Tueng T. Shen, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Shen is an associate professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Washington.  She also holds adjunct appointments in Bioengineering and Global Health. She is the Director of the Refractive Surgery Center at UW Medical Center. 

She specializes in refractive surgery, cataract surgeries, and medical and surgical management of corneal disorders. She also established this region's artificial cornea transplant program to treat severe corneal blindness.

Patient Care Philosophy
Dr. Shen is committed to delivering the best eye care possible by providing the most advanced treatment options and by developing better technologies to restore vision for patients with challenging corneal conditions. She strongly believes that patients deserve a physician who listens, keeps them well-informed and is a partner in accomplishing the best treatment plan customized to each patient's needs.

Scope Of Care
Refractive surgeries (laser and non-laser surgeries) to minimize refractive errors and reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses; cataract surgeries; corneal surgeries (PKP, DSEK, artificial cornea surgeries, conjunctival surgeries, stem cell transplant surgeries); and medical management of all areas of corneal diseases.

Personal Interests
She enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and expresses herself artistically through Chinese calligraphy, Chinese watercolor, photography and sculpture. She frequently donates her artwork to local communities and organizations in order to raise funds for vision care.

Clinical Interests
Dr. Shen's goal is to help patients achieve their best visual potential. She finds the severe corneal blind population to be especially challenging and rewarding. 

Treating end-stage corneal blindness patients through the UW artificial cornea program motivates her bench research in order to offer better clinical solution to our patients in need.

Research Interests
Dr. Shen's research group focuses on developing innovative solutions to treating global blindness by leveraging technological advancements in polymer sciences, microelectronics and modern imaging techniques.

Examples of specific projects include: developing the next generation of artificial cornea using advanced polymer research, microelectronic sensing technology for continuous wireless monitoring of the intraocular pressure, and a controlled intra-ocular drug delivery system to prevent post-operative infections in developing nations.

The lab collaborates broadly with engineering departments (bioengineering, electric engineering) and other departments with expertise in visual science research (such as biological structure).

Teaching Interests
She enjoys teaching residents in clinic, in the operating room and in the research lab. She also teaches medical students and engineering students (undergraduate and graduate) through lectures and research projects. She particularly enjoys introducing ophthalmic surgeries first-hand to medical students and engineering students. These surgeries allow engineers to understand the design criteria related to ophthalmological devices.

For undergraduate students interested in medicine, the lab offers a good opportunity to learn both the science/engineering and clinical aspects of ophthalmology.

Languages
Chinese, Dutch, English

Expertise
Eye Care (Ophthalmology), Refractive Surgery