Chair's Message

Dr. Edsel Ing

WELCOME to the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the University of Alberta. Our inspiration is “sapientia et lux omnibus”. We hope to provide wisdom and shed light on your vision problem through excellence in clinical care, education, and research.

CLINICAL CARE: We are committed to the respectful, integrated, quality ophthalmic care and well-being of our patients, communities, and colleagues. Our dedicated team of 43 surgeons, 16 residents and fellows, nurses, technicians, researchers, and staff have expertise in the ophthalmic specialties of Cataract Surgery, Retina, Cornea, Glaucoma, Pediatrics, Strabismus, Neuro-ophthalmology, Oculoplastics, Orbit & Thyroid Orbital Disease, Ocular Oncology, Ophthalmic Pathology and Vision Rehabilitation. Our staff are located at the Eye Institute of Alberta-Royal Alexandra Hospital, the Stollery Children’s Hospital, the Katz Building, the Westview Health Centre, the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital, numerous linked private offices, and secondary surgical facilities.

We strive for equity, diversity, and inclusion, (EDI) for our patients and community. As the referral centre for 3 million citizens in Edmonton, northern Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon we care for many patients from marginalized backgrounds. We participate in global health missions and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society Working Group for EDI. More than a third of our physicians are women or from a visible minority.

EDUCATION: We prioritize the teaching and leadership growth of our trainees and the continuing education and professional development of physicians in Alberta and globally. Two of our physicians have a master of education. Over the past 75 years, we have graduated 105 ophthalmologists that serve patients and communities in diverse regions.

RESEARCH: We embrace a culture of discovery and collaboration to promote innovation and sustainable healthcare solutions and community health. Our Vision Research Program with one full-time PhD vision scientist and three physician ocular geneticists, plus links to the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, and other partners empowers ophthalmic research. Two of our clinical staff have research MScs, four have a master of public health, and four have combined MD-PhDs. Our faculty have published 768 peer-reviewed articles on Scopus.

THANK YOU for entrusting your eye care to us. Our patients are our raison d'être. Also I am grateful to our staff and their families who give so much of themselves so that we can care for you. Finally, I very much appreciate the support of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, AMAN Builders, Bayer, Cal Nichols, Norman Rousseau, Denny Andrews, Stephen & Lynn Mandel, Bernice Bartlett, Patricia Ann Peat, Edwin Clarke, Reg Martiniuk, Alberta Odd Fellow Rebekah, and our other donors and partners who champion our clinical care, education, and research efforts.


Edsel Ing MD PhD FRCSC DABO MPH CPH MIAD MEd MBA
Chair, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Alberta
Chief, Edmonton Zone Section, Ophthalmology, Alberta Health Services
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology Research

If you have suggestions or concerns, please contact us at ovsadmin@ualberta.ca