Engineers as Surgeons

The PEO Mississauga Chapter would like to invite you to a technical presentation given by Dr. David B. Yan on the role that engineers have played to improve the quality of life of patients in the field of ophthalmology.

Engineers have been instrumental in the development of numerous medical advances in the past century. In ophthalmology, technical advances have greatly improved visual outcomes to prevent many eye diseases from causing blindness within patients. This presentation will feature the application of engineering principles such as fluid dynamics and optics when developing numerous new ophthalmological procedures. For example, the development of better phacoemulsification equipment, high-frequency ultrasound, precise perfusion and aspiration pumps and surgical techniques has revolutionized cataracts and glaucoma surgeries, resulting in lower risk procedures with decreased patient recovery times. Micro-drainage devices used in eye surgeries also allow better control of fluid flow using micro-stents and valve mechanisms.

Presenter Biography:
Dr. David B. Yan, B.A.Sc., M.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.S.(C), holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then returned to the University of Toronto and completed a medical degree and ophthalmology residency, as well as a two-year post-residency training in glaucoma. Dr. Yan is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Glaucoma Service (Kensington Eye Institute and Mount Sinai Hospital) at the University of Toronto. He is also the founder and Director of the Toronto Ophthalmology Resident Introductory Course, a 2-month national training course attended by all Canadian ophthalmology residents. His society appointments include being the Chair of the Canadian Glaucoma and Cataract Research Council, a peer-reviewed glaucoma research funding body administered by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, and serving as President of the Canadian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (2012-14). His research interests include peer-reviewed publications on aqueous outflow, medical & surgical glaucoma therapy and optic nerve imaging. Dr. Yan is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the Clive Mortimer Award for excellence in postgraduate teaching, Golden Suture Award for glaucoma surgery teaching and Silver Needle Award for best cataract surgery teacher at University of Toronto.

Light refreshments will be served.