Anthony Khawaja

Associate Professor & Honorary Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology & Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK

Is there a particular tool, technological advance, or instrument you would not have been able to live without over the past 10 years? 

The Paul Glaucoma Implant has been a great advance for the management of complex glaucoma patients. Its smaller size of tube (easier to insert, potentially better for the cornea), yet large plate (low IOPs), and the highly predictable outcomes from day 1 are a substantial improvement which makes the lives of patients (and surgeons) better!

Do you have any personal missions for the next 10 years?

I would like ophthalmologists globally to be using systems which integrate with patients' genetic data so we can make better management decisions for them.

Do you have any strong opinions with which the rest of the field tends to disagree? 

I remember when I posted on an ARVO forum that their banning of photographs of presentations/posters was outdated, there was quite a backlash! I strongly feel that we should share and communicate as much as possible, and taking photos/videos can help with that dissemination and should be encouraged. People shouldn't present things they are not happy with for people to document/share. But I realize I may be in the minority here!

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?  

This is controversial, but I would invite Elon Musk! Despite some of his recently questionable decisions, his impact has been huge. When nobody believed in electric cars, he persisted and pioneered. Now the world is moving over to electric at pace – our air will be cleaner and the environment a little safer.