Damien Gatinel

Head of Anterior Segment and Refractive Surgery Department, Rothschild Foundation Hospital, Paris, France; Associate Professor at Abulcasis International University of Health Sciences, Rabat, Morocco

What major industry trends are catching your attention right now?

Teleophthalmology and digital diagnostics are at the forefront of my attention. The ability to diagnose and manage eye conditions remotely is revolutionizing access to eye care, especially in underserved areas. This digital shift is not just a trend but a transformation, enabling us to reach more patients than ever before.

What is a little-known fact about you?

Outside the clinic, I’m an avid photographer. The intricacies of capturing the world's surroundings through a lens deepen my appreciation for the complexities and beauty of vision, reminding me daily of the wonder that is the human eye.

Make a bold prediction for the future of ophthalmology.

Within the next decades, I foresee a pivotal shift in ophthalmology, with the potential to first halt the aging process of the eye’s components, such as the crystalline lens. This breakthrough could precede the widespread adoption of fully accommodative intraocular lenses (IOLs). Advances in gene therapy and regenerative medicine are setting the stage for this revolutionary development. By targeting the very mechanisms of aging within the eye’s lens, we aim to preserve natural vision and delay, if not negate, the need for interventions like cataract surgery.