Leaders

In the realm of modern medicine, ophthalmology has transformed into a technologically advanced and digitally innovative area, merging precision with artificial intelligence to restore the gift of sight.

Introduce us to Dr Natasha Lim Eye Centre and its key areas of expertise.

I wanted to build an eye centre that would make a significant difference to the lives of patients seeking eye treatment. I had a clear vision of wanting to build an eye centre that has a team of caring, communicative and responsive doctors, optometrists and nurses, where medical or surgical treatment would deliver results that speak for themselves, and for the place to be self-sufficient with its own machines and equipment under one roof so that patients don’t have to travel between places for surgeries.

It certainly took a lot of motivation and purpose to pioneer a fully equipped and licensed private ophthalmic day surgery centre inside an eye clinic. Back then in 2012, it may have been considered unconventional, but today health care businesses are recognising that this concept is what patient wants, it is now widely accepted and copied for its patient-centric efficiency and innovation.

What key responsibilities do you shoulder within the medical institution?

As Medical Director, I oversee both medical and business operations, personally attending to patients, managing diagnoses and treatments, and leading a multidisciplinary team of optometrists, opticians, and nurses.

For our professional staff members, I will support their continuous professional education through sponsored full-time Advanced Diplomas or Bachelor of Science degrees.

We collaborate with local universities and polytechnics to enhance staff training and service quality, combining research-driven insights with practical development to ensure excellence in patient care and team advancement.

How do you balance professionalism with compassionate patient care?

To ensure patient satisfaction, I lay equal focus on professional knowledge and core interpersonal and empathetic skills. Beyond clinical expertise, I emphasize continuous soft skill development for myself and my team.

Professionalism, to me, lies in every detail, how we speak, write, and our body language. Excellent communication is a fundamental, non-negotiable clinical tool for the entire office. It directly impacts diagnostic accuracy, patient adherence to treatment and overall patient outcomes.

True patient satisfaction begins with excellent surgical outcomes and extends to attentive aftercare. We ensure that every patient feels supported throughout recovery, explaining each step clearly and staying accessible for any concern.

Whether it’s a major surgery or a minor issue, we would like every patient to leave feeling informed, cared for, and confident that they’ve received personalized, high-quality attention from a team that genuinely values their well-being.

Which professional milestones and guiding philosophy define your success?

In 2017, I was among the first in Singapore to introduce AI bladeless laser cataract surgery into private Day Surgery, transforming a manual, blade-based process into a safer and more precise experience that greatly improved patient outcomes.

In 2023, we achieved another technological breakthrough by adopting the new generation lenticule extraction refractive surgery system, SILK (Smooth Incision Lenticular Keratomileusis), a bladeless, flapless lenticule extraction laser platform offering faster visual recovery, reduced post-operative dry eyes, and higher precision through shortest pulse duration, extremely small spot size and digital encoder guided scanning system.

My success mantra is to deliver excellent surgical results while ensuring efficiency, patient satisfaction, and team motivation through education, growth, and recognition.

Dr Natasha Lim, Founder & Medical Director, Dr Natasha Lim Eye Care Centre

Dr Natasha Lim is the Founder and Medical Direc­tor of the Dr Natasha Lim Eye Centre, a renowned ophthalmic facility in Singapore that combines evi­dence-based laser technologies with tailored patient care. After earning her degree from the University of Nottingham, UK, and having received specialist training at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, UK, she made a move from a medical career in the Unit­ed Kingdom to become a Medical entrepreneur in Singapore, leading the way for the establishment of one of the first ophthalmic day surgery centres.