100 | theceomagazine.com
excellence
A leading ophthalmologist, clinician scientist and medical
director, Singapore National Eye Centre’s Professor
Tien Yin Wong has big ambitions for his institution.WORDS DANIEL HERBORN • IMAGES LIM YEW KWANGT
he Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) is one
of the largest eye hospitals in Asia, conducting 27,000
major surgeries and seeing more than 300,000
outpatient visits each year. In addition to its clinical
work, the centre has a thriving research arm, the
Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI). For Professor
Tien Yin Wong, Medical Director of SNEC and Chairman of the
Board of SERI, the goal is nothing less than an international standing.
Tien Yin says he started ophthalmology so long ago that he
can’t remember why he chose the field over other early interests
such as cardiology and surgery. When he settled on medical and
surgical eye diseases, however, he initially had a singular focus
on becoming proficient as a clinician and gave no thought
to the possibility of one day occupying a leadership role. »INNOVATE | Interview