How Professor Saw Seang Mei is redefining myopia prevention for future generations

One of the world’s leading researchers in ophthalmology, Professor Saw Seang Mei is tackling a pressing health challenge – Singapore’s alarming myopia rates. For the unacquainted, her work mainly focuses on shaping global strategies for myopia prevention, and revolutionising the way we understand and manage vision health.

Recognising Singapore’s position as one of the countries with the highest myopia rates, Prof Saw dedicated her career to tackling this growing issue. Her defining moment came when she chose myopia as the focus of her PhD thesis, a decision influenced by the late Professor Chew Sek Jin. He was the first director of the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), and Prof Saw considers him the “Father of Myopia” in Singapore. Another key figure in her journey was the late Professor Wallace Foulds, senior adviser of SERI, whose unwavering support led to the establishment of the Wallace Foulds Distinguished Professorship in her name.

After years of experience, her work has led her to gain a deeper understanding of myopia development and innovative solutions to slow its progression. One of her most notable contributions is the discovery that increased outdoor time significantly reduces myopia risk in children. This finding has influenced public health campaigns worldwide, encouraging schools and parents to integrate more outdoor activities into children’s routines.

Beyond research, Prof Saw has collaborated on developing FitSight, a smart wearable designed to track and encourage outdoor exposure for children. She has also played a key role in advancing myopia-control contact lenses that are designed to slow the progression of myopia and prevent the child from developing high myopia, offering families science-backed solutions for managing vision health.

While her early work focused on traditional epidemiology – studying risk factors and the natural history of myopia – Prof Saw has since expanded into multidisciplinary research, incorporating genetic techniques, engineering and AI to uncover new causes and treatments.

Some of the other advancements that Prof Saw is delving into include the use of AI imaging technology to identify high-risk myopic children who require more intensive treatment to prevent high myopia. This includes tailoring treatments for those with myopia based on the AI-documented risk profile of the child. With her research continuing to inform new treatments, Prof Saw’s contributions are shaping the global fight against myopia, ensuring that future generations see the world more clearly.

Brought to you in partnership with Singtel, the inspiring Innovators featured in our SG60 issue are women who are driving Singapore’s progress through their bold choices and achievements. With their stories of resilience, reinvention and selflessness, we hope to inspire and empower the next generation of women to take charge of their paths and turn possibilities into reality. Singtel wishes all women a Happy International Women’s Day and Happy SG60.

To learn more about the 60 women who have shaped Singapore as we know it today, click here.