Ji Liu, MD, MS, is an ophthalmologist who specializes in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma, routine and complex cataract surgery, and anterior segment surgery (surgery performed on the iris and lens).
Dr. Liu says he was drawn to medicine because he wanted to understand how and why people get sick, and how to manage it. “In medical school, I realized the importance of vision,” he says. “Ninety percent of what we learn from the outside world every day comes from our eyes. And the advances in technology that we now have for treating eye diseases are fascinating.”
For example, with cataract surgery, intraocular lens implantation can correct not just the cataract but astigmatism. Newer intraocular lens technology may even help patients seeing well for both near and far distance without need for glasses. For glaucoma, there is no cure, but there are many treatments, including modern laser and microinvasive procedures, in addition to traditional therapy, Dr. Liu says.
Dr. Liu says the best parts of his job are helping patients see and improving their quality of life. “I follow many of my patients for years and it’s rewarding to either stop the progression of their disease or restore their vision,” he says. “For surgery, I enjoy both the routine and the complex surgeries, like cataract surgery, dislocated lens repair, iris repair, and the glaucoma procedures with new technologies.”
When a patient comes to see him for the first time, Dr. Liu says he takes the time to understand their concerns and gather their medical history. “I also tend to not just focus on the eye, but ask them about their support system at home. For someone with low vision, I want to find out if they have difficulty using drops or any assistance is needs for daily living,” he says.
Dr. Liu’s research focuses on intraocular pressure monitoring, as high pressure is a major risk factor for glaucoma. His research also involves laser and surgical treatment of glaucoma. Dr. Liu believes research is ultimately the key to improve patient care and treatment outcome.
