David F. Chang

Clinical Professor, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF); Private practice, Los Altos, California, USA

What is a little-known fact about you or your family?

Ten years ago, my undergraduate son instantly attained more fame than I ever will through his guest appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show as the internet viral Stanford Band Cowbell player during the 2014 March Madness basketball tournament. He just got married last March – 10 years later – which is a testament to his wife’s Stanford roots and her very tolerant personality.

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

Probably a cowbell player (unless my son inherited that talent from his mother).

What global trends in eye health should ophthalmologists be aware of?

We finally have an IOL technology – the light adjustable lens (LAL) – that is beautifully suited for refractive lens exchange (RLE) in presbyopic patients. The new LAL “plus” extends the depth of focus and, as with contact lenses, we can assure emmetropia in one eye and then adjust and individualize the degree of mini- or micro-monovision without compromising visual quality. With more experience, the popularity and demand for RLE will significantly increase. This growth of RLE with adjustable and accommodating IOLs will hasten and exacerbate the looming manpower shortage of cataract surgeons in even high-income countries.