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

At the 2025 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 HCPLive to discuss her experience at Envision 2025 and her expectations for the future of ophthalmology.

“Well, I’m a glaucoma specialist, so my views about clinical medicine really are about glaucoma,” Williams told HCPLive. “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.1

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.”

References

1. 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

2. 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.