Harvey Siy Uy
The Power List 2019 – Surgical Pioneers
Harvey Siy Uy
Medical Director, Peregrine Eye and Laser Institute Makati City, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Philippines.
What was your early inspiration for becoming an ophthalmologist?
I was impressed with ophthalmology’s power to turn a person’s life around in 10 minutes. Patients go into the operating room frowning, and come out seeing and smiling!
What have been your career highlights?
There have been so many of them! My residency and becoming a faculty member at the University of the Philippines, VR fellowship at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Fellowship in Ocular Immunology and Uveitis at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School under the esteemed C. Stephen Foster. I have to add to that my presidency of the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, as well as launching the Peregrine Eye and Laser Institute in Makati, Philippines.
What will be the next big breakthrough in ophthalmology?
The convergence of several technologies (lasers, multicomponent IOL, biometry technology, AI) will allow cataract surgery to achieve the accuracy of laser refractive surgery. Sustained-release medications will free patients from the burden of putting in eye drops, and decrease the injection burden for retina patients. Artificial intelligence will profoundly change every subspecialty, both improving diagnostic capabilities and aiding treatment decision making.
What’s the best part of being an ophthalmologist?
What really makes my day is discovering a better way to do things— the first time to do phaco, fire a femtosecond laser into the lens, inject an antibody into the eye, exchange part of an IOL to correct EOR. Ophthalmology is a field full of innovative people — doctors, engineers, scientists, technicians. It is an honor and privilege to work with them and be one of their colleagues.
