Chelvin Sng

About Chelvin Sng

Associate Professor, National University of Singapore, Senior Consultant, National University Hospital, Singapore

Why is it important to celebrate women in ophthalmology with the 2021 Power List?

Women have always played a significant role in the field of ophthalmology so it’s timely to recognize these achievements, especially because women are often poorly represented in international forums and in key leadership positions. Celebrating the talents and achievements of these women would also inspire the next generation of young women ophthalmologists to overcome their own challenges and to break the gender stereotypes.

What can be done to make the field more diverse?

Recognizing the lack of diversity in ophthalmology is the first step in addressing this imbalance. This year’s inaugural Top 100 Women in Ophthalmology Power List will certainly ignite this conversation!  What we hope to achieve is a deliberate and united effort by the global ophthalmology community to be more inclusive, and to celebrate talented women. I hope that one day in the near future, “manels” will be a relic of the past!

What is your proudest professional achievement?

I am proud that I helped to launch the MIGS movement in the Asia-Pacific region. As the Convenor of the Asia-Pacific Glaucoma Society (APGS)-MIGS Interest Group, we continue to train and educate regional surgeons in the appropriate use of these devices. I am also very proud that I am the co-inventor of the Paul Glaucoma Implant, which is a novel tube device that I now implant in patients with refractory and advanced glaucoma, with good outcomes.

Outside of work, what makes you happy?

I am blessed to have two adorable boys, a supportive husband, and loving parents. Motherhood is the most joyful, rewarding, yet exhausting challenge in my life, and I am grateful for every day of this adventure.