Ke Yao

Professor and Chief, Zhejiang University Eye Hospital; Eye Center of Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, China

Why did you decide to pursue ophthalmology/your subspecialty?

My initial motivation to pursue ophthalmology came from my father, who was also an ophthalmologist. When I was a child, my father’s surgical procedures were very interesting and it caught my attention a lot at that time. I was also impressed and admired the feelings of gratification when my father helped patients regain their sight. Later on, I spent a period of time living and working in the rural area of China, witnessing the sorrow and difficulties of the patients who suffered from cataracts. Therefore, I decided to follow my father’s career path as an ophthalmologist, devoting myself to help more cataract patients, regardless of their fortune and status.

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

In the past 10 years, cataract surgery has emerged as one of the most rapidly advancing fields in ophthalmology. Notable advancements include the invention and application of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and the introduction of various premium intraocular lenses (IOLs), such as bifocal, trifocal, and extended depth of focus (EDOF) IOLs. Our team has conducted a number of clinical studies around FLACS and published 16 clinical research papers to date. Over 5,000 FLACS surgeries are performed in our eye hospital annually. 

Compared with traditional phacoemulsification cataract surgery, FLACS provides higher safety, efficacy, and precision. It not only reduces ultrasound time and energy but also minimizes intraocular tissue damage, particularly in terms of corneal endothelial cell loss and postoperative corneal edema, accelerating early postoperative visual rehabilitation. Moreover, it can improve the precision of capsulorhexis size and position, enhancing IOL centration and stability, especially when combined with premium IOLs. Furthermore, FLACS significantly increases the success rate of complex cataract surgeries, providing higher surgical safety and precision in cases such as hard nucleus cataracts, intumescent cataracts, cataracts combined with shallow anterior chambers, low corneal endothelial cell count, insignificant lens subluxation, and axial high myopia. FLACS represents a major innovation in the field of cataract surgery, which is why I consider it the biggest breakthrough in the field over the last decade.

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

In my prediction, the world will witness many significant innovations and breakthroughs in the field of cataract in the next 10 years. First, artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be widely applied in the diagnosis and
treatment of cataracts, assisting doctors to improve the scientificity, precision, and efficiency. For example, some teams have already developed AI-based cataract diagnosis platforms. I firmly believe that such systems will undergo further iterations and optimization in the future, which will enable a faster and more accurate assessment of patients’ conditions and provide guidance for treatment. Furthermore, surgical assistance systems, similar to or even surpassing the da Vinci system, will enhance the safety, effectiveness, and precision of ocular surgeries and contribute to the homogenization of medical quality across different countries and regions worldwide.

Second, revolutionary breakthroughs will emerge in the treatment of cataracts. Many research teams, including our team, have made exciting progress in the potential drug screening for cataract treatment. In the future, drugs capable of preventing or reversing the development of cataracts will be introduced, and people may only need to use eye drops to treat cataracts. Our team has also achieved groundbreaking progress in the field of stem cell-induced ex vivo and in vivo lens regeneration. We have managed to induce in situ lens regeneration in animal models, with the regenerated lenses attaining a thickness over 80% of their native state. I eagerly anticipate the possibility of realizing lens regeneration in human eyes to treat cataracts over the next decade. 

Third, ophthalmic medicine will become more digitized. With the widespread adoption of the internet and 5G technology, remote ophthalmic medical services will become the mainstream. Patients will be able to communicate with ophthalmologists through remote video consultations from home, and doctors can provide timely and effective diagnosis and treatment recommendations remotely, significantly improving medical efficiency and convenience.

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

I see myself as an ophthalmologist, a teacher, and an advocate for ophthalmic public welfare. My personal mission for the next 10 years is to promote the advancement of ophthalmology, cultivate ophthalmic talents, and foster the development of ophthalmic public welfare. First, my team and I will collaborate closely with ophthalmologists worldwide to explore the unknown fields in ophthalmic research, achieve innovation in techniques and therapies, and contribute to the global development of ophthalmology for the well-being of numerous patients.

Second, as a teacher, I will spare no effort in cultivating outstanding ophthalmologists and researchers with a global perspective for China and the world. I will not only teach them knowledge and techniques, but also focus on nurturing their personal growth. I firmly believe in the “Three Don’ts” principle, which is: don’t be a flash in the pan, don’t be conservative, and don’t fight alone. I hope my students will carry on my principle and surpass me in the future. I expect to see them becoming the backbone of ophthalmology and making new contributions.

Third, this year marks the 26th year of my team and I engaging in ophthalmic public welfare. Over the years, we have traveled to many underdeveloped regions in China, reaching the snow-covered plateaus, the vast deserts, and the remote borderlands. We have also provided aid to countries, such as Mali. As the saying goes, “It is better to teach a man how to fish than to give him fish.” We have not only offered free cataract surgeries to impoverished local patients, but have also established 15 eye centers and trained local surgeons to perform cataract surgeries. In the next decade, I wish to work closely with ophthalmologists and organizations worldwide, contribute to promoting ophthalmic public welfare globally, and help more patients to regain their sight.