Dr Ong Hon Shing

MBBS, FRCOphth, MSc, FRCS(Ed), FAMS

Consultant

Singapore National Eye Centre

Specialty: Corneal ＆ External Eye Disease, Refractive Surgery, Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology

Sub-specialties: Corneal ＆ External Eye Disease, Refractive Surgery, Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology

Conditions Treated by this Doctor:
Astigmatism, Blepharitis, Cataract Surgery, Corneal Infections, Corneal Oedema, Dry Eye Syndrome, Eye Redness, Hyperopia (Long-sightedness), Myopia (Short-sightedness or Near-sightedness), Pterygium.

Clinical Appointments

Consultant SingHealth Duke-NUS Transplant Centre
Consultant Corneal ＆ External Eye Disease Department Singapore National Eye Centre
Consultant Refractive Surgery Department Singapore National Eye Centre
Consultant Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department Singapore National Eye Centre

Academic Appointments

Instructor SingHealth Duke-NUS Ophthalmology ＆ Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme

Profile

Dr Ong Hon Shing 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, and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Asia Corneal Society, and the Asia Dry Eye Society.

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 won awards from both the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology for his research interests, which span several different aspects of corneal and external eye diseases, corneal transplantation, and refractive surgery. 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 regularly presents his research work at international scientific conferences. He is currently reading for a PhD in ocular surface inflammation and scarring at The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, UK.

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.

Education

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

Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships

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)

Awards

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)
BWWF Prize for Selected Study Module Portfolio, 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)
The London Hospital Medical Club Benevolent Fund Travel Award (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)

Research Interests

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

Publications

Scientific Publications

Ong HS, Ang M, Mehta JS. The Evolution of Therapies for the Corneal Endothelium: Past, Present, and Future Approaches. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2020; doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-316149
[Online ahead of print]
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; doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2020.06.008 [Online ahead of print]
Liu YC, Ang M, Ong HS, Wong TY, Mehta JS. SARS-CoV-2 infection in conjunctival tissue. Lancet Respiratory Medicine 2020; 8(7):e57.
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.
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.
Ong HS, Mehta JS. Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) – Why Surgeons Should Consider Adopting Endothelium-In Techniques. US Ophthalmic Review 2019; 12(2):65-68.
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.
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.
Peh G*, Ong HS*, 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.
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.
Yam GH, Fuest M, Yusoff NZ, Goh TW, Silva F, Setiawan M, Seah XY, Lwin NC, Stanzel T, Ong HS, Mehta JS. Safety and feasibility of intrastromal injection of cultivated human corneal stromal keratocytes as cell-based therapy for corneal opacities. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2018; 59(8):3340-3354.
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.
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.
Ong HS, Patel KV, Dart JK, Præstegaard M. Topical ciclosporin A as a steroid sparing agent for Ocular Rosacea. Acta Ophthalmologica 2017;95(2):e158-e159.
Ong HS, Dart JK. Managing ocular surface disease: a common sense approach. Community Eye Health 2016;29(95):44-46.
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.
Ong HS, Corbett MC. Corneal Infections in the 21st Century. Postgraduate Medical Journal 2015; 91:565–571.
Kam R, Ong HS, Bunce C, Ogunbowale L, Verma S. Sensitivity and specificity of the AdenoPlus point-of-care system in detecting adenovirus in conjunctivitis patients at an ophthalmic emergency department – a diagnostic accuracy study. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2015; 99(9):1186-9.
Ong HS, Evans J, Allan BDS. Accommodative Intraocular lens versus Monofocal Intraocular lens implantation in cataract surgery. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 2014;5:CD009667.
Ong HS, Subash M, Sandhu A, Wilkins M. Intraocular Lens Delivery Characteristics of the Preloaded Acrysof IQ SN60WS/ Acrysert Injectable Lens System. American Journal Ophthalmology 2013; 156(1):77-81.

Book Chapters

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.
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; 2018 (in press)
Ong HS. Cataract – Acquired. In: Azarbod P, Khaw PT. Key Clinical Topics in Ophthalmology. London JP Medical Publishers; 2018 (in press)
Ong HS. Cataract – Complications of Surgery. In: Azarbod P, Khaw PT. Key Clinical Topics in Ophthalmology. London: JP Medical Publishers; 2018 (in press)
Tan D, Ong HS, 2019. Management of Primary Pterygium. In: Mannis M, Holland E. Cornea 5th Edition. St Louis: Elsevier; (in press)

Research Trials

Biodistribution of topically applied exosomes prelabeled with radiolabelling tracer (2020 – present)
Investigating Ocular Surface Toxicity Profile of Benzalkonium Chloride in Aerosols Generated from Disinfectant Sprays (2020 – present)
Evaluation of corneal nerves with confocal microscopy imaging systems (2020 – present)
Investigating the Utility and Outcomes of Pre-stripped and Pre-loaded Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK): A Prospective Pilot Study (2019 – present)
Inhibition and dissolving TGFBI-amyloid fibrillation by Taurine (2019 – present)
The evaluation of mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes as novel topical therapies for corneal scarring (2018 – present)
A novel approach of utilising harvested corneal endothelial cells from donor corneas unsuitable for current corneal transplantation in cell-injection therapy for the treatment of corneal endothelial failure (2018 – present)
Development of an accurate, rapid and non-invasive kit to detect Dry Eye Disease (2018 – present)
Metagenomics survey of microbial population present in the corneal epithelium of humans (2018 – present)
Investigating Signal Transduction Pathways in Conjunctival Fibrosis: Therapeutic Potential of Novel Selective Inhibition (2018 – present)
Investigating corneal diseases with genetic basis (2018 – present)
Evaluation of hypothermic storage of human corneal endothelial cells prior to use in cell-injection therapy for corneal endothelial failure (2018 – present)
Investigating Donor Corneoscleral Rim Cultures Compared to Standard Cultures of Donor Preservation Media in Corneal Transplantation (2018 – 2019)
Innovations in High Resolution Corneal Imaging for the Clinic (2018 – present)
Ocular Surface Gene Expression and Microbiome as Biomarkers in Cicatricial (Scarring) Conjunctivitis (2017 – present)
Safety and Efficacy of Tissue Engineered Endothelial Keratoplasty (TE-EK) (2016 – present)
Evaluation of the Efficacy of Descemet membrane transplantation for the Treatment of Fuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy (2016 – present)
Comparison of clinical outcomes of Ziemer LDV Z8 femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery versus conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery (2015 – present)
Novel Micro-optical coherence tomography (μOCT) system for imaging the Cornea in an Animal Model (2015 – 2018)
Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCAR) Registry with tissue banking of biological samples (2014 – present)