Damien Gatinel

Head of the Anterior Segment and Refractive Surgery Department, Rothschild Foundation Hospital, Paris, France

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

I am convinced of the mechanical root of origin of keratoconus, which I have summarized in a simple maxim "no rub, no cone." This seems evident when one combines logic with clinical experience and published facts about this condition. This opens the prospect of preventing the onset of this condition by educating the population about the deleterious role of excessive eye rubbing.

What is your prediction for where ophthalmology/your subspecialty will be 10 years from now?

I believe that advancements in artificial intelligence and imaging technologies will revolutionize how we diagnose and treat eye diseases, leading to more personalized and effective treatments. Telemedicine will have a more significant role to play in ophthalmology and, with advancements in technology, we can better serve remote and underserved populations.

Why did you decide to pursue ophthalmology/your subspecialty?

As an adolescent, I dreamed of becoming a doctor, but I was also fascinated by astronomy and related technologies. Ophthalmology is at the intersection of these fields. To this day, I am moved by the fact that our eyes can capture particles of light emitted over two million years ago from the most distant galaxy visible to the naked eye. This fascination with the science and technology involved in ophthalmology is what ultimately drew me to pursue this specialty.

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

Over the past 10 years, I have come to consider femtosecond laser technology as an indispensable tool for refractive and corneal surgery. The precision and accuracy it provides in creating corneal flaps and performing other surgical procedures have revolutionized the field and greatly improved patient outcomes. In my opinion, it has become one of the most important technological advances in ophthalmology, and I could not imagine practicing without it.