‘We must keep innovating’: Why problem-solving doctor is bent on advancing eye treatment and research

Consultant ophthalmologist Dr Foo Li Lian once treated a patient who had lost vision in one eye and was also deaf.

“I had to use basic hand signals to communicate with him – showing how I would shine a light in his eye and apply eye drops,” recalls the 39-year-old eye specialist with the cataract and comprehensive ophthalmology department at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), who is also heading SNEC’s myopia service as its clinical director.

Despite these barriers, the patient, who was in his 30s, never once missed his appointments, determined to preserve the vision in his other eye.

Seeing patients like him – who refuse to let their conditions define them – reinforces why Dr Foo pursued medicine at Duke-NUS Medical School, a graduate medical institution in Singapore known for training future-ready doctors.

“Their spirit and determination to adapt despite their challenges inspire me,” she says. “It reminds me why we must keep innovating – finding better ways to diagnose, treat and support our patients.”

Today, her work extends beyond direct patient care, from pioneering myopia research using artificial intelligence (AI) to mentoring young doctors to develop new solutions that improve patient outcomes.

From engineering to medicine 

Dr Foo’s journey into medicine was far from conventional. She first graduated with a chemical engineering degree from the National University of Singapore before making the leap to Duke-NUS in 2008.

“I realised the problem-solving skills I developed in engineering could be applied to other fields, including medicine. There are many medical issues that need attention, and I saw the possibility of using my engineering background to make a bigger impact in society,” she says.

This philosophy aligns closely with Duke-NUS’s approach of nurturing future-ready clinicians, where students are not only trained to become skilful doctors, but also educators, scientists, administrators, leaders and innovators.

As a clinician-innovator, Dr Foo is spearheading new diagnostic methods in ophthalmology. For example, her

recent work in AI-driven myopia detection

can help doctors predict children who are at high risk of developing severe myopia within five years – an advancement that could revolutionise early intervention strategies.

“By 2050, eight in 10 Singaporeans are expected to be myopic,” she warns. “We should not be complacent and think that myopia has normalised. After all, it is still a disease that can increase the risk of complications and potentially lead to blindness.”

As the very first myopia fellow of SNEC and in the whole of Singapore – a country often called the

myopia capital of the world

– she is at the forefront of efforts to develop real-world solutions to better manage this growing public health challenge.

Preparing next-gen clinicians to tackle complex modern healthcare needs

Beyond her clinical practice, Dr Foo is also shaping the future of medical innovation by mentoring the next generation of clinician-innovators. In 2019, she attended the prestigious MIT-Harvard Medical School Healthcare Innovation Bootcamp in Boston, where she led a pitch for flavoured soft foods designed for patients with difficulty swallowing.

She has also co-authored two ophthalmology examination guidebooks, which serve as essential resources for students and clinicians.

More recently, she became a clinical mentor in this year’s Duke-NUS Health Innovator Programme (DHIP). Launched in 2022, DHIP is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Singapore that brings together a multidisciplinary student team – from medical to business and engineering – to collaborate on solving critical unmet clinical needs, guided by experienced industry leaders and clinicians.

Drawing from her own experiences with healthcare innovation, Dr Foo guides students through the process of identifying clinical gaps and developing real-world solutions.

This year, her team, Team ReVision, tackled a challenge that she knows all too well – helping young patients insert and remove contact lenses – by developing a novel contact lens management system for children as part of DHIP’s annual innovation challenge.

Their efforts ultimately earned them the top prize of $50,000.

From her firsthand experience, many children struggle and cry, even with repeated visits to the clinic, to insert and remove the lenses.

These lenses are not just for vanity. For example, hard orthokeratology (or “ortho-k”) lenses temporarily reshape the child’s cornea while they sleep and correct their vision for the day.

“This type of lenses – along with specially designed soft contact lenses – can help slow down the rate of myopia progression so that children can be glasses-free during the day to pursue activities like swimming, soccer and ballet,” explains Dr Foo.

Through the structured research programme, DHIP students explore ways to bridge these gaps – an opportunity Dr Foo wishes she had when she was starting out.

“I think it’s brilliant that Duke-NUS students now have this opportunity to develop their passion and try out interesting ideas,” she says.

Mentoring young clinicians brings back fond memories for Dr Foo of her time at the school, where she found not just world-class training, but also a close-knit, supportive community.

“The Duke-NUS experience is superb. I remember how our tutors would spend time with students after class to have dinner together and talk about our career options,” she recalls.

“It felt a bit like having parents to guide you. The kind of bonding and kinship is really special. Yes, it can be tough, but the journey is very rewarding. If you’re keen to take up the challenge, you should seriously consider joining Duke-NUS’s growing ecosystem.”

Find out more about Duke-NUS’ programmes and research opportunities here.