Robert Edward MacLaren

About Robert Edward MacLaren

Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, UK

What industry trends are catching your attention right now?

There is no doubt in my mind that retinal gene therapy will begin to take over from the majority of injection treatments by the end of the decade. Why? Because our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that lead to all types of AMD and diabetic retinopathy has improved significantly.

Make a bold prediction for the future of ophthalmology.

In the near future, we will perform microsurgical procedures with robotic assistance. This will not only increase the precision of current operations, but also widen the indications for surgery – such as retinal vein cannulation.

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

Most likely an engineering-based position. My job as an academic ophthalmologist involves solving practical problems by applying complicated innovative technology – mostly developed by others! In many ways, this is an extension of the broad field of engineering.