We are delighted to announce Dr Sashwanthi Mohan as a touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leader 2026, selected by peers as one of the ophthalmologists changing the future of eye care.
Dr Mohan is a Specialist Ophthalmologist at Medcare Eye Centre, Dubai, with expertise in medical and surgical retina. She completed her MBBS at Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital and her DNB in Ophthalmology at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, India, where she was awarded the Dr G. Venkataswamy Gold Medal. A Fellow of the International Council of Ophthalmology (FICO) and Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (MRCS), she has undertaken advanced vitreoretinal training at Sankara Nethralaya Medical Research Foundation and previously served as a Consultant in the Vitreoretinal Department at Rajan Eye Care Hospital. Dr Mohan is proficient in cataract surgery, retinal lasers, intravitreal injections and vitreoretinal procedures, with clinical interests spanning vitreomacular disorders, uveitis and complex retinal disease. She is actively involved in research, education and mentorship, with multiple peer-reviewed publications and a strong digital education presence through her platform, Ophthalmobytes.
In this Future Leaders interview, Dr Mohan reflects on her inspirations, the mentor who shaped her journey and what excites her about the future of the field.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in ophthalmology?
I was drawn to ophthalmology for the way it brings together science, surgical precision, and the very real impact of helping someone see better. Moments in this field where we witness meaningful improvement in a patient’s vision through either surgery or timely medical care, continue to feel extraordinary. Growing up with two ophthalmologist parents, I was inspired by their dedication to patients and passion for the field long before I recognised it myself.
Within ophthalmology, the retina captured my curiosity and passion early in training. The depth of diagnostic thinking, the beauty of retinal imaging, and the rapidly changing treatment landscape fascinated me. Managing chronic retinal diseases also creates a unique continuity of care, allowing us to walk with the patients throughout their visual journeys rather than meeting them only in brief clinical moments.
Ophthalmology constantly challenges you to grow, adapt, and keep learning, and this sense of ongoing evolution continues to motivate me every day- in clinic, in surgery, in teaching, and in research.
“More than individual innovations is the greater movement toward integrated, patient-centred care in the field of ophthalmology where imaging, therapeutics, surgery, artificial intelligence, and global accessibility work together to prevent avoidable blindness.”
Q: Who has been the most significant mentor or role model for you, and what did you learn from them?
One of the most defining influences in my professional journey has been my mentor, Dr Dhanashree Ratra, during my vitreoretinal fellowship at Sankara Nethralaya. She shaped the way I approach patient care, clinical observation, and lifelong learning. She taught me that even the smallest retinal detail can change diagnosis and management, and that true expertise lies in knowing not just how to treat, but when to treat and when to observe. Her academic discipline and commitment to research reinforced that clinical care and teaching are never separate, inspiring me to contribute to education alongside clinical practice. Above all, her compassion toward patients showed me that behind every retinal image is a human being trusting us with their vision, a lesson that continues to guide my work every day.
Q: What current innovations in ophthalmology excite you the most?
We are living in an extraordinary era of ophthalmology, where technology and therapeutics are advancing at a rapid pace. As a retina specialist, I am particularly excited by progress in retinal imaging—high-resolution OCT, OCT-angiography, ultra-wide-field imaging, and multimodal diagnostics which allow for earlier detection of disease, more accurate monitoring, and deeper understanding of retinal microstructure. Imaging biomarkers are also guiding more individualised, patient-specific care.
On the treatment front, long-acting anti-VEGF agents, sustained-release drug delivery, and emerging pharmacologic targets are reducing treatment burden while preserving long-term vision. Even more transformative is the progress in gene therapy and regenerative strategies, which begin to shift our focus from preserving vision toward the possibility of restoring it.
More than individual innovations is the greater movement toward integrated, patient-centred care in the field of ophthalmology where imaging, therapeutics, surgery, artificial intelligence, and global accessibility work together to prevent avoidable blindness. To practise ophthalmology—particularly retina—at such a transformative time feels both a privilege and a responsibility, and it continues to reinforce why this field feels like home.
Disclosures: This short article was prepared by touchOPHTHALMOLOGY in collaboration with Dr Mohan. No fees or funding were associated with its publication.
Citation: Dr Sashwanthi Mohan on technological and therapeutic innovation in retina: touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leaders 2026. touchOPHTHALMOLOGY. 11 March 2026.
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