Mr Soon Wai Ch'ng

Mr Ch’ng is a Consultant Ophthalmologist with subspecialist expertise in medical and vitreo-retinal surgery at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC), the second largest eye hospital in the United Kingdom. He currently serves as the Clinical Director (Head of Department) at BMEC and previously held the role of Lead Clinician for the Emergency Department. As the Clinical Director of BMEC, he has spearheaded several digital innovations and service transformation projects, including the implementation of AI-supported triage systems and electronic referral platforms, improving efficiency, safety and patient experience across emergency eye services. He graduated from the University of Liverpool and obtained his Certificate of Completion of Training in Ophthalmology from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in 2016 following his specialist training in the Wales and East Midlands Deaneries. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth). His fellowship experience includes a senior vitreoretinal fellowship at BMEC, where he managed complex vitreo-retinal conditions and a clinical research fellowship at the Manchester Vision Regeneration Lab and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. During his time there, he contributed to advancements in retinal imaging (including OCT angiography and swept-source OCT), targeted retinal laser therapy, the Argus-II retinal prosthesis implant and the development of a hypersonic vitrector. In addition to his clinical qualifications, Mr Ch’ng holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Liverpool and achieved a Distinction in the Postgraduate Diploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery (PgDipCRS) from the Ulster University. Mr Ch’ng is deeply committed to medical education and research. He has trained multiple vitreoretinal surgeons at BMEC who have since become independent consultants internationally. He also serves as a Clinical and Educational Supervisor for UK ophthalmic trainees and is a examiner for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) Examination and member of the RCOphth Surgical Skills Training Faculty. His research portfolio includes roles as Co-Principal Investigator in several vitreoretinal clinical trials, and he has authored or co-authored 50 peer-reviewed publications. He is an active reviewer for multiple ophthalmic journals and a regular present at national and international academic meetings. Beyond his clinical and academic work, Mr Ch’ng contributes to charitable initiatives as a Medical Trustee of the Roper-Hall Eye Foundation, a Birmingham-based charity that promotes research, education and innovation in ophthalmology to benefit patients and the wider community.

Cataract surgery (including complex cases) Retinal detachment and retinal tears Vitrectomy and scleral buckle surgery Diabetic retinopathy related conditions Retinal arterial or vein occlusion related conditions Macular degeneration and related conditions Macular related disease surgery (eg. macular holes, lamellar macular holes and epiretinal membrane) Ocular trauma Vitreous floaters General and emergency ophthalmology conditions