Chelvin Sng

Medical Director, Chelvin Sng Eye Centre; Adjunct Associate Professor, National University of Singapore; Adjunct Clinician Investigator, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore

What is an interesting or little-known fact about you?

My parents are obstetricians. My father was my mother's obstetrician and he delivered me, while my mother was my obstetrician and delivered my two children!

Why did you decide to pursue ophthalmology/your subspecialty?

It was fortuitous that I pursued a fifth grade school project on "The Eye" – it spurred a life-long interest in ophthalmology.

What’s been the biggest breakthrough in ophthalmology/your specific field over the last 10 years?

The biggest breakthrough in glaucoma is the availability of new glaucoma surgical devices over the last 10 years. These include minimally invasive glaucoma surgical devices, which have improved the safety of glaucoma surgery and have provided new treatment options for patients with mild to moderate glaucoma. Novel tube devices have also improved surgical outcomes, and I am proud to be the co-inventor of the Paul Glaucoma Implant (PGI). Medium-term results suggest that the efficacy of the PGI is better than that of the Ahmed tube, with less complications compared with the Baerveldt tube. These new glaucoma surgical devices have allowed surgeons to tailor glaucoma surgery for each glaucoma patient, according to the severity of glaucoma, the number of pre-operative glaucoma medications, and the target IOP. 

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

To improve the quality of life and vision of my patients, to be the best mother and wife that I can be, and to encourage more female ophthalmologists to speak up and be heard.