What began as a detour from medicine led Brian Peng to discover a passion for optometry and myopia management. Now combining clinical practice with research and education, he also has technological innovation in his sights.
My path to optometry wasn’t a straight line. Growing up with parents who worked in healthcare, I initially set my sights on medicine. I was drawn to the idea of being a primary care provider and taking a leading role in patient treatment. But as often happens in life, things didn’t go quite as planned.
I ended up studying optometry at University of New South Wales (UNSW), graduating in 2020. At first, I wondered if I’d made the right choice. However, I quickly realised that optometry offered many of the aspects that had initially attracted me to medicine. It’s a field where you engage directly with patients, make important decisions, and solve complex problems. The more I learned, the more I realised there was to know, and so the more fascinated I became with the intricacies of eye care.
AN UNEXPECTED TURN
My intention as a student of optometry was to work in ocular disease – co-managing glaucoma or macular degeneration, for example. However, it was during my final year at UNSW that things took a fortuitous turn. For our mandatory research project, I was paired with a classmate to study environmental factors influencing myopia development. Our supervisor was the renowned researcher Dr Monica Jong.
For several reasons, I ended up tackling the project solo. Determined to prove myself, I poured all my energy into the work. This dedication paid off – my project took first place in the entire course. More importantly, it opened doors I never anticipated.
Dr Jong was impressed with my work and early into my career, asked me if I was interested in working with her at Johnson and Johnson Vision where, by that time she was working as Global Director of Professional Education, Myopia. As it was difficult to balance with my pre-existing work commitments, this led to an introduction to Dr Kate Gifford in Australia. Before I knew it, I was working remotely one day a week for Myopia Profile alongside my clinical practice.
BALANCING ACT
Today, I split my time between two roles. Four days a week, I work as an optometrist at OPSM Tuggerah on the NSW Central Coast, and was part of OPSM’s first Myopia Leaders Program. The remaining day is dedicated to my work with Myopia Profile, where I collaborate with Drs Kate and Paul Gifford on myopia research and education.
This balance allows me to maintain direct patient care while also engaging in the rapidly evolving field of myopia management. The opportunity to work with, and learn from such experienced, passionate, and influential leaders in the field, is something that I thrive on.
THE ALLURE OF MYOPIA MANAGEMENT
What fascinates me most about myopia management is its dynamic nature. It’s a field that’s evolving rapidly, with new research and treatment options emerging all the time. There’s still so much to learn and discover, which appeals to my curiosity and desire for continuous learning.
I’ve found that myopia management also satisfies another interest of mine – education. While I once considered becoming a teacher, I’ve discovered that optometry allows me to educate in a different way. Whether it’s explaining complex concepts to patients and parents, or sharing knowledge with fellow practitioners, I find great satisfaction in this aspect of my work.
LOOKING AHEAD
As I look to the future, I’m excited about the possibilities. In the next five to 10 years, I hope to increase my involvement with Myopia Profile.
Beyond that, I’m intrigued by the industry side of optometry. The rapid development of new products and technologies for myopia management is fascinating, and I’d love to be part of that innovation process.
My advice to new optometrists or those feeling stuck in their careers? Keep an open mind. My journey into myopia management was unplanned, but it’s become a passion that drives me professionally. Don’t be afraid to explore different aspects of optometry – you never know where it might lead you.
In the end, optometry has given me everything I was looking for in a career: the ability to help people directly, engage in cutting-edge research, and continually learn and grow. It may not have been my initial plan, but I couldn’t be happier with where this path has taken me.
Brian Peng graduated with a Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Clinical Optometry from University of New South Wales in 2020. He practises as an optometrist with OPSM on the NSW Central Coast and is an Educational Content Developer with Myopia Profile.
