to limit the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in ophthalmology and helped to introduce international and national guidelines on antibiotic stewardship and more common use of antiseptics in ophthalmology instead of antibiotics. 
2. Saving some important facts and people from the history of ophthalmology from oblivion.

What do you credit most for your success over the course of your career?

Hard work and openness to the views of others.

What would you like to see change in ophthalmology/your subspecialty over the next 10 years – and why?

More personalized and predictive tools to enable early treatment. 

If you weren't an ophthalmologist, what would you be doing?

Maybe writing novels.  

If you could restart your career, would you do anything differently? 

I would spend more time abroad on scientific trips.

When you are no longer practicing, what do you want your legacy to be?

Change of ophthalmology practice into more evidence-based and less traditional and intuition-based.

Do you have any advice for young, aspiring ophthalmologists?

Be ambitious and passionate about what you do and try to be better than your teachers.