Felipe A. Medeiros

Professor of Ophthalmology, Vice Chair of Research, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA

What industry trends are catching your attention right now?

In the area of glaucoma, there’s been a resurging interest in neuroprotective treatments with many big players and start-ups showing promising early results. This is a field that previously saw a decline due to challenges in designing effective clinical trials. Recent advancements have revitalized this area of research by showing that these types of clinical trials are feasible, fostering optimism about the potential introduction of these treatments into clinical practice shortly. This renewed enthusiasm marks a promising horizon for glaucoma management, hinting at significant breakthroughs that could transform patient care.

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

I love to play drums and I am addicted to tennis. I am a big Djokovic fan.

Make a bold prediction for the future of ophthalmology.

The development of full eye transplantation techniques, enabling sight restoration in those with irreversible blindness. This would require not just the surgical transplantation of the eye, but also the successful integration and regeneration of optic nerve connections to transmit signals between the eye and the brain. Advances in tissue engineering, stem cell therapy, and neuroregeneration might make this groundbreaking achievement possible, potentially revolutionizing visual rehabilitation.

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

Playing tennis.

How do you think AI and machine learning will impact ophthalmology?

In the near future, ophthalmology may experience a transformative leap with the integration of AI and ML in diagnostic processes, predicting and treating eye diseases with unprecedented precision. This could include AI-driven personalization of treatments for conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration, significantly improving patient outcomes.