Robert Edward Ang

About Robert Edward Ang

Department Head, Cornea and Refractive Surgery, and Director for Research, Asian Eye Institute, Makati City, Philippines

What industry trends are catching your attention right now?

The various types of glaucoma lasers with various mechanisms are getting better, which may lessen the need to undergo glaucoma surgery.

Make a bold prediction for the future of ophthalmology.

I foresee a breakthrough with genetics where we will have some diseases that can be detected before they manifest. And, we may – one day – be able to prevent disease in susceptible individuals.

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

I would probably be a chef. I love experimenting with food; I’m particularly proud of my plating skills. 

How do you think AI and machine learning will impact the field?

I think all diagnostic devices will incorporate artificial intelligence to read images and increase the accuracy of diagnosis.

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

I think home monitoring will become increasingly common. This will allow patients to send their data to physicians, resulting in less clinic congestion.