Assoc Prof Marcus Ang

Associate Professor Marcus Ang, is a Senior Consultant at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). He was awarded Dean’s List at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Best Houseman Award followed by Best Registrar Award in his early clinical practice. His other early academic achievements include the Ministry of Health Scholarship, Masters in Clinical Investigation (NUS) and Master of Medicine (Ophthalmology, NUS). He was appointed Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS) after being awarded with four FAMS Gold Medals. He further developed his clinical specialty in Cornea Transplantation and was rewarded with a Honorary Consultant position at the prestigious Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, UK. Recently, he attained his PhD in Ophthalmology with a focus on corneal imaging.

His current clinical areas of expertise include:

• Cornea and External Eye Diseases
• Cornea Transplantation, including new techniques of Endothelial Keratoplasty
• Cataract Surgery including Femtosecond Laser with the option for presbyopic solutions
• Femtosecond LASIK and other Refractive and laser surgical options

Associate Professor Marcus Ang's academic work includes more than 160 peer-reviewed publications (H-index=39, 2021), majority of which are first or corresponding author with JIF>2.0, focusing on translational research, such as corneal transplantation studying prognostic factors to improve outcomes. He has published a few important articles in the LANCET and PRER; and book chapters such as the prestigious textbook CORNEA. He has filed for several patents for ophthalmic devices (USA, Europe, Asia) and awarded several national grants to study cornea imaging and innovation. He is recognized by his international awards such as the AAO Achievement Award and APAO Achievement Award and is a regular invited speaker at international conferences.

Associate Professor Marcus is also heavily committed to charity work in the Ophthalmology field in Singapore and in Asia. As Founding Director of Global Clinic (www.global-clinic.org), he regularly organizes missions and travels to provide free eye-care and cataract surgery in countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, India and Myanmar. He also serves on the Board of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness as well as Project ORBIS Singapore. He has been commended with the President’s Award for Philanthropy in Singapore, and Prevention of Blindness Award from APAO. His contributions and achievements as a young ophthalmologist have led to him being awarded the prestigious Artemis Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2019 and Vision Excellence Award (IAPB) in 2020.

• PhD (UG, Netherlands)
• FAMS (2013)
• FRCS(Ed) (2013)
• MCI (2012)      
• M Med(Ophth) (2009)
• MBBS (2004)

• Treasurer, Executive Committee, Singapore Society of Ophthalmology (SSO) (2017 - present)
• Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Standing Committee (Young Ophthalmology) (2017 - present)
• Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Standing Committee (LDP) (2017 - present)

• Vision Excellence Award (International Agency for Prevention of Blindness) - 2020
• Artemis Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) (2019)
• Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) (2019)
• Outstanding Service in Prevention of Blindness Award (International, APAO) (2019)
• International Ophthalmologist Education Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) (2018)
• Gold Award, SingHealth  Quality Service Award – Gold (2018)
• President’s Award for Volunteerism and Philanthropy (Singapore) (2017)
• Top 10 Rising Ophthalmologists in the World, The Ophthalmologist, International (2017)
• SingHealth Excellence Award – Distinguished Young Researcher (2014)
• Best Registrar Award, SingHealth (2013)
• Excellence in Ophthalmology Vision Award, XOVA, International (2013)
• Young Eye Care Ambassador,  Eye & Vision Health Awards, Singapore (2013)
• Healthcare Humanity Award, The Courage Fund, Singapore (2012)
• Best Houseman Award, National University of Singapore (2005)

• Clinical Translational Research in:
• • Corneal Transplantation (DMEK, DSEK, DALK))
  • Laser Refractive Surgery (LASIK, SMILE)
  • Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS) and Femtosecond Laser Assisted Pterygium Surgery (FLAPS)
  • Myopia and Treatment of Myopia/ Complications
• Health Services Research and Patient Outcome Measures
• Innovation in Ophthalmology and Bioengineering
  

• ​NHIC-I2P-1705035: Invention Title: A simultaneous extractor-injector device. ($250,000: 2017, PI: I2P Grant)
• NHIC-I2D-1604104: Development of a Intra-vitreal Extraction Injection Device: A Novel Diagnostic-Therapeutic Device for the Eye ($250,000, R1270/76/2015)
• Singhealth Foundation Research Grant (SHF/FG596P/2015): OCT Angiography Imaging of Corneal Vascularization. (2016 - 2018. Principal Investigator: $148,414.80)
• SNEC HREF Bioengineering Fund: Study on Simultaneous Intra-vitreal Injector and Suction Device (2016 Principal Investigator: $100,000.00 SNEC/ HREF)
• SMART Grant ING1510111-BIO (IGN): Development of a Posterior-capsule shield using Robotic Technology for Cataract Surgery (PROTECTS) Device (PI: $50,000)
• R1183/85/2014: MOHIAFCat1-4001. Validation of a Novel Micro-fluid Cytokine Analysis Platform for aqueous and vitreous humour in normal and eyes with Diabetic Retinopathy. (Co-PI: S$541,901.37)
• R1160/62/2014: CNIG13nov010 Next Generation Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for the Cornea and Anterior Segments of the Eye (i1st July 2014, Principal Investigator: $195,829.00 NMRC Singapore)
• R1127/29/2014: Pilot Study on Simultaneous Intra-vitreal Injector and Suction Device (1 June 2014, Principal Investigator: $20,000.00 SNEC/ HREF)
• R1110/12/2014: Pilot Study on an Inflatable Posterior Capsule Shield for Cataract Surgery (1 May 2014, Principal Investigator: $10,000.00 SNEC/ HREF)
• R1057/72/2013: A Pilot Study to Investigate the Use of Scheimpflug Non-contact Tonometry for Evaluating Corneal Biomechanics. (1 January 2014, Principal Investigator: $5,000.00 SNEC/ HREF)
• R1016/HSRG12MAY033: Measuring social preferences for healthcare decision making in Singapore. (Co-Principal Investigator: $200,000.00 Singapore Ministry of Health, Health Services Research Competitive Research Grant – awarded 9 April 2013; Study ongoing)
• R612/33/2008: Prospective clinical study in the application of interferon-gamma release assays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis/ tuberculous uveitis (Co-Principal Investigator: $16,000.00 SERI/ HREF 30 September 2008 - Study Completed 2012)
• R642/63/2008: Prospective investigational study to determine the role of cytokine profiling in the aqueous humor in the diagnosis of tuberculous and sarcoid uveitis. (Co-Principal Investigator: $18,923.16 SERI/ HREF 18 March 2009 Study Completed – 2012)
• R699/49/2010: Prospective Investigational Study to Determine the Role of In-Vivo Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Uveitis (Co-Principal Investigator: $50,000.00 Singhealth Foundation Grant - 1 May 2010; Study completed 2012)
• R889/84/2011: Economic impact of Visual Impairment in Singapore (Principal Investigator: $5,000.00 SNEC/ HREF - 6 March 2012; Study completed)
• R593/14/1008: A new biodegradable, sustained-release drug delivery system in a rabbit model (Co-Principal Investigator: $70,597.00 SERI/ HREF 13 March 2008 – Completed 2011)
• NMRC/2009/2010: A new biodegradable, sustained-release drug delivery system in a rabbit model – betamethasone, prednisolone acetate and ganciclovir drug delivery trial (Co-Principal Investigator: $199,674.00 NMRC 1 Jan 2009 - Study Completed 2011)

1. Ang M, Farook M, Htoon HM, Mehta JS. Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Femtosecond LASIK and Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction. Ophthalmology. 2020 Jun;127(6):724-730. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2019.09.006.

2. Kim TI, Del Barrio JLA, Wilkins M, Cochener B, Ang M. Refractive surgery. Lancet. 2019 May 18;393(10185):2085-2098. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)33209-4.

3. Ang M, Baskaran M, Werkmeister RM, Chua J, Schmidl D, Aranha Dos Santos V, Garhöfer G, Mehta JS, Schmetterer L. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018 Sep;66:132-156.

4. Ang M, Soh Y, Htoon HM, Mehta JS, Tan D. Five-Year Graft Survival Comparing Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty and Penetrating Keratoplasty. Ophthalmology. 2016 Aug;123(8):1646-52.

5. Ang M, Sim DA, Keane PA, Sng CC, Egan CA, Tufail A, Wilkins MR. Optical Coherence tomography angiography for anterior segment vasculature imaging. Ophthalmology. 2015 Sep;122(9):1740-7.

6. Ang M, Mehta JS, Lim F, Bose S, Htoon HM, Tan D. Endothelial cell loss and graft survival after descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty. Ophthalmology. 2012 Nov;119(11):2239-44.

7. Ang M, Li X, Wong W, Zheng Y, Chua D, Rahman A, Saw SM, Tan DT, Wong TY. Prevalence of and racial differences in pterygium: a multiethnic population study in Asians. Ophthalmology. 2012 Aug;119(8):1509-15.

8. Ang M, Mehta JS, Sng CC, Htoon HM, Tan DT. Indications, outcomes, and risk factors for failure in tectonic keratoplasty. Ophthalmology. 2012 Jul;119(7):1311-9.

9. Ang M, Mehta JS. Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty as an alternative to penetrating keratoplasty. Ophthalmology. 2011 Nov;118(11):2306-7.

10. Ang M, Htoon HM, Chee SP. Diagnosis of tuberculous uveitis: clinical application of an interferon-gamma release assay. Ophthalmology 2009;116:1391-1396.