With over two decades of practice, Dr Nguyen Thi Mai, Head of the Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department at FV Hospital, has helped tens of thousands of patients regain the “wealth” many take for granted: the ability to see.

“Lighting up” tens of thousands of eyes

“My grandparents used to say, ‘Richness lies in having two healthy eyes,’ and they were right—having healthy, beautiful eyes is truly invaluable. I am genuinely happy and fulfilled to have helped many patients regain their eyesight over the course of my career,” said Dr Nguyen Thi Mai, Head of the Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department at FV Hospital, as we begin our heartfelt conversation.

After nearly three decades working in the medical profession, performing thousands of surgeries alongside her colleagues, few would have guessed that Dr Nguyen Thi Mai was once afraid of needles and the sight of blood.

“As a child, whenever I saw doctors saving lives or using stethoscopes to examine patients, I greatly admired them because they brought a sense of security, care, and protection. My mother worked at a clinic, and I aspired to follow in her footsteps. It wasn’t until I passed the medical school entrance exam that I realised I would have to wield a scalpel. As someone who was afraid of blood and needles, I was quite overwhelmed,” recalled Dr Mai.

However, her determination to pursue medicine and the desire to heal patients motivated the young doctor to overcome her initial fears. Pursuing Ophthalmology as a specialty was not coincidental but her goal from the time she chose to study medicine.

Recalling her childhood memories, Dr Thi Mai remembers numerous days accompanying her grandmother in search of doctors to treat her eyes that had been injured by a piece of shattered glass. The experience of witnessing her grandmother’s hopes rise each time a renowned eye doctor was recommended, only to be disappointed by the lack of improvement in her eyesight, left a lasting impression.

“Whenever we heard about a skilled eye doctor, my grandmother would seek them out, but due to the limitations of medical technology at the time, her eye condition remained unhealed. Seeing my grandmother fumbling around in darkness only fuelled my motivation to study medicine and specialise in Ophthalmology,” recounted Dr Mai.

More than anyone, Dr Mai understands the importance of advanced techniques in ophthalmic treatment for visual recovery. As Head of Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery at FV Hospital, she collaborates with the hospital’s Medical Board to constantly offer the latest, most advanced techniques to provide multiple treatment options for patients.

“If there is a new technique that can help more patients, I will find a way to bring it to Vietnam,” shared Dr Mai. Thanks to her tireless efforts, FV Hospital now offers a wide range of the latest refractive surgery options, tailored to each patient’s needs.

The Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department at FV Hospital is recognised as one of the leading ophthalmic treatment facilities in Vietnam.

Dr Mai’s Myopia Control Project: Passionately working to improve vision for the community

Dr Nguyen Thi Mai has mastered advanced techniques to bring many modern treatment methods from around the world to her clinic in Vietnam. She also wants to ensure that people know how to protect their vision from an early age. She expressed concern that many people still do not pay adequate attention to their eye health, only seeking medical attention when their vision is significantly affected or worsens dramatically.

“People often overlook regular eye check-ups or ignore minor symptoms, preferring to self-treat using information found online and only seek medical help when the condition becomes severe. However, the desire to quickly recover often leads to added pressure on both the patient and the treating physician,” Dr Mai shared, expressing her concern.

As FV’s Head of Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery, Dr Mai is developing plans to implement educational programmes on vision protection, screening, and controlling myopia in school-age children and their parents. Her Department at FV Hospital is also one of the few units implementing programmes to treat refractive errors — a condition affecting nearly three million children in Vietnam.

The prevalence of myopia and hyperopia among children in Vietnam is increasing without receiving sufficient attention, posing a threat to their vision in adulthood. Many patients have severe refractive errors that cannot be treated with surgery, leading to more serious conditions such as retinal detachment, making treatment more challenging.

Dr Mai is concerned about the increasing number of paediatric patients undergoing refractive error treatment at the hospital as a result of their parents not paying proper attention to their eye health.

“With easy access to the internet, people are exposed to various streams of information. Medical information, which should be accurate and reliable, is often mixed with misinformation, which has the potential to significantly and negatively affect health. I want to build channels for sharing accurate scientific information, helping parents and patients access reliable sources,” Dr Mai said, explaining her dedication to the myopia control project that she and her colleagues in the Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department are diligently working on. With early screening and preventive measures for myopia, future generations will grow up with healthy eyes.

“Eyes are also a great asset for everyone. Preserving the ‘wealth’ of our eyes will help protect our livelihoods and quality of life in every way,” Dr Mai emphasised.

“Once a dream, I can now direct my passion into treating patients at FV’s trusted, technologically advanced Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department.”

Eight years ago, Dr Nguyen Thi Mai left her position at a specialist eye hospital to join FV Hospital with high expectations of being able to do more for patients in a professional environment with standardised processes and access to leading-edge technology and treatment techniques.

“Working for FV was a pivotal decision in my career. Even before joining the team here, I had heard about the hospital’s reputation from colleagues. When I became Head of the Eye Department, I was always impressed by the professionalism and precision of work here. FV is a truly an international-quality hospital, not just in name,” Dr Mai affirmed.

As someone who constantly seeks new solutions and relentlessly introduces leading ophthalmic treatment techniques to Vietnam, Dr Mai often likened her move to FV as “a fish finding water.” Here, she found resonance in the hospital Board’s vision to develop the unit, a professional and progressive work environment, and opportunities for learning and career advancement.

Dr Nguyen Thi Mai and her team have contributed to the success of the Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department at FV Hospital.

Do Trong Khanh, MD, PhD, Medical Director of FV Hospital, shared his assessment of Dr Mai: “Not only does Dr Mai possess excellent professional competence, but she is also a skilled department head who knows how to ensure top-tier doctors with strong personalities work harmoniously for optimal patient outcomes across the Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department.”

According to the Medical Director of FV Hospital, throughout her journey of accompanying and building the Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department, Dr Nguyen Thi Mai has contributed to creating an “ecosystem” of eye care, placing her Department among the top providers in Vietnam for the advanced techniques and modern facilities offered here.

“I am completely confident in the capabilities of the Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department at FV Hospital — a unit capable of handling the same treatments as a dedicated ophthalmic hospital. All of this is the result of collective effort and dedication to making ongoing progress, with Dr Mai leading the way,” emphasised Dr Do Trong Khanh.

When asked about the Department’s achievements, Dr Mai enthusiastically shared that her team has introduced many new treatment advancements to Vietnam, such as the latest applications of Lasik, Femtosecond Lasik, CLEAR, Ortho-K, and SmartSurfACE.

The Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department at FV Hospital is also affiliated with many world-leading ophthalmologists, including Dr Donald Tan, who is ranked third on the list of the 100 most influential ophthalmologists globally. Dr Tan is renowned for his ability to restore sight in cases deemed hopeless by other surgeons through corneal transplantation.

FV’s Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department is the only unit in Vietnam linked to a cornea bank in the United States, which helps to solve the problem of corneal shortages in the treatment of eye diseases for local patients. Even if Dr Mai is not the doctor wielding the scalpel, she supports patients and their families in getting the best possible care and on their recovery journey.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, Dr Mai’s Medical Secretary, recalls a corneal transplantation performed by Dr Donald Tan with Dr Mai’s assistance.

“At the moment when the bandage was removed, the patient, who was only 15 years old at the time, could see again. Not only did her mother cry tears of joy, but Dr Mai also shed tears of happiness for the family. That moment was one of many instances where I witnessed Dr Mai’s dedication and empathy.”

Speaking to the ongoing projects for her department, Dr Mai mentioned her support for FV’s plan to provide various workshops and international training programmes to help develop her colleagues’ professional capabilities. Dr Mai expressed her confidence in the younger generation as her successors, believing they are capable and passionate enough to continue developing the Ophthalmology & Refractive Surgery Department of FV.