Boris Malyugin

About Boris Malyugin

Professor of Ophthalmology, Joan & Jerome Snyder Endowed Chair in Cornea Diseases, The Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles

What major trends in cataract and refractive surgery are catching your attention?

First is the evolution of intraocular lens (IOL) optics with various multifocal profiles having a wide range of functional distances, as well as the availability of implants that we can modify postoperatively. That can be done with the UV light or femtosecond laser. Postoperative fine-tuning allows us to better match the functional outcomes of surgery with the expectations of the increasingly demanding patient population.

Second is the trend of dropless cataract surgery. We now witness the growing body of evidence showing that antibiotic and steroid use can be limited by relatively short perioperative periods without affecting the procedure’s safety and surgical outcomes.

In what ways do you think AI and machine learning will impact cataract & refractive surgery?

These global trends are already affecting medicine in a variety of ways, and ophthalmology is not immune to that. Diagnostic and imaging tools we use already have inbuilt AI functions and they are expanding. Surgery-wise, combining AI and machine learning with robotics will shape the future of cataract and refractive surgery.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would recommend choosing ophthalmology as my medical sub-specialty. It is an exciting part of medicine that will never disappoint, never become boring, and will always exceed expectations. I would tell my younger self to be open-minded and to find a role model to follow, to be fearless and consistent in achieving the goals set.