Ruth D. Williams, MD

Looking Forward in Ophthalmology with Ruth Williams, MD

New York State Ophthalmological Society (NYSOS) Annual Meeting

, keynote speaker Ruth D. Williams, MD, former president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and current vice-chair of the Glaucoma Research Foundation, discussed the hidden costs of perfectionism among cataract surgeons, ophthalmologists, and medical clinicians at large. 

In an interview accompanying her session, Williams spoke with 

 to discuss her experience at Envision 2025 and her expectations for the future of 

“Well, I’m a glaucoma specialist, so my views about clinical medicine really are about glaucoma,” Williams told 

 “What’s extraordinary is [comparing] the tools that we had at the beginning of my career to treat glaucoma and the toolkit we have now, which is larger, more precise, and also expanding. And to me, that’s the exciting part.”

Tools such as contact lenses laden with nanomaterial, used to diagnose and treat glaucoma, have been developed in recent years. A review conducted on the devices has indicated their potential and the further advancements that may come as a result of them.

Williams emphasized the irreplaceable value of in-person conversations, highlighting that spontaneous, informal exchanges can spark some of the most thought-provoking ideas. She cited a recent conversation with leaders from the NYSOS discussing the adoption of artificial intelligence into triage, comparing the potential error rates to existing error rates in human triage.

“That’s my plug for in-person meetings because there’s so much learning content out there, but you can’t replicate having a conversation with people and sharing ideas,” Williams said.

Looking ahead, Williams explained the dramatic and continuing evolution of the glaucoma specialty field over the course of her career. From limited treatment options early on to today’s expanding toolkit—including a growing array of microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedures—she expressed excitement regarding the future of the specialty given how far it has come.

“The thing I love most about my career, other than the extraordinary people, is that there’s always so much to learn,” Williams said. “So, what am I looking forward to? Just getting more evidence base behind what we do in glaucoma and when to do what.”

Williams ended with a message to fellow ophthalmologists, acknowledging the mounting pressures they regularly face. She remains optimistic, noting that, regardless of the burden, treating and caring for patients holds enduring meaning and impact.

“There are a lot of pressures on us, especially now more than ever,” Williams said. “But I think what we do has so much deep value and meaning that even when it’s very hard, what we do is so important and inspiring, and we always find a way to navigate the challenges. So I think our future is bright.”

Baghban R, Talebnejad MR, Meshksar A, Heydari M, Khalili MR. Recent advancements in nanomaterial-laden contact lenses for diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, review and update. J Nanobiotechnology. 2023;21(1):402. Published 2023 Nov 2. doi:10.1186/s12951-023-02166-w

Williams RD. Cataract Surgery and the Hidden Costs of Perfectionism. Presented at the 2025 New York State Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting. May 16, 2025. New York, NY.

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Williams discusses her takeaways from the 2025 Envision conference and her expectations for the future of both ophthalmology and its practitioners.

Progress and Challenges Ahead in Glaucoma Care, With Ruth Williams, MD

Dealing with Perfectionism and Reaching Underrepresented Patients with Ruth Williams, MD

New York State Ophthalmological Society Envision annual meeting

, keynote speaker Ruth D. Williams, MD, former President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and current vice-chair of the Glaucoma Research Foundation, spoke on the hidden costs of perfectionism among cataract surgeons, ophthalmologists, and medical clinicians at large. She sat down with 

 at large and how to better reach patients who are unable to receive care.

“My personal view is that when you’re in a community, your job is to take care of the patients in the community and in that footprint, and sometimes that requires a lot of creativity,” Williams told 

. “Sometimes you don’t even know what your patients’ barriers are.”

Williams praised modern ophthalmology training programs, noting that today’s residents and fellows finish their studies with high competency. However, the ensuing decade is critical for refinement and mastery of skills. Peer support during this time is imperative to preventing isolation and encouraging further growth.

Additionally, Williams noted technological gains, both in education and in the operating room, as a driving force behind the expansion of ophthalmology in recent years. Improved intraocular lenses, surgical tools, and refined safety protocols all dramatically enhance surgical outcomes. These gains not only reflect individual clinician skill, but also industry’s contributions to the field and the broader ophthalmology community.

“We have really good data to back that up and we know what works,” Williams said. “I just think as a community, we’ve been refining over time what we’re providing to the public, and it’s really extraordinary what we can offer.”

Addressing access to care, Williams indicated persistent socioeconomic barriers that prevent patients from receiving timely treatment. Declining reimbursements and increasing overhead costs can result in the closure of clinics, while underrepresented groups cannot find the money or time to make an appointment. Williams advocates for a community-centered approach to healthcare delivery.

Previous studies have emphasized the importance of communication in reaching underrepresented populations as well. Research has suggested that a major cause of fewer healthcare visits, and therefore poorer outcomes, are a result of language barriers and communication breakdown.

Williams also suggests that diversifying the workforce can indicate for these communities that a practice is committed to them. Such diversity also affords a given practice a variety of benefits.

“Another thing you can do is have your workforce reflect the communities, and that is a win-win,” Williams said. “We in our practice have hired a lot of people from under resourced communities, and [they’re] amazing. First of all, many of them are bilingual and that’s added value. The second thing is that it provides a great job with health insurance and benefits to people who don’t necessarily have easy access to these kinds of jobs. They’re super proud and they stay a long time.”

Vidal GA, Chalela P, Curry AN, et al. Advancing Inclusive Research (AIR) Site Alliance: Facilitating the inclusion of historically underrepresented people in oncology and ophthalmology clinical research. Contemp Clin Trials. 2024;137:107416. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2023.107416

Williams discusses the complicated relationship between ophthalmologists and their work as well as the benefits and challenges of reaching out to underrepresented groups.

Ruth D. Williams, MD

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