Our The Ophthalmologist Power List 2020 series kicks off with an interview with Dr Boris Malyugin, Deputy Director General of the S Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Institution and President of the Russian Ophthalmology Society. Dr Malyugin was named one of the top 10 influential ophthalmologists in the world in the 2020 Power List. In this short interview, Dr Malyugin shares his motivations, career highlights and the technological developments he is most looking forward to in the coming year.
Q: What motivated you to become an ophthalmologist?
I am from a medical family, so the choice of profession was obvious for me from early childhood. However, the real challenge was evident later on during my medical school days. It was hard to define the medical field that best fit my interests. Although I was among the third generation of doctors in my family, none had chosen ophthalmology. So the inspiration came from outside rather than from inside. When I first met Prof S Fyodorov and listened to his lecture, the decision was made almost instantly. Without further hesitation, I decided I wanted to be an ophthalmic surgeon. This was further strengthened by a course in the ophthalmology clinic. I have never regretted that decision.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?
Being a surgeon, especially an ophthalmic surgeon, is very rewarding emotionally. When you meet the person you have treated and he or she has significant improvement in their vision, that has a very positive impact on you. You become addicted to that feeling and want to repeat it.
The other great side of ophthalmology is related to the huge amount of progress that is constantly being made. By learning new technologies, expanding my field of view and my knowledge, I have never tired of it. Another important aspect of my profession is the ability to innovate almost indefinitely. As a surgeon you can help a certain amount of people throughout your professional life. But if you create something, such as the Malyugin Ring, which is being used by many ophthalmic surgeons, you can serve hundreds of thousands of people through the hands of the other surgeons. That is just amazing.
Q: What developments are you most excited to hear about in 2020–2021?
I am really looking forward to the further development of technology called refractive index shaping. I think that is the new breakthrough in cataract and refractive surgery. It will allow us to noninvasively modify the corneal index of refraction and the optical characteristics of the intraocular lens located inside the eye. This is a completely new and exciting field of ophthalmology.
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Published: 7 May 2020
Author profile:
Dr Boris Malyugin is Deputy Director General (R&D, Edu) of the S Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Institution, and President of the Russian Ophthalmology Society. Dr Malyugin is a world-renowned authority and expert in the field of anterior segment surgery. He has established himself at the forefront of advanced cataract surgery by pioneering numerous techniques and technologies. He is well known for his development of the Malyugin Ring, to be used in small pupil cataract surgery. Dr Malyugin has multiple international awards and was invited to participate with named and keynote lectures and live surgery sessions during several national and international meetings. In 2016, he was elected to be the President of the Russian Society of Ophthalmologists. He has been an Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis member since 2012, and an International Intraocular Implant Club member since 2009, as well as being an advisory committee member of both the International Council of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
