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Q: What drew you to medicine and ultimately to ophthalmology?

A: I started out deeply interested in physics and engineering. But during college, I had a medical emergency and associated bills which prompted me to nearly drop out. My surgeon stepped in and alleviated the costs so I could stay in school.

That experience fundamentally changed my trajectory, sparking a commitment to the humanitarian side of medicine.

It also took time to figure out how to combine engineering with medicine. I found that ophthalmology was the perfect intersection. There’s a strong foundation in optics and technology, and it’s one of the fastest fields for translating innovation into patient care. Restoring vision can have an immediate, life-changing impact.

 

Q: How does your background in engineering shape your research today?

A: My lab focuses on developing new optical imaging and laser technologies to better understand and treat eye disease. I started by building advanced microscopes during my PhD, and that work has evolved into a full-scale optics lab where we design both imaging systems and therapeutic platforms.

We’re not just observing disease, we’re creating entirely new ways to visualize and intervene, often at the cellular level, in living systems. That combination of physics, engineering and medicine is what drives our work.

 

Q: Can you describe one of your most promising innovations?

A: One major focus is glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness. All currently approved treatments aim to lower pressure inside the eye, but they can be invasive or ineffective for some patients.

We’ve developed a technology that allows us to see deep in the eye, even through non-transparent tissues, at cellular resolution. For the first time, we can directly and non-invasively visualize and measure how fluid flows through the eye’s drainage system.

What’s especially exciting is that we can then use this platform to deliver targeted laser therapy without incisions or invasive surgery. It’s essentially non-invasive, image-guided laser surgery. If successful in clinical trials, this could fundamentally change how we treat glaucoma.

 

Q: How do you move technologies like this from the lab to patients?

A: We pursue both academic and translational pathways. On one side, we conduct NIH-funded research and publish discoveries. On the other, we patent our technologies and launch spinout companies to bring them into clinical use.

The goal is always the same: to move innovations as quickly and safely as possible from the lab bench to patient care.

 

Q: Your work also contributed to a discovery about retinal neurons and blood vessels. What was significant about that?

A: That discovery came from combining advanced imaging with biological expertise. Our tools allow us to observe the living eye in 3D over time, capturing interactions between neurons and blood vessels with unprecedented detail.

In collaboration with Xin Duan, PhD, we used this capability to identify a previously unknown mechanism of neurovascular development. It’s a great example of how new tools enable collaboration and can unlock entirely new biology.

 

Q: There’s growing interest in the idea of the eye as a “window to the body.” What does that mean?

A: The eye is unique because it’s the only place in the body where we can directly visualize blood vessels and neural tissue non-invasively and with microscopic resolution. Historically, clinicians have used this qualitatively, for example, noticing signs of high blood pressure or diabetes.

Now, with advanced imaging and AI, we can quantify these signals. That means we can potentially detect or predict systemic diseases—like heart disease or stroke—just from an image of the eye.

This is part of a broader field called “oculomics,” where we use the eye as a platform for understanding whole-body health.

 

Q: What excites you most about the future of this work?

A: The combination of accessibility and precision. The eye is one of the best places in the body to both study disease and test new therapies. It’s often where major medical breakthroughs happen first including gene therapy, stem cell therapy, targeted biologics, and artificial intelligence.

Now, with advances in imaging, laser technology, and computation, we’re entering a phase where we can not only see disease in unprecedented detail, but also intervene with incredible precision.

 

Q: Why is UCSF and the Bay Area an ideal place for this research?

A: UCSF provides an outstanding clinical and research environment, with strong institutional support and a top-tier ophthalmology program.

Equally important is the Bay Area ecosystem. The culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration makes it possible to rapidly translate ideas into real-world solutions. That combination accelerates progress in a way that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.

 

Q: What impact do you hope your work will have?

A: If I can help cure even one or two forms of blindness in my career, that would be incredibly meaningful. And right now, it feels like that’s within reach.

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Research Spotlight: Advancing Glaucoma Care with Ying Han

Q: What first drew you to medicine, and eventually to ophthalmology and glaucoma research?

Medicine was always part of my life. My grandfather was a family physician, and that example created a strong tradition in our family. From an early age, I saw medicine as one of the most meaningful ways to help people. It’s a field where you can directly improve and even save lives.

When I chose a specialty, ophthalmology stood out because it offers a unique balance between clinical care and surgery. It also allows physicians to care for patients across the entire lifespan. In my clinic, I see children and older adults, sometimes following patients for many years as they grow and age. That long-term relationship with patients is incredibly rewarding.

Glaucoma, in particular, is fascinating because it combines clinical care, surgery, and research. There is tremendous opportunity to translate scientific discoveries into better treatments for patients.

 

Q: From your perspective, what are some of the biggest shifts happening in glaucoma research and care right now?

We’re currently in a very exciting period for glaucoma research and treatment.

One major shift is in how we think about preventing certain types of glaucoma. For example, emerging research suggests that earlier cataract surgery for patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma may help prevent the progression of the disease, which is responsible for a large proportion of blindness worldwide. That’s a significant change in how we think about managing risk.

At the same time, treatment options for open-angle glaucoma have expanded dramatically. In the past, we had a limited number of therapies. Now we have multiple minimally invasive glaucoma procedures and new laser approaches that allow us to control eye pressure while minimizing complications.

Overall, glaucoma is a great example of how research can move discoveries from the laboratory to patient care relatively quickly.

 

Q: What areas of glaucoma research are most exciting to you right now?

My research focuses largely on clinical studies aimed at improving both surgical outcomes and patient care.

One major project is a randomized clinical trial studying the best location for placing a drainage tube during glaucoma surgery. The tube helps lower eye pressure by draining fluid from the eye. Our study is examining how different placement strategies affect surrounding eye structures and long-term outcomes. We’re also conducting genomic analyses to better understand the biological responses that occur after surgery.

Another area of work focuses on improving how glaucoma care is delivered. For example, we recently published research showing that when optometrists trained in glaucoma care manage stable patients, ophthalmologists can focus on patients who need surgery or urgent treatment. This team-based approach can improve access to care.

We’re also studying how often patients truly need follow-up visits. Historically, follow-up intervals were largely based on expert opinion. We need robust data to determine the optimal follow-up intervals for glaucoma patients. Gaining this understanding could enhance care quality while improving patient access.

 

Q: How are emerging technologies like artificial intelligence shaping glaucoma research?

Artificial intelligence has enormous potential in glaucoma diagnosis and management.

Our team has been working on AI tools that can identify patients with narrow-angle anatomy, a type of glaucoma that can lead to sudden increases in eye pressure and rapid vision loss. AI could help screen patients earlier and identify those who are at the highest risk of developing serious disease.

More broadly, AI may help improve the accuracy and efficiency of glaucoma diagnosis and monitoring. There are also groups exploring how AI could assist with surgical planning and other aspects of care.

 

Q: You’re also studying virtual and remote testing for glaucoma. How could that change patient care?

A key test for glaucoma is the visual field exam, which measures a patient’s peripheral vision. Traditionally, this test is performed in a clinic using specialized equipment.

We’re studying new approaches that could allow patients to complete visual field testing outside the clinic. For example, some systems allow patients to perform tests online, while others use virtual-reality headsets to measure vision.

Our research is comparing these different approaches to determine which are most accurate and practical. If successful, these technologies could allow patients to monitor their disease from home or in a clinic waiting room, improving convenience and expanding access to care.

 

Q: Why is risk stratification so important in glaucoma care?

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, but it usually progresses slowly.

In fact, with appropriate care, about 75 percent of patients experience relatively stable disease or slow progression, while only a smaller group of patients experiences rapid deterioration.

That means it’s critical to identify the patients who are at the highest risk. If we can determine which patients are likely to progress quickly, we can monitor them more closely and intervene earlier. At the same time, stable patients may not need such intensive follow-up.

Better risk stratification helps ensure that patients receive the right level of care at the right time.

 

Q: What do you hope clinicians and researchers take away from your work?

First, I think this is an incredibly exciting time for glaucoma research. We have a real opportunity to prevent vision loss for many patients with the tools we have today, including new surgical approaches, to advanced imaging, and data analysis.

Second, I believe improving care delivery is just as important as developing new treatments. Team-based care models, smarter follow-up strategies, and better use of technology can all help ensure that patients receive timely and effective care.

 

Q: What makes UCSF uniquely positioned to lead in glaucoma research?

At UCSF, we benefit from a strong culture of collaboration across clinical specialties and research disciplines.

Our glaucoma team works closely with colleagues in retina, cornea, and uveitis, as well as with basic science researchers across the university. This environment allows us to study complex eye diseases from multiple perspectives.

We also treat a large number of complex cases, which provides important opportunities to identify new research questions and test innovative solutions.

 

Q: Looking ahead five years, where do you see UCSF leading nationally in glaucoma research?

Clinical trials will remain one of our greatest strengths. Through collaborations with groups like the Proctor Foundation, we are well positioned to conduct rigorous studies that answer critical clinical questions. These trials can directly influence how glaucoma is treated worldwide.

At the same time, UCSF has a strong basic science community that is exploring new approaches such as neuroprotection and nerve regeneration. Advances in these areas could eventually help preserve or even restore vision in patients with glaucoma.

Together, these efforts give us a real opportunity to shape the future of glaucoma care.

 

Image caption: Dr. Ying Han is a glaucoma specialist, surgeon, and researcher who aims to improve care through earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and stronger long-term support for patients at risk of vision loss.

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Q&A with Xin Duan, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, UCSF

Dr. Xin Duan’s lab is mapping one of biology’s most complex and least understood systems: how the eye communicates with the brain. Through pioneering tools and cross-disciplinary collaboration, his team is revealing how visual information travels and how those pathways might one day be repaired to restore sight. He recently received grant funding from Research to Prevent Blindness to support some of this work

 

Q: What questions are your lab focused on right now?

We have two major research directions.

The first is understanding how neurons in the eye respond to injury, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy or ischemia. We study how those retinal neurons react at the molecular and circuit levels, and we develop tools that other scientists can use to explore those processes in both mice and humans.

The second direction looks at how eye neurons communicate with brain neurons over long distances. This is still early, basic science, but it’s laying the foundation for understanding how visual information is encoded and transmitted to the brain.

 

Q: What kinds of tools are you developing to make this work possible?

Our lab builds and integrates four main categories of tools:

1. Genetic and viral tools to label and manipulate specific neurons in the eye or brain.

2. Electrophysiology, using sharp electrodes to record neural activity.

3. Imaging technologies that allow us to visualize many neurons simultaneously.

4. Connectivity mapping tools, which trace the precise neural links between the retina and the brain.

Recently, a former MD-PhD student in my lab created a genetically tractable tracer that lights up connected neurons in different colors, letting us see, for the first time, exactly which retinal neurons talk to which brain neurons. We’ve since combined that work with machine learning, so we can now map thousands of these connections at once. It’s giving us a panoramic wiring diagram from the eye to the brain.

 

Q: What could this mean for the future of vision restoration?

If we know precisely how each retinal neuron connects to its partner in the brain, we can start to think about repairing or even recreating those connections.

That could open the door to next-generation prosthetics or brain-machine interfaces that bypass damaged parts of the eye and deliver visual information directly to the brain. For example, if someone loses the ability to detect motion, we could stimulate the exact brain regions responsible for motion perception.

It’s still early. We’re working primarily in mice, but the goal is to bring back the first electrical signals between the eye and brain. Achieving that would be a major milestone for restoring vision.

 

Q: You collaborate widely across UCSF and beyond. Why is that integration so important?

For a long time, ophthalmology and neuroscience were somewhat separate. But advances in imaging, materials science, and AI have made it possible to bridge those worlds.

Here at UCSF, we’re surrounded by experts in neurology, physiology, and anatomy who understand the brain from different angles. We’re also close to engineering and biotech innovators at Berkeley, Stanford, and in the Bay Area. That environment, in addition to support from agencies like the NEI and Glaucoma Research Foundation, make it possible to pursue truly cross-disciplinary science.

Ultimately, repairing vision isn’t just an eye problem or a brain problem. It’s both.

 

Q: What do you hope this research will achieve in 10 years?

I’m hoping we can repair electrical pathways from the eye to the brain, using a combination of molecular, cellular, and imaging tools.

That’s the dream: to reestablish communication between the eye and brain in a living system, whether in non-human primates or human patients. We have the tools and the collaborations to make it possible. Now it’s a matter of time and persistence.

Image caption: “Neurons discovered in the Duan lab with unique neuroprotective functions in the eyes and regenerative abilities back to the brain (Image Credit: Matthew Lum)”