Dr Angeline Nguyen’s commitment to advancing paediatric eye care has earned her recognition as a touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leader. As an assistant professor at CHLA/USC, Dr Nguyen specializes in conditions such as amblyopia, cataracts and paediatric and adult strabismus. Beyond her clinical expertise, she is passionate about teaching and surgical training, helping shape the next generation of ophthalmologists.
In this Q&A, Dr Nguyen reflects on her career challenges, rewarding moments and what excites her about the future of ophthalmology.
1. What challenges have you faced so far in your career, and how have you overcome them?
One of the key challenges I’ve faced in my career so far has been learning when and how to say no. Early in my career—and I’m still within the first five years—I said yes to almost every opportunity. This approach was beneficial in many ways. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, exposed me to new areas of research, clinical opportunities, teaching experiences, and allowed me to discover things I truly enjoyed or had a knack for. It also helped me build a reputation as someone who is willing to take on challenges, which opened doors for further opportunities.
However, as my career progressed and my commitments grew, saying no became much harder. I realized that constantly saying yes wasn’t sustainable and could result in burnout. Part of the difficulty comes from a natural desire not to disappoint others.
To overcome this, I’ve learned to take a step back and assess my priorities. I ask myself what truly brings me joy, what challenges I enjoy, and what activities will further my career. For opportunities that don’t align with these priorities, I’ve started to say no in a way that is honest, direct, and concise. To make it easier for myself and helpful for others, I often suggest someone else who might benefit from the opportunity, such as a junior colleague or trainee. This not only helps the person asking but also supports the development of others in the field. While I’m far from mastering this skill—it’s still something I struggle with—it has helped me maintain a sense of balance and avoid burnout. It’s about protecting your time and energy so that your career remains something that brings you joy and fulfilment in the long term.
2. What has been the most rewarding moment in your journey so far?
The most rewarding moment in my journey so far has been mentoring medical students, particularly guiding them through their early career milestones in ophthalmology. While there isn’t a single defining moment, a standout experience was mentoring my first student, Sarah. I worked closely with her as senior author, guiding her through her first research paper as first author. Watching her grow in her confidence in my clinic and ultimately successfully match into a residency program and attending her graduation were deeply meaningful.
At her graduation, Sarah came up to with tears in her eyes, and I even got to meet her parents. It was such a surreal moment—realizing I had gone from being the one showing my parents my mentors to being that person for someone else. It hit me how much of an impact I’d had and the distance I’ve finally come.
Being able to mentor students like Sarah, who are hardworking and passionate about serving their patients, is so rewarding. They feel like family to me, and I know they’re going to do amazing things in the field. It’s been such a privilege to give back in this way and to be part of such a close-knit, supportive community in ophthalmology.
3. What current innovations in ophthalmology excite you the most?
As a paediatric ophthalmologist, one of the most common conditions I see is amblyopia. For so long, the standard treatments have been patching or monocular therapies like atropine, and honestly, the success rates haven’t been where we’d like them to be. A lot of it comes down to compliance, since these therapies can be tough for kids and their families.
What’s been really exciting recently is the introduction of technology into this space, particularly with binocular treatments for amblyopia. These treatments have made the process so much easier for families and, even better, kids actually get excited about them. Instead of offering a patch or eye drops—which, let’s be honest, can be terrifying for both kids and parents—I can now say, “Hey, you can wear a VR headset or watch TV shows or movies while strengthening your eye.” Some kids even want to do it for longer than the prescribed hour a day!
The outcomes so far have been really promising. We’re currently involved in a study comparing one of these treatments, Luminopia, to the standard of care of patching. Even in the preliminary stages, we’re seeing it works—especially for kids who struggle with traditional treatments. It’s so exciting to know we’re moving toward therapies that are not only more effective but also less stressful for families.
I love that this condition, which has been around forever without major breakthroughs, is finally getting renewed attention. Being part of this shift now is truly wonderful. The integration of advanced technology like eye tracking and suppression techniques makes these treatments really cutting-edge, and I’m hopeful we’ll continue to see even more innovative options for families.
Disclosures: This short article was prepared by touchOPHTHALMOLOGY in collaboration with Dr Nguyen. No fees or funding were associated with its publication.
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