Ms Sharon Heng is a multi lingual consultant ophthalmic surgeon with her NHS practice at the world renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital.
She is a specialist in medical retina diseases and the Clinical Lead of the Medical Retina Digital Clinics at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Lead of the Northwest Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program at Ealing Moorfields. Ms Heng has been practicing Ophthalmology in excess of 15 years.
Ms Heng graduated from the National University of Singapore and came to UK to pursue her PhD on preventative therapy in Age Related Macular Degeneration under the pupillage of Professor John Marshall (father of excimer laser in refractive surgery) and Professor Sobha Sivaprasad at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London. She underwent her clinical training at the Severn Deanery and Bristol Eye Hospital and returned to Moorfields as clinical fellow and then a consultant.
Ms Heng believes strongly in training the next generation of ophthalmologists and allied health professionals and is actively involved in developing teaching modules and programs for education within the NHS and beyond. She has travelled to China to assist in developing education programs for the local doctors. She was also involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy screening program and laser teaching for chinese ophthalmologists in China with Professor Peter Scanlon. She is also supervisor to several masters students at the Institute of Ophthalmology , UCL in retina diseases. She has also been chair or speaker for numerous preceptorship programs hosting foreign doctors from Australia, UAE etc.
Ms Heng is a co-editor on the Inspire Program (medical retina) by the Royal College of Ophthalmologist and sits an editorial board member of the Eye Journal.
Ms Heng is also active in research and is chief investigator for several clinical looking at inequality within the medical retina digital clinics and treatment burden and efficacy across different types of Wet AMD antivegf treatment to patients and their carers
She was also involved as principal and sub-investigator of numerous pivotal clinical trials including the 2RT RETILASE study and OZLASE study(one of the first studies to evaluate use of ozurdex steroid implant in diabetic macular oedema in the UK) in the course of her career.
She has made in excess of 50 international presentations across the world.
Ms Heng currently sits as a steering group committee member for pharmaceutical companies advising on treatment biomarkers and was heavily involved in the publication of the Handbook for ‘Biomarkers in Diabetic Macular Oedema’ with Abbvie Ltd for healthcare professionals.
Ms Heng actively participates in community service and has contributed as chair the National University of Singapore Alumni from 2017 to 2023, building bridge between Singaporeans and alumnus and the British fraternity.
Ms Heng speaks English, Mandarin and understands Cantonese and Hokkien.
Ms Heng speaks English, Mandarin and understands Cantonese and Hokkien. She takes pride to ensure her patients understands their disease , treatment and prognosis in their comfortable communication language where possible.
After every consultation, Ms Heng will provide written summaries of the consultation, including diagnosis, treatment offered, risks and benefits.
Medical Retina diseases are often linked to systemic co-morbidities (or systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia). She believes strongly in preventative therapy, and ‘prevention is better than cure’. Where possible and required, she will advise patients on how to better care for themselves and their vision.
Ms Heng also keeps up to date with latest available treatment, clinical trial to real life data and advises with the patient in mind (personalised treatment).
Ms. Heng believes strongly in the integration of scientific data, imaging, proteomics, oculomics, and biomarkers into her care to determine the best and personalised treatment regimen for her patients, aiming to maximise and optimise outcomes.
She sits on various boards to lead the personalisation of care in retinal diseases.
Ms Heng has won numerous awards in recognition to her contributions to science and community services.
Below are some of her awards:
Ms Heng believes strongly in giving back to society. She along with her husband regularly attends community functions, hoping to raise awareness of the Chinese community in little circles and environment they live in. Ms Heng was also chairperson of the National University of Singapore alumni in the UK with 800 members and she with her committee founded the Professional forum series to discuss intricate and pressing matters in society and to build a networking platform for Singaporeans living in UK.
Ms Heng and her family is also in support of children’s education and has donated to bursary programs in aid of children education in UK.
