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About Prof Colin Chan
Professor Colin Chan is an internationally recognised expert in vision correction procedures, including laser eye surgery (LASIK, SMILE®, SMILE pro and ASLA/PRK), refractive lens exchange and laser cataract surgery. Prof Chan also has expertise in the treatment of keratoconus and pterygium. He has more than two decades experience as an eye surgeon and has performed over 9,000 eye surgery procedures.
Prof Chan is a Clinical Professor at the University of Sydney, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is the Academic Co-ordinator for the Fundamentals of Laser Refractive Surgery courses and the postgraduate ophthalmology CPD courses at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney.
He is the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Regional Secretary for Australia and New Zealand and a Board Member of the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists.
Download a copy of Prof Colin Chan’s profile
Operates at:
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
- Clinical Professor, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
- Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra
- Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Academic Lead for the Fundamentals of Laser Refractive Surgery courses, University of Sydney
- Academic Lead for postgraduate ophthalmology CPD courses, University of Sydney
Committee/board memberships
- Board Member, SEE Together
- Board Member of the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists
- Selection Board, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
- Convenor, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Satellite Congress
- Secretary, Congress standing committee, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO)
Other professional achievements
- Invited chairman and speaker for the World Ophthalmology Congress
- Editorial Board of Advances in Ophthalmology Practice
- 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
Prof Colin Chan on ABC news – one in three children now shortsighted
One in three children are now shortsighted or unable to see things in the distance clearly according to a global analysis. Prof Colin Chan encourages kids to spend time outdoors to reduce their risk of myopia. Watch the video now.
Further information
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
Prof Chan is a Board Member of SEE Together, a charity devoted to giving people in remote Mongolian communities better access to basic eye care. He is also a Board Member of the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists, which advocates for better eye care access for the Australian public. From 2008–2018, he was actively involved in fundraising for The Eye Foundation and then became an advisory committee member from 2016–2018.
Awards
- RTP Scholarship for Master of Philosophy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney (2020)
- 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
- Master of Philosophy, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney
- 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
- Investigator and medical monitor in 20 clinical trials
- Web of Science H index of 17, with 50 Publications and 978 Sum of Times Cited
- Future Vision Foundation Grant Recipient
- Author of Effect of inferior- segment Intacs with and without C3R on keratoconus, one of the top 100 cited articles in the field of keratoconus
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
SMILE® and SMILE® pro are registered trademarks of Carl Zeiss Meditec
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Wan KH, Wang XY, Lai KHW, [...] Chan C, et al.
Asia Pac J Ophthalmol. Jul-Aug 2026;14(4):100221.
doi: 10.1016/j.apjo.2025.100221. Epub 2025 Jun 28.
Erratum in: Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2025 Jul-Aug;14(4):100226. doi: 10.1016/j.apjo.2025.100226. PMID: 40588075. -
Chan C, Sutton G, Lawless M, Hodge C.
J Cataract Refract Surg. 6 Apr 2026;44(11):e29.
doi: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000001955. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41944285 -
Vajpayee RB, Tenen A, Chan C, et al.
Cornea. Nov 2025;44(11):e29.
doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003915. Epub ahead of print. -
Fewer Follow-Ups, Fewer Footprints: Estimating Carbon Savings from Reduced Post-Op Eye Clinic Visits
Chan C, Hodge C, LawlessM [...] et al.
Fewer Follow-Ups, Fewer Footprints: Estimating Carbon Savings from Reduced Post-Op Eye Clinic Visits.
Abstract presented at RANZCO Conference 2024. -
Roberts PK, Keane M [...] all contributors to the Australian Corneal Graft Registry
Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2023. -
Sahebjada S, Chan E [...] KIC members, et al.
BMC Ophthalmol. 2023;27;23(1):337.
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Chan C
Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila), Dec 2020; 9(6):557–564 -
Chan C, Lawless M, Sutton G, Hodge C
J Refract Surg, Jan 2020
36(1):6-11 -
Messmer E, Chan C, Asbell P, et al.
BMJ Open Ophthal. Dec 2019;4(1):e000360.
doi: 10.1136/bmjophth-2019-000360 -
Tong JY, Viswanathan D, Hodge C, Sutton G, Chan C, Males JJ.
Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila), May–Jun 2017
6(3):228–232 -
Chan C, Lawless M, Sutton G, Versace P, Hodge C.
Clin Exp Optom May 2016
99(3):204–12 -
Hodge C, McAlinden C, Lawless M, Chan C, Sutton G, Martin A.
Eye Vis (Lond), Apr 2015
2:7 -
Hodge C, Chan C, Zantos S, Kokkinakis J, Stapleton F, Sutton G.
Clin Exp Optom, Jul 2015
98(4):312-8
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Hodge C, Chan C, Sutton G.
Clin Exp Ophthalmol, Nov 2014
42(8):796-8. -
Coster DJ, Lowe MT, Keane MC, Williams KA; Australian Corneal Graft Registry Contributors.
Ophthalmology, Mar 2014
121(5):979-87
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Pros and cons of AI in cataract surgery: debate
Lawless M, Chan C.
Lecture delivered at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (RANZCO) Congress, Adelaide, 2024. -
A case-driven audit transforming infection control in SMILE surgery
Sutton G, Bennett K, Chan C, Lam J.
Poster presented at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (RANZCO) Congress, Adelaide, 2024. -
Fewer follow-ups, fewer footprints: estimating carbon savings from reduced post-op eye clinic visits
Chan C, Hodge C, Lawless M, Sutton G.
Poster presented at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (RANZCO) Congress, Adelaide, 2024. -
Cornea clear and measured: A reference population for optimal patient care
Lawless M, Hodge C, Zhou L, Sutton G, Chan C.
Poster presented at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (RANZCO) Congress, Adelaide, 2024. -
Taming the tremors: examining the link between preoperative emotions and surgical discomfort in a refractive surgery setting
Lawless M, Shih Shih T, Chan C, Sutton G.
Poster presented at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (RANZCO) Congress, Adelaide, 2024. -
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, 2005–2007, 2010. -
Invited Faculty
ISOHK, 2006. -
Invited Chairman
World Congress of Ophthalmology, 2008, 2012, 2018. -
Refractive surgery expert panel
APAO, 2007.
Affiliations
Prof Colin Chan
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News Room
The eye surgeon behind an award-winning wildlife photograph
Careful observation is part of both Prof Colin Chan’s profession and his passion. The Vision Eye Institute ophthalmologist recently won ...
30/10/2026
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Article
Is laser eye surgery safe?
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Article
Prof Colin Chan ABC News interview: Increasing dry eye in younger people
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Article
Can laser eye surgery fix astigmatism?
