ASIAN Eye Institute (AEI) recently hosted world-renowned ophthalmologist Ike Ahmed for a research collaboration with Robert Ang, head of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services and chief of Asian Eye’s Research and Training Center.
Recognized as the ‘most influential ophthalmologist’ worldwide in 2024 by The Ophthalmologist magazine, Ahmed is globally known for pioneering Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS). This is a new class of safe, minimally invasive procedures designed to lower intraocular pressure and slow the progression of glaucoma.
‘Doctor Ang and I have been studying glaucoma over the years, and we have a whole movement called interventional glaucoma,’ Ahmed explains. ‘It provides earlier treatments through safe, minimally invasive intervention to address the unmet needs in glaucoma, which are the problems of progression and eye drops.’
Global leader meets local innovation
Asian Eye has long been at the forefront of glaucoma management in the Philippines. Under Ang’s leadership, the institute has conducted pioneering clinical trials to expand access to next-generation treatments. This collaboration with Ahmed strengthens AEI’s role as a regional hub for innovation in eye care research, bringing global expertise to benefit local patients.
‘I’m a believer in interventional glaucoma because I believe that glaucoma should be addressed earlier,’ said Ang. ‘Over the past 20 years, we’ve been applying eye drops. What are we waiting for-for the patients to get worse? We don’t want to do it that way anymore. More than us, it benefits the patients.’
Together, the two experts are advancing novel, non-invasive laser applications that target the eye’s natural drainage system. ‘Dr. Ang and I have been researching a very novel laser application to non-invasively treat the drainage area of the eye by applying a laser in a very safe way,’ says Dr. Ahmed. ‘Dr. Ang has been an important collaborator. I love that he brings the latest technology to Southeast Asia.’
Earlier, safer, better for patients
FOR Ahmed, the future of glaucoma care lies in acting early with safer interventions. ‘Every step of the way, we become less and less invasive because the whole point of going early is establishing high safety,’ he says. ‘Interventional glaucoma and MIGS allow us to address glaucoma earlier. We need technology and the skills-and that’s what we have in our collaboration with Asian Eye.’
Both experts stress that Filipino patients stand to benefit significantly from adopting such approaches. With many paying out-of-pocket for care, solutions that preserve vision earlier can reduce the greater economic and personal cost of blindness.