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A/Prof. Paul Chew is also currently the Chief of the NUH Eye Surgery Centre. He is internationally known as a world-class glaucoma surgeon and has initiated many notable glaucoma studies. He is particularly well-known for his work on angle-closure glaucoma. In addition, new laser therapies for glaucoma have been developed by him. He is the editor of the Asian Journal of Ophthalmology and is on the review boards of many other international journals. He has many years of experience as a high volume glaucoma surgeon. In addition, he also performs complex cataract surgery and receives many referrals of difficult cataract operations.
The NUS Dept of Ophthalmology is active in research, education and clinical services. We are always working closely with our co-partners which is the Singapore Eye Research Institute, the Singapore National Eye Centre and The Eye Institute of the National Healthcare Group to provide the latest and affordable ophthalmic care to the ever growing population in Singapore. Biopolis Eye Clinic being stationed at Biopolis is also a new landmark for all our ophthalmologists and medical staff as it is going to be the biomedical research hub for research and development, clinical training and education support for Singapore in the near future.
Prof Chew Tec Kuan being our Head of Dept, is continuously searching and looking into new ways and methods to develop the area of ophthalmic knowledge among our clinicians and researchers to prepare them to face the challenges and the ever changing vision problems that patients face everyday. Our clinicians and researchers are encouraged and sponsored to attend conferences and symposiums for them to continuously learn the latest and updated techniques and technologies of whether it be in ophthalmic surgery, laboratory research or even learning skills of imparting knowledge to medical students. We also engage with professors from other universities overseas to exchange views as well as inviting them to hold workshops here to have a direct one to one learning opportunity from them.
As part of NUHS starting in January 2008, it has helped us to create a better synergy with the National University Hospital in achieving a better quality 'eye' care and learning environment to the public. We can now both share a common platform in exchanging the latest ophthalmic knowledge and skills where NUHS will become a one stop solution for all whether it be medical students, researchers, clinicians or patients which needs a good ophthalmic treatment. This intergration not only creates a one stop solution but also contributing to the overall vision of this nation to turn Singapore into a medical hub in the South East Asia.
Undergraduate Teaching
The Undergraduate training program is usually held in the 1st semester of an academic year for Y4 medical students. Starting AY 2009/2010, 3rd year medical students will be posted to the department in the 2nd semester as well.
Ongoing Improvements to the Teaching curriculum
To enable, greater interaction between students and doctors, the department is in the process of implementing lectures online via the Breeze software. Students would be able to access the lectures anywhere, anytime and be better prepared when they come for their posting, giving the students more clinical time and the teaching staff more time to spend with the students at the clinics.
The department is also moving towards having their End-of-Posting (multiple choice questions) done online, plans are underway on achieving this.
Postgraduate Training
Basic Specialist Training (BST) and Advance Specialist Training (AST) are provided in Singapore for doctors who are interested in choosing their own postings to suit their own development needs and career interest. Prior to undergoing training, doctors would need to apply to the Joint Committee for Specialist Training (JCST) for approval.
For further details and on eligible criteria, please check the NHG website.
Residency Program
Currently, doctors doing their Ophthalmology posting follow the UK based program to evaluate their progress and to achieve their specialization accreditation. Plans and discussions are underway to move away from UK to a US based program which allows room for growth, close interaction/mentoring between supervisors and their trainees and greater room for development.
Wait for details that are coming your way..with the new Residency Program.
Weekly Teaching Sessions and Joint Continuing Medical Education (CME)
Teaching sessions (FFA, M&M, Oculoplastic Book Club, Journal Club etc) are held weekly for trainees while Wednesday afternoons are set aside for Joint CME Sessions.
Our research team is working hand in hand with Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) in clinical trials, epidemiological and basic laboratory research in vision research. The department is given access to various up to date laboratories facilities and research technologies as well as animal and human tissue culture, gene arrays, proteomics and a jointly-developed primate facility for dedicated primate research.
Our dedicated research team are actively involved in the areas of glaucoma treatment under the guidance of our HOD A/Prof Chew, retina treatment of searching causes of lindness and low vision worldwide, clinical and basic science research related to oculoplastic diseases where some research are in collaboration with other departments such as radiology, pathology and ENT as well as in the area of cataract surgery equipments which leads to better and safer results for patients. Furthermore, the dept also focus on the area of cornea and external eye diseases research includes dry eyes, allergic eye disease and new methods of cornea transplant and pterygium surgery. Soon, the Neuro-Ophthalmology study will emerge which at the moment is still in the data analysis phase.
The Department is always taking part in numerous multi-centered research trials at international levels with world-renowned institutions and pharmaceutical institutions, with a goal of becoming a world class ophthalmic research and training institution in the 21st century.
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