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Clin Assoc Prof Sharon Tow

Clin Assoc Prof Tow Sharon

​MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FAMS

Senior Consultant

Singapore National Eye Centre

Specialty: Neuro-Ophthalmology, Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology

Sub-specialties: Neuro-Ophthalmology, Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology

Clinical Appointments

  • Senior Consultant Neuro-Ophthalmology Department Singapore National Eye CentreSingapore National Eye Centre
  • Senior Consultant Cataract & Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department Singapore National Eye CentreSingapore National Eye Centre

Academic Appointments

  • Clinical Associate Professor SingHealth Duke-NUS Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme

Profile

Clinical Associate Professor Sharon Tow completed her medical training at the University of Sydney. She underwent basic surgical training in ophthalmology in Edinburgh, Scotland where she attained the FRCSEd and continued her advanced surgical training in ophthalmology at the Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.  She then embarked on the subspecialty of Neuro-ophthalmology, completing advanced Fellowship training in Neuro-ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore in 2001. On her return to SNEC, she helped develop the Neuro-ophthalmology department, and since 2006, has been the head of this busy service.

Clinical Associate Professor Tow is actively involved in teaching undergraduate students and trainees in Ophthalmology (see CME courses).

She is a regular examiner both for the Singapore College of Ophthalmologists and the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.

Clinical Associate Professor Tow’s research interests include epidemiologic studies of neuro-ophthalmologic conditions in Singapore, optic neuritis, ischaemic optic neuropathy and ocular motility disorders. 

She has been invited to speak at local, regional and international ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology meetings, and continues with this busy schedule.  She has contributed to book chapters in the Neuro-Ophthalmology Section of Ocular Manifestation of Systemic Diseases Atlas, and the Neuro-Ophthalmology section of Clinical Ophthalmology – An Asian Perspective.

Education

  • FAMS (2007)
  • FRCS(Ed) (1998)
  • MBBS (Syd) (1988)

Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships

  • Member, Executive Committee, Singapore National Eye Centre (2018)
  • Chair, SNEC-SERI Integration Task Force (2017 – present)
  • Deputy Chairman, SingHealth Centralised Institutional Review Board (CIRB) A (2017 – present)
  • Council Member, College of Ophthalmologists, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (2017 - present) 
  • Member, Philanthropy Development Committee, Singapore National Eye Centre (2017 – present)
  • Panel Member, The VisionSave Campaign, Singapore National Eye Centre (2017 – present)
  • Deputy Chief Examiner, Exam Working Committee for Ophthalmology, Joint Committee on Specialist Training, Singapore (2017 – present)
  • Chairman, Neuro-ophthalmology Subspecialty Workgroup, College of Ophthalmologists, Academy of         Medicine, Singapore 
  • Member, Singapore Medical Council Disciplinary Tribunal (2016 – present)
  • Member, Core Clinical Competency Committee, Residency Training, Neuro-ophthalmology (2015 -present)
  • Member, Residency Advisory Committee (2013 – present)
  • Member, SingHealth Centralised Institutional Review Board (CIRB) A (2013 - 2017)
  • Member, Singapore Medical Council Complaints Panel (2011 – present)
  • Member, Fellowship Coordination Committee, Singapore National Eye Centre (2009 – present)
  • Member, Research Committee, Singapore National Eye Centre (2009 – present)
  • Fellow, College of Ophthalmologists, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (2007 - present)

Awards

  • ‘Star Category’, Singapore Health Quality Service Award (2016)
  • 7th Allied Health Innovative Practice Award (part of Vertigo Team), Singapore General Hospital (2014)
  • The Health Manpower Development Programme (HMDP) Fellowship (Imperial College, Charing Cross campus and the National Hospital for Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, Queens Square, London) (2012)
  • HMDP Fellowship award for Neuro-ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA (2000 – 2001)

Research Interests

Publications

  1. Low Conversion Rate of Ocular to Generalized Myasthenia Gravis in Singapore. Teo KY, Tow SL, Haaland B, Gosavi TD, Loo JL, Lo YL, Milea D. Muscle Nerve. 2017 Oct 5. doi: 10.1002/mus.25983. [Epub ahead of print]
         
  2. A reappraisal of diagnostic tests for myasthenia gravis in a large Asian cohort. Lo YL, Najjar RP, Teo KY, Tow SL, Loo JL, Milea D. J Neurol Sci. 2017 May 15;376:153-158
         
  3. Multi-ethnic involvement in autosomal-dominant optic atrophy in Singapore. Loo JL, Singhal S, Rukmini AV, Tow S, Amati-Bonneau P, Procaccio V, Bonneau D,Gooley JJ, Reynier P, Ferré M, Milea D. Eye (Lond).  2017 Mar;31(3):475-480
        
  4. Cerebral neural correlates of differential melanopic photic stimulation in humans. Hung SM, Milea D, Rukmini AV, Najjar RP, Tan JH, Viénot F, Dubail M, Tow SL, Aung T, Gooley JJ, Hsieh PJ. Neuroimage. 2017 Feb 1;146:763-769
         
  5. Clinical value of electrophysiology in determining the diagnosis of visual dysfunction in neuro-ophthalmology patients. Yap GH, Chen LY, Png R, Loo JL, Tow S, Mathur R, Chia A. Doc Ophthalmol. 2015 Dec;131(3):189-96
         
  6. Ocular Manifestations and the Clinical Course of Carotid Cavernous Sinus Fistulas in Asian patients. Tan ACS, Farooqui S, Li X, Tan YL, Cullen J, Lim W, Seah LL, Looi A, Tow S. Orbit 2014; Feb 33(1): 45-51
         
  7. Acute visual loss in a patient with optic disc drusen. Tan DK, Tow SL. Clin Ophthalmol. 2013; 7:795-9
         
  8. Clinical spectrum of tuberculous optic neuropathy. Davis EJ, Rathinam SR, Okada AA, Tow SL, Petrushkin H, Graham EM, Chee SP, Guex-Crosier Y, Jakob E, Tugal-Tutkun I, Cunningham ET Jr, Leavitt JA, Mansour AM, Winthrop KL, Hills WL, Smith JR. J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect. 2012; Dec; 2(4): 183-9
         
  9. The incidence of neuro-ophthalmic diseases in Singapore: a prospective study in public hospitals. Lim SA, Wong WL, Fu E, Goh KY, Seah A, Tan C, Tow S, Cullen JF, Wong TY. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2009; Mar-Apr 16(2): 65-73
         
  10. Optic neuritis in Singapore. Lim SA, Goh KY, Tow S, Fu E, Wong TY, Seah A, Tan C, Cullen JF. Singapore Med J 2008; Sep 49(9): 667-71
         
  11. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma with orbital involvement. Lee KY, Seah LL, Tow S, Cullen JF, Fong KS. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2008; May-Jun 24(3):185-9
         
  12. Bilateral posterior ischaemic optic neuropathy associated with use of sildenafil. Su DH, Ang PS, Tow SL. J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2008; 28(1):75
         
  13. Visual recovery following emergent orbital decompression in traumatic retrobulbar haemorrhage. Lee KYC, Tow SL, Fong KS. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2006; Nov 35(11):831-2
         
  14. A black mass on the optic disc. Su DHW, Tow SLC, Cullen JF. Asian J Ophthalmol 2006; 8:256-7
                  
  15. Long-term outcome in children with gliomas of the anterior visual pathway. Tow SL, Chandela S, Miller NR, Avellino AM. Pediatr Neurol 2003; Apr 28(4): 262-70
  16. Combined phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation and trabeculectomy for chronic angle closure glaucoma. Tow SL, Aung T, Oen FT, Seah SK. Int Ophthalmol accepted 2001; 24(5): 283-9 (published in 2003)
  17. The presentation, aetiology, management and outcome of optic neuritis in an Asian population. Wang JC, Tow S, Aung T, Lim SA, Cullen JF. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol 2001; Oct 29(5): 312-5
                
  18. Book Review: Neuro-Ophthalmology: Diagnosis and Management. Authors: Liu GT, Volpe NJ, Galetta SL. New York, W.B. Saunders, 2001. Tow S American Journal of Ophthalmology 2001; Apr 131(4):532. Archives of Neurology 2001; Aug 58:1308-1309 (adapted for the neurologist)
                
  19. Amniotic membrane transplantation in entropion surgery. Ti SE, Tow S, Chee SP. Ophthalmology 2001;108(7):1209-17
                
  20. Trabeculectomy for Acute Primary Angle Closure. Aung T, Tow SL, Yap EY, Chan SP, Seah SK. Ophthalmology 2000; July(107)7:1298-302

Research Trials