Career Overview

Ophthalmology offers a challenging career with a fascinating and fast-developing combination of surgical, laser and medical treatments to help patients.

It is a specialty in which advances in knowledge and techniques are moving rapidly. A few years ago, who would have thought that cataract surgery would be as routine and commonplace as it is today?

Successful management of ophthalmic problems depends on a combination of the diagnostic and therapeutic abilities, the technical skills of microsurgery and an understanding of the whole patient. This is a specialty that allows you to treat all age groups.

Ophthalmology involves the management of a wide range or eye conditions and hence the scope for sub-specialization in this field is very wide.

Aims of Program

The NHG Ophthalmology Residency Program aims to train a well-rounded resident who will be exposed to a wide variety of eye diseases. Spanning five years, the program ensures that you are firmly grounded in comprehensive ophthalmology. You will become a competent cataract surgeon in addition to being well-versed in managing a wide variety of sub-specialty diseases including cornea, vitreo-retina, pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, glaucoma, oculoplastics, uveitis and neuro-ophthalmology.

The first year of residency will include various preparatory courses like patient communication and microsurgical courses, just to name a few, as well as protected time for training and education. This will take the form of didactic lectures, wet laboratory sessions and patient encounters. Clinic emphasis will be on the more emergent eye conditions.

Years 2 to 4 of residency will entail rotating among the different sub-specialties to increase exposure to a wide variety of ophthalmological diseases. This will be done in a step-wise approach, so that residents will get progressively more time in sub-specialty clinics and operating theatres as they get more senior. The final year of residency should see you being able to perform most run-of-the-mill procedures and surgeries independently, while also supervising your more junior residents through simple ones.

NHG Ophthalmology has built up a strong reputation for training and education over the years - all in a conducive environment. Training plays a big role in our daily schedules, involving everyone from top down. Feedback has also been very positive, as evidenced by multiple winners of the Best Teacher Awards that have come from our department.

Faculty Members

Name	Designation and Department
Program Director:
Dr Llewellyn Lee	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Associate Program Director:
Dr Benjamin Chang	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, KTPH
Core Faculty:
A/Prof Goh Kong Yong	Senior Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Lim Su Ann	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Leonard Yip	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Foo Fong Yee	Associate Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Faculty:
Dr Wong Hon Tym	Senior Consultant and Head, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
A/Prof Lim Tock Han	Senior Consultant and Designated Institutional Official, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
A/Prof Heng Wee Jin	Senior Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Fam Han Bor	Senior Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Lim Boon Ang	Senior Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Zaw Minn Din	Senior Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Vernon Yong	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Lim Wee Kiak	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Leo Seo Wei	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Nikolle Tan	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Stephen Teoh	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Ho Su Ling	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Colin Tan	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Augustinus Laude	Associate Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Rajesh Rajagopalan	Associate Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Yong Shao Onn	Associate Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Goh E-Shawn	Associate Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Eugenie Poh	Associate Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, TTSH
Dr Yip Chee Chew	Senior Consultant and Head, Department of Ophthalmology, KTPH
Dr Ajeet Wagle	Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, KTPH

For further information, please contact:

Program Director

Dr Llewellyn Lee

Email: Llewellyn_km_LEE@ttsh.com.sg

Associate Program Director

Dr Benjamin Chang

Email: chang.benjamin.cm@alexandrahealth.com.sg

Faculty

Dr Foo Fong Yee

Email: Fong_Yee_FOO@ttsh.com.sg

Program Coordinator

Ms Magdalene Loh

E-mail: Magdalene_WL_LOH@nhg.com.sg

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I choose the NHG Ophthalmology Residency Program?

Here at NHG Ophthalmology, we understand how difficult it can be for a new ophthalmology resident, due to lack of familiarity with newly-encountered terms, medical conditions, and equipment. Hence we will make this steep learning curve as smooth as possible, by having the first year residents concentrate on basic ophthalmology. You are accorded protected time to attend teaching sessions and courses, and regular feedback sessions are done to ensure that you are coping well.

With a large number of consultants, all areas of sub-specialty are covered in our department. This gives you excellent exposure, making you a well-rounded ophthalmologist upon exiting the program. Our huge patient load also ensures adequacy in terms of training numbers.

Our annual clinic attendances number about 120,000, while surgeries number about 10 per cent of that figure. We undertake projects that are unique to our department - such as the Cytomegalovirus Retinitis Clinic at the Communicable Diseases Centre and the Mobile Diabetic Retinopathy Photography Unit. These, together with participation in the many local and regional humanitarian projects in which we partake, will enrich your training during your time with us.

What career paths are available after my residency?

There is a need for more consultant ophthalmologists here in Singapore. Upon successful completion of the residency program, suitable candidates will be offered an associate consultant position within the department. Numerous sub-specialties exist under the umbrella of ophthalmology, and you will be able to do a fellowship in one of these stated below:

• Cornea
• Glaucoma
• Anterior segment
• Vitreo-retina
• Neuro-ophthalmology
• Uveitis
• Oculoplastics
• Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus

What are the opportunities for research?

With an ever-growing research culture here at NHG Ophthalmology, you will find ample opportunity to perform clinically significant research. Many of our trainees have been to reputable overseas conferences to present their research papers. You will be mentored and guided by senior staff who will share their wealth of experience.