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Prof Colin Chan Ophthalmologist

Prof Colin Chan MBBS(Hons) FRANZCO

Prof Colin Chan
MBBS(Hons) FRANZCO

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Adjunct Professor Colin Chan is an internationally recognised expert in vision correction procedures, including laser eye surgery (LASIK, SMILE® and ASLA/PRK), refractive lens exchange and laser cataract surgery. He has more than 18 years of experience as an eye surgeon and has performed over 7,000 eye surgery procedures. Prof Chan also focuses his practice on the treatment of keratoconus. He has expertise in techniques such as corneal ring implants (Intacs and Kerarings) and collagen cross-linking.

He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra (Faculty of Health), an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. Prof Chan is also the Lead Co-ordinator of the Graduate Diploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery at the University of Sydney.

Download a copy of Prof Colin Chan’s profile here

Find out more about laser eye surgery in Sydney and New South Wales.

Career highlights

Career firsts

  • One of the first surgeons in the world to perform laser cataract surgery
  • One of the first surgeons in the world to perform collagen cross-linking to treat keratoconus
  • One of the first surgeons in Sydney to perform SMILE laser eye surgery

Teaching

  • Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra 
  • Clinical Associate Professor, Central Clinical School, University of Sydney
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Program Director, Diploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery, University of Sydney
  • Program Director, Continuing Professional Development Modules in Ophthalmology, University of Sydney

Committee/board memberships

  • Convenor, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Satellite Congresses
  • Congress standing committee, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Selection Board, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
  • Human Ethics and Research committee, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
  • CPD committee, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists

Other professional achievements

  • Convenor for Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Satellite Congresses in Vietnam (2018), Mongolia (2019) and Iran (2023)
  • Invited chairman and speaker for the World Ophthalmology Congress
  • Masterclass in collagen cross-linking for keratoconus at the Asia Pacific Association for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Congress
  • Masterclass in corneal rings for keratoconus at the Australian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Congress
  • Author of a book on dry eye treatment (Springer Publications) 
  • Graduate of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Leadership Development Program 
  • Reviewer for leading ophthalmology journals, including Ophthalmology, Cornea and Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
  • Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Faculty
  • New South Wales Medical Board

Community involvement & charitable work

From 2008–2018, Prof Chan was actively involved in fundraising for The Eye Foundation and then became an advisory committee member from 2016–2018. This not-for-profit eye health organisation is dedicated to restoring sight and preventing sight loss throughout Australasia. Prof Chan is on a number of pharmaceutical advisory boards and donates his honoraria to various charities such as The Eye Foundation, Australian College of Optometry and Red Cross Australia.

Awards

  • Achievement Award for scientific contributions and teaching, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (2015)
  • Best Paper of Session, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Congress (2006 and 2007)
  • Young Investigator Award, Neuro-Ophthalmology Society of Australia (2003)

Education & training

  • Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery with Honours, University of Melbourne, Victoria
  • Ophthalmology training, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Victoria and Sydney Eye Hospital, New South Wales
  • Fellowship in Corneal and Laser eye surgery, Boxer Wachler Vision Institute, Beverly Hills and University of California, Irvine, USA

Research & publications

Prof Chan has participated as an investigator and medical monitor in 12 clinical trials and published 36 peer-reviewed articles in medical journals. He is also a reviewer for several leading ophthalmology journals and is a member of the RANZCO Human Ethics and Research Committee. He is now expanding his research interests into medical education and was granted a scholarship for a master’s degree by research at the University of Sydney.

Personal website

To find out more about Prof Colin Chan, visit drcolinchan.com

To see his ‘Birds of Australia, Asia and the World’ photographic collection, visit aneyefordetails.com

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Read more publications
  • Invited Faculty

    AAO (2006, 2009, 2010)
  • Invited Faculty and Chairman

    APAO (2010–2016)
  • Masterclass on corneal rings

    AUSCRS (2010)
  • Invited Faculty

    World Cornea Congress (2010)
  • Invited Faculty

    ASCRS (2005–07, 2010)
  • Invited Faculty

    ISOHK (2006)
  • Invited Chairman

    World Congress of Ophthalmology (2008, 2012, 2018)
  • Refractive surgery expert panel

    APAO (2007)

Affiliations

Prof Colin Chan discusses what to expect before, during and after LASIK surgery

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