Each year, The Ophthalmologist spotlights a new generation of innovators. This year, we focus on the cataract and refractive space – a sector that sits at the crossroads of medical necessity and patient-driven demand, and one that continues to evolve at breathtaking pace.
What is striking about this year’s honorees is not just their technical expertise, but also the breadth of their vision. Zeba A. Syed exemplifies the academic surgeon-educator. Jorge L. Alió del Barrio is pushing the boundaries of refractive surgery with new optical designs for intraocular lenses. Aakriti Shukla is bridging cataract and glaucoma management, advancing minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) alongside cataract procedures to improve patient outcomes and reduce medication reliance. Benjamin Stern is redefining the very concept of cataract surgery. Imane Tarib combines her fellowship training with a passion for global ophthalmology and public engagement. And Joaquín Fernández is demonstrating how artificial intelligence can be responsibly integrated into refractive surgery – enhancing precision, predicting outcomes, and ensuring that evidence remains the bedrock of progress.
Together, these six Rising Stars remind us that the future of cataract and refractive surgery will be defined not only by technology, but by those with the boldest ideas.
