World-renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Ike Ahmed is collaborating with the Asian Eye Institute (AEI) to bring next-generation glaucoma treatments to the Philippines, focusing on safer, earlier and less invasive interventions.
Dr. Ahmed, recognized by The Ophthalmologist magazine as the number one most influential ophthalmologist worldwide in 2024, is globally known for pioneering Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS).
This new class of minimally invasive procedures is designed to safely 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,” said Dr. Ahmed.
“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,” he said.
The collaboration involves AEI’s Head of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services and Chief of Asian Eye’s Research and Training Center Dr. Robert Ang, who has been leading pioneering clinical trials to expand access to new-generation treatments in the Philippines. 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,” said Dr. Ahmed.
“Dr. Ang has been an important collaborator. I love that he brings the latest technology to Southeast Asia,” he said.
Ang believes that earlier intervention is crucial. “I’m a believer in interventional glaucoma because I believe that glaucoma should be addressed earlier,” he said.
“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,” said Ang.
Both experts said Filipino patients stand to benefit significantly. Solutions that preserve vision earlier can reduce the greater economic and personal cost of blindness, especially since many patients pay for care out-of-pocket.
“There is definitely a challenge with costs,” said 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,” he said.
Ahmed said establishing high safety is key to early intervention. “Every step of the way, we become less and less invasive because the whole point of going early is establishing high safety,” he said.
“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,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed lauded 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 said.
This partnership 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.
