1. TFOS Ambassadors

Thailand

Kaevalin Lekhanont

Dr. Kaevalin Lekhanont is Professor of Ophthalmology at Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. She is an internationally recognized clinician-scientist with expertise in ocular surface disease, corneal infection, and corneal transplantation, including anterior lamellar keratoplasty and endothelial keratoplasty. Her career embodies clinical excellence, academic scholarship, and leadership in international ophthalmology.
 
Dr. Lekhanont earned her medical degree with first class honors from the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. She completed her residency training in ophthalmology at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, and pursued fellowship training in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, as well as the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
 
Clinically, Dr. Lekhanont is recognized for her proficiency in the management of ocular surface disorders, corneal infections, and corneal transplantation. She has mastered both traditional and selective transplantation techniques, including anterior lamellar keratoplasty and endothelial keratoplasty, thereby expanding treatment options and improving outcomes for patients with complex, vision-threatening corneal disease.
 
Her research portfolio reflects a sustained commitment to addressing major challenges in ophthalmology. She has conducted influential studies on the prevalence of dry eye disease, investigated both infectious and non-infectious corneal ulcers, and explored novel therapies such as biological tear substitutes for ocular surface disorders. Her published work on Boston keratoprosthesis outcomes, as well as on Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty, highlights her role in translating clinical innovation into practice.
 
To date, Dr. Lekhanont has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed international publications, along with review articles and a book chapter on permanent keratoprostheses in Corneal Surgery: Theory, Technique and Tissue (Mosby, 4th edition, 2009). Her contributions have significantly advanced evidence-based management of corneal and ocular surface diseases.
 
Her achievements have been recognized through multiple distinguished awards. Early in her career, she received the SERI-ARVO Travel Grant Award (2005), which provided international recognition of her research potential. She later earned the prestigious Cornea Society Troutman Award in 2012, one of the highest honors in the subspecialty. In 2015, she received the Young Researcher Award from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand, underscoring her status as one of the nation’s leading ophthalmic academics.
 
Beyond research and clinical practice, Dr. Lekhanont has played an active role in international ophthalmology societies. Since 2013, she has served as a committee member of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) Young Investigator group. She was also a member of the Epidemiology Subcommittee for TFOS Dry Eye Workshop II (DEWS II), published in 2017, which continues to serve as a foundational reference in the field. Since 2016, she has been the TFOS Ambassador of Thailand, promoting collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge across regions. More recently, she has joined the TFOS Societal Challenges Subcommittee for the Lifestyle Workshop in 2021. Her leadership also extends to regional professional organizations. In 2022, she was appointed Secretary of the Asia Cornea Society (ACS) Organizing Committee.
 
In addition, Dr. Lekhanont contributes extensively to academic publishing. She is Associate Editor of BMC Ophthalmology and serves as a peer reviewer for numerous leading journals, including The Ocular Surface, Cornea, Journal of Refractive Surgery, Journal of Ophthalmology, Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seminars in Ophthalmology, Case Reports in Ophthalmology, Scientific Reports, Plos One, and Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy. She also reviews manuscripts for several major Thai journals. These editorial and reviewer responsibilities underscore her commitment to maintaining scientific rigor and advancing ophthalmic research globally.
 
Through her roles as clinician, researcher, educator, and leader, Dr. Kaevalin Lekhanont continues to advance the field of ophthalmology, mentor the next generation of specialists, and contribute to the improvement of patient care at both national and international levels.