Dr Ong Hon Shing

Dr Ong Hon Shing is a senior consultant at the Singapore National Eye Centre and the deputy clinical director of the Singapore Eye Bank.

He obtained his medical degree from Barts and the London School of Medicine, University of London, United Kingdom. In medical school, he was awarded a total of 16 prizes and awards, the highest number achieved by any individual in his alumnus. He was overall best in his cohort and was proxime accessit to the University of London Gold Medal.

He subsequently completed his Ophthalmology Specialist Training at the world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, UK. During his specialist training, he continued to receive a number of awards including the prestigious Elizabeth Hunt Medal from The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, UK. He attained his medical postgraduate qualification from The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and a Masters of Science in Cataract and Refractive Surgery from the University of Ulster, UK. He subsequently completed three subspecialised training fellowships in Corneal External Diseases and Refractive Surgery at The Western Eye Hospital London, Moorfields Eye Hospital / The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology London, and the Singapore National Eye Centre / Singapore Eye Research Institute.

He is a fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the Academy of Medicine Singapore. He is also a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the International Society of Refractive Surgery, the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Asia Corneal Society, the Asia Dry Eye Society, and the Society of Transplantation Singapore.

His clinical areas of expertise include corneal and external diseases (including ocular surface diseases, dry eyes, blepharitis, allergic eye diseases, pterygium surgery, corneal infections), advanced techniques in corneal transplantation, cataract surgery (including femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery and the use of premium intraocular lenses), and refractive surgery (including femtosecond LASIK and other refractive surgical options).

Dr Ong has been conferred a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in ocular surface inflammation and scarring by University College London (UCL).  He has won awards from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology for his research interests, which span several different aspects of corneal and external eye diseases, corneal transplantation, and refractive surgery. Through competitive application, he has also been awarded, as principal investigator, research grants from various funding bodies including the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Singapore. His research work incorporates basic science, and clinical translation. He has numerous first author publications in peer-reviewed international medical journals and he has co-authored in various book chapters in Ophthalmology reference texts. He is regularly invited to present his work at international scientific conferences. 

Beyond his clinical and research responsibilities, Dr Ong has volunteered in humanitarian missions, providing ophthalmic healthcare to needy individuals in developing countries. Dr Ong is also active in medical education and training. He has been a facilitator in various ophthalmology skill transfer courses and is regularly invited to be a faculty member for instruction courses delivered at international Ophthalmology meetings.

• PhD (2025)
• FRCS(Ed) (2019)
  
• FAMS (2018)
  
• MSc (2015)
  
• FRCOphth (2013)
  
• MBBS (Distinction) (2005)

• Fellow, The Royal Collge of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2019 – present)
• Fellow, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (2018 – present)
• Fellow, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (2013 – present)
• Member, European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS) (2013 – present)
• Member, American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO) (2010 – present)
• Member, International Society of Refractive Surgery (2010 – present)
• Member, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) (2008 – present)
• Member, Asia Dry Eye Society (2016 – present)
• Member, Asia Corneal Society (2017 – present)
• Member, The Society of Transplantation (SOT), Singapore (2022 – present)
• Member, Society for Clinical Research and Translation of Extracellular Vesicles Singapore (SOCRATES) (2019 – present)
  
• Member, Sigma Xi (The Scientific Research Honour Society) (2023 – present)

• NMRC Talent Award – Transition Award (2025)
• Singapore Heath Quality Service Awards (Gold Award, 2022; Star Award, 2024)
• Residency in SingHealth Excels (RiSE) – Outstanding Faculty Award (2023)
• Singapore National COVID-19 Resilience Medal (2023)
• Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Achievement Award (2023)
• Singapore National Awards for COVID-19 (Commendation Medal) (2022)
• Singapore Health Quality Service Covid-19 Healthcare Hero Award (2021)
• Top 5 Research Publications Award, Singapore Eye Research Institute (2021)
• Nurturing Clinician Scientist Scheme (NCSS) Award, SingHealth DUKE-NUS Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme (2019)
• Travel Award, Stevens Johnson Syndrome / Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis 2019: From Science to Translation (2019)
• Asia Corneal Society – Santen Educational Grant Award, Asia Corneal Society (2019)
• International Travel Award, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) (2017)
• AMO best poster award for scientific excellence, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (2016)
• Travel Award for scientific excellence, European Paediatric Ophthalmological Society (2011)
• The Elizabeth Hunt Medal, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (2010)
• West London Ophthalmology Research Medal, The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (2009)
• Proxime Accessit to the University of London Gold Medal, The University of London (2005)
• College Drapers Prize for overall best in M.B.B.S. finals examination, Barts and The London School of Medicine (2005)
• J Ayoub Prize in Ophthalmology, Barts and The London School of Medicine (2005)
• Weitzman Prize in Cardiology, Barts and The London School of Medicine (2005)
• Brackenbury and Waring Scholarship Prize in Surgery, Barts and The London School of Medicine (2004)
• Kirkes Scholarship Prize in Clinical Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine (2004)
• Ian Howat and Sir George Burrows Prize in Pathology, Barts and The London School of Medicine (2004)
• Anthony J Williams Memorial Prize in Human Science: Epidemiology, Sociology, and Psychology, Barts and The London School of Medicine (2002)
• Buxton Prize in Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Barts and The London School of Medicine (2002)
• David Reeve Prize for best in pre-clinical written examination, Barts and The London School of Medicine (2001 & 2002)
• Slot and Anderson Prize for overall best in pre-clinical years, Barts and The London School of Medicine (2001 & 2002)

• ​Various aspects of corneal and external eye diseases, corneal transplantation, and refractive surgery (Clinical and Translational).
• Ocular surface inflammation and scarring
• Phenotype characterisation and biomarkers of ocular surface scarring diseases (cicatrising conjunctivitis)
• Cell-based therapies for corneal diseases
• Novel anti-fibrotic therapies for ocular surface scarring

• NMRC Transition Award (MOH-001776). PI $1,230,000. Advancing Precision Medicine in Ocular Surface Diseases: Developing and Implementation of a Point-of-Care Diagnostic Device [04/2025 to 03/2029]
• Lee Foundation Research Grant (TLF 0324-1). PI $49,332.31. Preclinical Evaluation of Valproic Acid for the treatment of inflammatory Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Diseases [06/2024 to 06/2026]
• Heroes Fund (R2079/41/2024 HF0324-1). PI $49,999.17. Evaluating the Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes on Conjunctival Innate Immunity During Viral Infections [06/2024 to 06/2026]
• SingHealth Foundation-Singapore National Eye Centre (SHF-SNEC) Grant (SHF-SNEC 0324-1). Evaluating Signalling Pathways in Conjunctival Fibrosis and Therapeutic Potential of Novel Selective Inhibition [06/2024 to 06/2026]
• NMRC CS-IRG-NIG (CNIG20nov-0023). PI $240,000. Modulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles on conjunctival innate immune responses to viral infections [10/2021 to 10/2023]
• SingHealth Foundation-SNEC Grant (R1798/40/2021 SHF-SNEC 0321-6). PI $29.856.00. Glycomics of tear proteins: exploratory sub-study of convenient and standardized forced visual acuity testing in dry eye patients [05/2021 to 05/2023]
• HMBS IAF-PP (H19H6a0026). Co-PI (Ophthalmology) $1,239,102.00. Translating Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exosomes into Pharmaceuticals [03/2020 to 03/2023]
• SingHealth Duke-NUS Nurturing Clinician Scientist Scheme (NCSS) Award (05/FY2019/P1/18-A33). PI $213,000.00. Investigating Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Disulfiram as a Potential Repurposed Topical Therapy for the Treatment of Conjunctival Scarring. [04/2019 to 03/2022]
• SERI-Lee Foundation Pilot Grant (LF0618-6). PI $29.999.59. The evaluation of mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes as novel topical therapies for corneal scarring. [10/2018 to 04/2021]
• SingHealth Foundation Grant (SHF/FG707S/2017). PI $50,000.00. Investigating Signal Transduction Pathways in Conjunctival Fibrosis: Therapeutic Potential of Novel Selective Inhibition. [05/2018 to 03/2021]
• SingHealth-Lee Foundation Transplant Grant (SHTX/LFG/001/2019). Co-I $63,544.00. Investigating the Utility and Outcomes of Pre-Stripped and Pre-loaded Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK): A Prospective Pilot Study. [01/2019 to 01/2023]
• SNEC-HREF Grant (R1528/27/2018). Co-I $20,000.00. Investigating Donor Corneoscleral Rim Cultures Compared to Standard Cultures of Donor Preservation Media in Corneal Transplantation. [04/2018 to 10/2019]
• SNEC-HREF Grant (R1488/71/2017). Co-I $20,178.06. A novel approach of utilizing harvested corneal endothelial cells from donor corneas unsuitable for current corneal transplantation in cell-injection therapy for the treatment of corneal endothelial failure. [09/2017 to 03/2020]
• SNEC-HREF Grant (R1430/13/2017). Co-I $20,141.25. Ocular surface gene expression and microbiome as biomarkers in cicatricial (scarring) conjunctivitis. [05/2017 to 11/2019]

Scientific Publications (selected list)

1.     Sim R, Riau AK, Shahinda Humaira Binte Halim N, Mehta JS, Ong HS. Quantitative Stain-Free Conjunctival Collagen Imaging in Cicatrizing Conjunctivitis Using Second Harmonic Generation-Two Photon Excitation Technology. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2025;66(4):49

2.     Rui-Pin Fan K, Liu YC, Fuest M, Ong HS, Htoon HM, Ang M, Mehta JS. Long-Term Clinical Outcomes After Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Pterygium Excision. Cornea 2025; doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003873 [Epub ahead of print]

3.     Ong HS*, Dimacali VG*, Lang SS, Htoon HM, Cajucom-Uy H, Chai HCC, Ang M, Arundhati A, Mehta JS. Ten-year outcomes of repeat keratoplasty for optical indications. Front Med (Lausanne) 2025;11:1503333.

4.     Liu C, Wang X, Ong HS, Ang M, Chee SP, Ching J, Chua KV, Han SHY, Mehta JS, Zhou L, Liu YC. Aqueous Proteomic and Metabolomic Profiles in Low-Energy vs High-Energy Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2025;66(1):10.

5.     Foo VHX, Lee HY, Mehta JS, Ong HS. Acute and chronic ocular outcomes in SJS/TEN patients treated with oral ciclosporin vs intravenous immunoglobulin. Frontiers in Medicine (Lausanne) 2024;11:1398506.

6.     Riau AK, Look Z, Yam GHF, Boote C, Ma Q, Han EJY, Binte M Yusoff NZ, Ong HS, Goh TW, Binte Halim NSH, Mehta JS. Impact of keratocyte differentiation on corneal opacity resolution and visual function recovery in male rats. Nature Communications 2024;15(1):4959.

7.     Han SB, Liu YC, Setiawan M, Lee IXY, Patil M, Ong HS, Mehta JS. Effects of Different Capsulotomy and Fragmentation Energy Levels on the Generation of Oxidative Stress Following Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery. Biomolecules 2024;14(3):318.

8.     Liu C, Lin MT, Lee IXY, Wong JHF, Lu D, Lam TC, Zhou L, Mehta JS, Ong HS, Ang M, Tong L, Liu YC. Neuropathic Corneal Pain: Tear Proteomic and Neuromediator Profiles, Imaging Features, and Clinical Manifestations. American Journal Ophthalmology 2024;265:6-20.

9.     Foo VHX, Lim GYS, Liu YC, Ong HS, Wong E, Chan S, Wong J, Mehta JS, Ting DSW, Ang M. Deep learning for detection of Fuchs endothelial dystrophy from widefield specular microscopy imaging: a pilot study. Eye and Vision (London) 2024;11(1):11.

10.  Panthagani J, Suleiman K, Vincent RC, Ong HS, Wallace GR, Rauz S. Conjunctival transcriptomics in ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid. Ocular Surface 2023;30:142-149.

11.  Lee BJH, Ong HS, Fenner BJ, Mehta JS. Surgical Technique to Treat Presbyopic Inlay-Associated Corneal Haze With Sequential Excimer Photoablation: A Case Series. Journal of Refractive Surgery 2023;39(9):639-646

12.  Hong M, Tong L, Mehta JS, Ong HS. Impact of Exposomes on Ocular Surface Diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2023;24(14):11273

13.  Ong HS, Riau AK, Yam GH, Yusoff NZBM, Han EJY, Goh TW, Lai RC, Lim SK, Mehta JS. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes as Immunomodulatory Therapy for Corneal Scarring. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2023;24(8):7456

14.  Stewart S, Liu YC, Setiawan M, Lin MT, Lee IXY, Sim N, Htoon HM, Ong HS, Mehta JS. The Effects of High Energy Capsulotomy on Aqueous Cytokine Profiles and Pupil Size During Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery. Journal of Refractive Surgery. 2022 Sep;38(9):587-594.

15.  Ong HS, Htoon HM, Ang M, Mehta JS. "Endothelium-Out" and "Endothelium-In" Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) Graft Insertion Techniques: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Medicine (Lausanne) 2022;9:868533.

16.  Yang LWY, Ong HS, Chiam N, Mehta JS. Centration and Stability of Small-Aperture Intraocular Lens in Aberrated Eyes. Journal of Refract Surgery 2022;38(2):98-105

17.  Ong HS, Chiam N, Htoon HM, Kumar A, Arundhati A, Mehta JS. The Effects of Donor-Recipient Age and Sex Compatibility in the Outcomes of Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasties. Frontiers in Medicine (Lausanne) 2022; 8:801472.

18.  Liu YC, Setiawan M, Chin JY, Wu B, Ong HS, Lamoureux E, Mehta JS. Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing 1-Year Outcomes of Low-Energy Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery versus Conventional Phacoemulsification. Frontiers in Medicine (Lausanne) 2021;8:811093.

19.  Ong HS, Sharma N, Phee LM, Mehta JS. Atypical microbial keratitis. Ocular Surface 2023;28:424-439.

20.  Ong HS, Dart JK, Mehta JS. A Review of Clinical Disease Scoring Systems for Cicatricial Diseases of the Conjunctiva. Frontiers in Medicine (Lausanne) 2021;8:664572

21.  Dimacali VG, Liu YC, Ong HS, Ting DSJ, Mehta JS. Femtosecond laser-assisted excision of conjunctival melanocytic lesions: Cosmetic and long-term outcomes. Clinical Experimental Ophthalmology 2021; 49(3):312-315.

22.  Ong HS, Ang M, Mehta JS. The Evolution of Therapies for the Corneal Endothelium: Past, Present, and Future Approaches. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2021;105(4):454-467.

23.  Yi Teo CH, Ong HS, Liu YC, Tong L. Meibomian gland dysfunction is the primary determinant of dry eye symptoms: Analysis of 2346 patients. Ocular Surface 2020;18(4):604-612.

24.  Liu YC, Ang M, Ong HS, Wong TY, Mehta JS. SARS-CoV-2 infection in conjunctival tissue. Lancet Respiratory Medicine 2020; 8(7):e57.

25.  Ong HS, Peh G, Neo DJH, Ang H-P, Adnan K, Nyein CL, Morales-Wong F, Bhogal M, Kocaba V, Mehta JS. A novel approach of harvesting viable single cells from donor corneal endothelium for cell-injection therapy. Cells 2020; 9(6):1428.

26.  Ong HS, Minassian D, Rauz S, Mehta JS, Dart JK. Validation of a clinical assessment tool for cicatrising conjunctivitis. Ocular Surface 2020;18(1):121-129.

27.  Ong HS, Farook M, Tan BBC, Williams GP, Santhiago MR, Mehta JS. Corneal Ectasia Risk And Percentage Tissue Altered in Myopic Patients Presenting For Refractive Surgery. Clinical Ophthalmology 2019; 13:2003-2015

28.  Mansoor H, Ong HS, Riau AK, Stanzel TP, Mehta JS, Yam GH. Current Trends and Future Perspective of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Exosomes in Corneal Diseases. International Journal Molecular Sciences 2019; 20(12):2853.

29.  Ong HS^*, Peh G^*, Adnan K, Ang H-P, Lwin NC, Seah X-y, Lin S-J, Mehta JS. Functional Evaluation of Two Corneal Endothelial Cell-Based Therapies: Tissue-Engineered Construct and Cell Injection. Scientific Reports 2019; 9(1):6087.

30.  Yam GH, Fuest M, Zhou L, Liu TC, Deng L, Chan AS, Ong HS, Khor WB, Ang M, Mehta JS. Differential epithelial and stromal protein profiles in cone and non-cone regions of keratoconus corneas. Scientific Reports 2019;9(1):2965.

31.  Ong HS, Chan AS, Yau CW, Mehta JS. Kamra Corneal Inlays Explanted Due to Corneal Haze: A Case Series with Histopathological Analyses. Journal of Refractive Surgery 2018; 1;34(5):357-360.

32.  Ong HS, Setterfield J, Minassian J, Dart JK, and the Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid Study Group. Mucous membrane pemphigoid with ocular involvement: the clinical phenotype and its relationship to direct immunofluorescence findings. Ophthalmology 2018;125(4):496-504.

33.  Ong HS, Fung SSM, MacLeod D, Tuft SJ, Dart JK, Burton MJ. Altered patterns of Fungal Keratitis in a London Ophthalmic Hospital: An eight-year retrospective observational study. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2016;168:227-36.

34.  Ong HS, Corbett MC. Corneal Infections in the 21^st Century. Postgraduate Medical Journal 2015; 91:565–571

35.  Ong HS, Evans J, Allan BDS. Accommodative Intraocular lens versus Monofocal Intraocular lens implantation in cataract surgery. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 2014;5:CD009667.

Book Chapters

1.      Tan D, Ong HS. Management of Primary Pterygium. In: Mannis M, Holland E. Cornea 6th Edition. St Louis: Elsevier; 2025 (in press)

2.     Ong HS, Mehta JS. Surgical Instruments for SMILE. In: Orlich C, Ramirez-Miranda A, Mendex A. (eds.) SMILE – Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. Panama: Jaypee Highlights Medical Publishers; 2017.

3.     Ong HS, Metha JS. Endothelial Reconstruction: Current and Future Approaches. In: Agarwal A, Narang P. Anterior Segment Repair and Reconstruction: Managing challenging cases in cornea, glaucoma, and lens surgery. India: Thieme Medical Publishers; 2019.

4.     Ong HS. Cataract – Acquired. In: Azarbod P, Khaw PT. Key Clinical Topics in Ophthalmology. London JP Medical Publishers; 2020.

5.     Ong HS. Cataract – Complications of Surgery. In: Azarbod P, Khaw PT. Key Clinical Topics in Ophthalmology. London: JP Medical Publishers; 2020.