Joaquín Fernández

About Joaquín Fernández

Joaquín Fernández gained his MSc in Evidence-Based Medicine from the University of Oxford, UK, and his PhD in Applied Physics from the University of Alicante, Spain. He is a specialist in anterior segment surgery, with a particular focus on refractive surgery, presbyopia, and cataracts. He is also the CEO of Qvision, Medical Director of the Ophthalmology Institute at the Vithas Hospital Group in Andalusia, and serves as a trustee of the Elena Barraquer Foundation, with which he participates in annual surgical missions to developing countries to fight avoidable blindness caused by cataracts.

As Executive Secretary of the ESCRS, Joaquín coordinates the Working Group on the Evidence-Based Functional Classification of Simultaneous Vision IOLs, a joint initiative with ASCRS aimed at achieving global consensus.

“In my view,” Joaquín says, “the most exciting development in the cataract and refractive field is the emergence of artificial intelligence as a true support tool for anterior segment surgeons. We are already seeing how AI-based platforms can integrate complex biometric data to enhance the accuracy of IOL power calculations, improving refractive precision and reducing variability in outcomes. But the most promising developments are still ahead: systems that will provide real-time surgical feedback, predictive models that anticipate complications before they occur, and technologies that continuously learn from thousands of prior procedures to deliver increasingly personalized recommendations.”

He adds: “Properly integrated, AI can help us make safer, more personalized decisions grounded in real data, and, most importantly, enhance patient trust by demonstrating that we are leveraging the full spectrum of available knowledge to deliver unprecedented levels of safety and efficacy in our procedures.”

Joaquín believes that ophthalmology – and healthcare more broadly – is now entering a deeply transformative phase, one that calls for collective responsibility. “One of the greatest challenges we face as a scientific community, and as part of the broader ecosystem of healthcare stakeholders, is ensuring that all decisions are consistently grounded in scientific evidence,” he says. “And not just any evidence, but increasingly robust and rigorous evidence that reflects the real values and needs of [our] patients. Our goal must be to generate knowledge that maximizes value-based healthcare in real-world settings, aligned with the economic sustainability of our healthcare systems.”

The Evidence-Based Functional Classification of Simultaneous Vision IOLs is an example of this. Joaquín explains that “in collaboration with ASCRS, we are working toward a global consensus that brings together the scientific community and industry in what is likely the most ambitious evidence-driven taxonomic effort undertaken in this field to date.” The purpose is clear: to empower both patients and surgeons in the decision-making process.

Joaquín concludes, “It is this shared work that is enabling real, sustainable change in how we practice, research, and lead in ophthalmology. And it is precisely this culture of commitment, structure, and shared purpose that I hope to continue strengthening in the coming years, as a legacy that inspires and supports the next generation.”