Why I Have Dedicated More Than 20 Years to EVO ICL
International surgeon • Trainer • International Expert Panel Member • More than 3,000 EVO ICL procedures
“Why I became passionate about EVO ICL?
”I’ve always believed that the best surgery is the one that preserves as much of the natural eye as possible. That’s why I became interested in Implantable Collamer Lenses long before they became widely known. After more than two decades, I remain as excited about EVO ICL today as I was when I first began. Every patient is unique, and every consultation is an opportunity to help someone choose the vision correction solution that is right for them—not just for today, but for the future.”
I am proud to be on the ICL expert panel and certified to train eye doctors internationally.
So happy to fly the Singapore flag!
Why I Believe in EVO ICL?
"For me, EVO ICL has never simply been an alternative to LASIK. It represents a philosophy of choosing the most appropriate treatment for each individual patient while respecting the long-term health of the eye."
Why EVO ICL Became One of My Greatest Passions
When I returned to Singapore after more than a decade of training and practising in England, France and the United States, one thing immediately stood out. Singapore had one of the highest rates of myopia in the world, and many of my patients were highly myopic.
As ophthalmologists, we were becoming increasingly skilled at helping patients achieve freedom from glasses. However, I often found myself asking a different question:
What is the best long-term solution for patients with moderate to high myopia?
For many people, removing glasses is the goal. For me, it has never been just about seeing clearly without spectacles.
High myopia is more than a refractive error. It is associated with an increased lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, earlier cataract development and myopic retinal disease. My responsibility as an eye surgeon is not only to improve vision today, but also to help patients make informed decisions that respect the long-term health of their eyes.
This philosophy is what drew me to EVO Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery more than two decades ago.
Unlike laser vision correction, EVO ICL preserves the natural structure of the cornea and offers an excellent option for many patients with moderate to high myopia, thin corneas or dry eyes. I was fascinated not only by the outstanding visual results, but by the fact that it provided another carefully considered option for patients who wanted more than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Over the years, I have been privileged to perform EVO ICL surgery, train other surgeons, lecture internationally and contribute to the development of this remarkable technology. Yet what continues to inspire me most is seeing the confidence and freedom that patients experience after surgery.
Every patient is different. My role is not to recommend one procedure for everyone, but to help each person understand their options and choose the treatment that best suits their eyes, their lifestyle and their future.
That philosophy continues to guide every EVO ICL consultation I provide today.
It has been an interesting journey for me with the Evo ICL. I have been very strict with the learning, executing with precision the ICL and achieving the best standard for you.
We have achieved the gold standard preoperative measurements , I have refined the surgical procedure which also makes recovery a pleasant experience.
Our achievement makes your ICL journey smoother, more predictable and also a faster recovery -Dr Cheryl Lee
Helping Shape EVO ICL Around the World
For more than two decades, I have had the privilege of working alongside many of the world's leading EVO ICL surgeons—sharing surgical techniques, discussing complex cases, teaching fellow ophthalmologists and helping refine the procedure for the benefit of patients worldwide.
Recognition by peers is one of the greatest honours in medicine.
Receiving the 1,000 EVO ICL milestone award in Paris.
The award of 1000 Swiss EVO Implantable contact lenses successfully performed was presented to Dr Cheryl Lee of The Eyeclinic by Dr Cheryl Lee at The Experts Summit 2019 in Paris. This has placed Dr Cheryl Lee as one of the most experienced ICL surgeon in the world. Having assisted in so many patients, you can be assured that the team of optometrists and operating theatre nurses are able to ensure you a good outcome. The numbers have increased to more than 3000 by today, we have stopping counting.
Visiting the Birthplace of EVO ICL
Learning from the engineers and pioneers who developed EVO ICL.
My first visit to the Staar ICL Factory in Nidau, Switzerland 18 years ago.
As surgeons, we usually see the finished lens in the operating theatre. Visiting the manufacturing facility in Switzerland allowed me to see where every EVO ICL begins.
Watching the remarkable precision involved in producing each lens reinforced my appreciation of the technology and the people behind it. It reminded me that achieving excellent vision depends not only on surgical skill, but also on the quality, consistency and innovation built into every lens.
The reversibility of ICL,I can testify as a surgeon.There was a German lady who had the first ICL in the world placed 25 years ago. She was living in Singapore when she wanted it exchanged for a multifocal lens as she had developed presbyopia and did not want to wear reading glasses. When I was removing the ICLs , there were no signs of scarring at all and they slipped out like a dream. That for me is the best proof of reversibility.
Learning from the World's Leading EVO ICL Experts
For more than 20 years, I have had the privilege of attending, speaking at and contributing to international EVO ICL meetings across Europe and Asia. These meetings have allowed me to exchange ideas with many of the world's leading refractive surgeons, discuss complex surgical cases and continually refine my approach to patient care in Singapore.
What is an EVO ICL Experts' Symposium?
An EVO ICL Experts' Symposium is an invitation-only meeting of experienced EVO ICL surgeons from around the world. These meetings bring together recognised leaders in refractive surgery to discuss the latest research, share surgical techniques, review challenging cases and explore new developments in EVO ICL technology.
The programme includes scientific lectures, expert panel discussions and video-based surgical case reviews, providing an invaluable opportunity for surgeons to learn from one another and continually improve patient outcomes.
I have been honoured to contribute to these international meetings as both a speaker and participant, and have performed more than 3,000 EVO ICL procedures in Singapore.
Why This Matters to My Patients
Patients often ask why I continue to travel overseas to attend international EVO ICL meetings after performing the procedure for so many years.
The answer is simple.
Medicine never stands still.
Every new research study, every discussion with international colleagues and every complex case reviewed helps me refine the care I provide for my patients back in Singapore.
I have always believed that learning is a lifelong journey. By continuing to learn from some of the world's leading EVO ICL surgeons, I can continue to offer my patients the safest techniques, the latest knowledge and the highest standard of personalised care.
"Everything I learn overseas has one purpose—to provide even better care for my patients in Singapore."
Awards
Speaking and Teaching
Everything I Learn Comes Home with Me
After more than 20 years, I remain as passionate about EVO ICL today as when I first began. My international experience has reinforced one important lesson: there is no single 'best' vision correction procedure. My role is to help each patient understand the advantages and limitations of every option, so they can make the decision that is right for their eyes and their future."Every lecture I attend, every surgeon I meet and every international discussion has one purpose—to continually improve the care I provide for my patients in Singapore.