Click here to learn more about The Ophthalmologist’s Power List
The Power List from The Ophthalmologist magazine was first created in 2014 to honour and pay tribute to innovators, practitioners, researchers, and other significant authority figures in the field of ophthalmology. Every year, momentous strides are made in ophthalmic sciences, whether through new research, education, clinical practices, or leadership. To ensure contributions do not go unnoticed, these individuals are featured alongside their specific contributions on the Power List as the 100 Most Influential Figures in Ophthalmology.
Readers are invited to place their nominations online along with nominees' contributions to research, innovation, teaching and mentoring, progressing practice, communication and advocacy, or humanitarianism. When nominations are closed, an independent panel of experts rigorously review the list of nominees before finalising the list of top ophthalmologists globally.
It is important to note that the Power List is not necessarily definitive. Many eye specialists may have gone unnoticed or unnominated. It serves as a motivation and supplementation for many eye doctors to further pursue advancements in ophthalmology. As mentioned by Dr Andrew Bastawrous, Professor of Global Eye Health and Co-Founder and CEO of Peek Vision, the Power List has helped increase the profile of his work, enabling vision care to be made accessible in underserved communities around the world.
Singapore continues to reach high rankings in various global health lists. It is important that doctors, researchers, and innovators are given credit where due, not just for their commitment to their country but for the relentless pursuit of making healthcare accessible to even the most remote communities worldwide.
Unbeknownst to many, Singapore is home to many of the top ophthalmologists worldwide. Behind the scenes, Singaporean health specialists continue to make advances in health technologies, humanitarian works, and relentless contributions to various new studies that change the trajectory of healthcare.
Most Singaporean ophthalmologists have received postgraduate fellowship training in an internationally renowned institute overseas as part of the Ministry of Health’s Social & Health Manpower Development Programme (SHMDP) initiative. This ensures that ophthalmologists in Singapore have a global perspective and are experienced in treating patients of other races and cultures. New surgical techniques are then adapted for the treatment of our Asian patients for the best possible surgical outcomes.
This year, The Ophthalmologist celebrated their 10-year anniversary. To commemorate a decade of accumulating the best thought leaders and authority figures in the field, The Ophthalmologist sought nominations of individuals who had also consistently contributed and created an impact in the field of ophthalmology in the last 10 years. Dr Chelvin C. A. Sng is honoured to be amongst the 6 ophthalmologists from Singapore who have been included in The Ophthalmologist Power List 2023 and is the only Singaporean ophthalmologist in private practice to be featured on this year’s Power List.
Click here to view The Ophthalmologist Power List 2023
In the 2023 feature, Dr Chelvin highlighted her breakthrough in the field of ophthalmology with the Paul Glaucoma Implant (PGI), which aims to improve the safety, predictability, and efficacy of tube implant surgery. As an inventor and researcher, she is proud to implant the PGI in her patients with good outcomes. She is also one of the first eye surgeons in Asia to perform minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), which has provided patients with mild to moderate glaucoma a safe and effective alternative to glaucoma medications.
Lending weight to The Ophthalmologist Powerlist are giants of the industry and internationally renowned ophthalmologists Dr Keith Barton and Sir Peng Tee Khaw – both of whom are Consultants at the prestigious Moorfields Eye Hospital and are recognised for their tremendous contributions to the realm of ophthalmology and in particular glaucoma. Dr Chelvin is proud to have trained under Dr Barton and Sir Khaw while pursuing a glaucoma fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital a decade ago.
In 2021, The Ophthalmologist paid tribute to an all-female ophthalmologist list as an initiative to address gender disparities and imbalances. Additionally, it was also an initiative aimed to provide an opportunity to showcase the best female ophthalmologists in the field globally. Dr Chelvin was one of three female Singaporean ophthalmologists who made the list.
Dr Chelvin shared her sentiments about the under-representation of female ophthalmologists and the need to inspire future generations of female ophthalmologists to pursue this field of work despite the gender-relevant challenges.
Dr Chelvin also highlighted the need for female ophthalmologists to be heard, indicating the necessity for increased female representation. The Ophthalmologist has attempted to address potential biases in their Power List throughout the years. What was previously a list dominated by Caucasian and male ophthalmologists has today shifted to be a more balanced and comprehensive representation of significant contributors around the globe – with a healthy balance of the best female ophthalmologists from different races worldwide.
A study conducted in the US in 2022 revealed that female ophthalmologists now constitute approximately 25-30% of all ophthalmologists and 35-45% of trainees [1]. However, under-representation in positions of professional leadership, academic leadership, and ophthalmic surgical subspecialisation is prevalent in this field [2].
Some of the challenges faced by female ophthalmologists include:
Additionally, many women in ophthalmology dedicate more time to their children's development than male ophthalmologists [7]. An increased rate of women in ophthalmology succumbing to part-time roles to be more involved in childcare may also be observed.
Click here to read more about Dr Chelvin’s interview.
In 2022, a greater representation of Singaporean doctors was observed in 2022’s Top 100 Ophthalmologists Power List. Dr Chelvin made her 4th appearance alongside 5 other top Singaporean ophthalmologists. It was undoubtedly a significant milestone for the Singaporean medical community as numbers doubled from the previous year. This was the mark of the best eye doctors in Singapore, earning the recognition they deserved globally.
It is Dr Chelvin’s desire that more women pursue a career in ophthalmology. However, she recognises that for this to happen, awareness of this field needs to be more widespread. Dr Chelvin also hopes to be part of the solution to provide more opportunities for female ophthalmologists in research, academia, or career opportunities.
She hopes the proficiency of ophthalmologists in Singapore reflects improved eye health of the population. This includes fewer eye diseases, better practices, and increased eye screening. Our eyes are the windows to our soul, and sight is the most important of our five senses. Thus, taking care of our eyes will benefit our overall health.
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