Asian Eye Institute (AEI) recently hosted world-renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Ike Ahmed for a research collaboration with its very own Dr. Robert Ang, head of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services and chief of Asian Eye’s Research and Training Center.

Recognized as the number one most influential ophthalmologist worldwide in 2024 by The Ophthalmologist magazine, Dr. 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.

“Dr. Ang and I have been studying glaucoma over the years, and we have a whole movement called interventional glaucoma,” Dr. 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.”

Asian Eye has long been at the forefront of glaucoma management in the Philippines. Under Dr. Ang's leadership, the institute has conducted pioneering clinical trials to expand access to next-generation treatments. This collaboration with Dr. 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,” states Dr. 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.”

For Dr. 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.

"There is definitely a challenge with costs,” notes Dr. Ahmed. “But I look at it the other way around: The cost of blindness to society is great. If we can save patients from their condition becoming worse, we’d be saving a lot as well.”

Dr. Ahmed also praised AEI for building a world-class clinical institution and fostering a culture of collaboration. “Asian Eye has built a facility that is world-renowned, high quality, and has quite the reputation,” he says. “The beauty of innovation in medicine is in the collaboration and partnership. We can’t do it ourselves.”

This partnership with Dr. Ahmed reinforces Asian Eye Institute’s mission to bring the latest glaucoma treatments to Filipino patients, ensuring access to the same advanced interventions available in leading centers worldwide.