- TFOS Ambassadors
Japan
Shizuka Koh
Shizuka Koh, MD, PhD is Associate Professor of Innovative Visual Science at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine (Japan). After earning her MD, she pursued her long-standing interest in corneal and ocular surface diseases and their impact on visual function. At a time when few studies examined how dry eye affects vision, she pioneered quantitative approaches to objectively demonstrate the decline in visual quality caused by tear film instability during her PhD studies. This work laid the foundation for incorporating “visual disturbance” into the modern global definition of dry eye disease.
During her fellowship at the University of Rochester Eye Institute in the United States, Dr. Koh expanded this line of inquiry through multidisciplinary translational research on tear film dynamics and optical quality. She developed a novel measurement system combining wavefront sensing and optical coherence tomography to assess tear film behavior in vivo. She was also involved in customized vision correction research using advanced optical technologies, including wavefront-guided contact lenses and laser refractive surgery.
Her academic and clinical work now spans the full spectrum of corneal and ocular surface health, including dry eye, keratoconus, corneal imaging, and contact lenses. She has authored over 160 peer-reviewed papers and several book chapters, advancing understanding of tear film physiology, optical quality, and ocular surface pathophysiology. Her pioneering clinical applications of optical quality assessment and tear film analysis have helped bridge basic research and clinical practice.
Dr. Koh has received numerous honors, including the Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (2018), the Johnson & Johnson Contact Lens Research Award (2014), and the Alcon Japan Clinical Award (2006). She serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Japan Contact Lens Society, Associate Editor of Eye & Contact Lens, and sits on the Editorial Boards of Eye and the Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology. She has also served on the Annual Meeting Program Committee for ARVO (2021–2024). She has served as President of the Japan Contact Lens Society since January 2026.
Her international and interdisciplinary vision is to foster collaboration among clinicians, basic scientists, vision researchers, and optical and biomedical engineers, translating innovations in optics, biology, and materials science into improved vision and eye care. Beyond tear film and dry eye, she actively engages in global research and educational collaborations related to ocular surface and corneal diseases, appropriate refractive correction, and contact lenses. Through these diverse partnerships, she strives to connect laboratory discoveries with real-world patient outcomes, advancing both scientific understanding and clinical excellence.
She is also committed to education and outreach, organizing seminars and public lectures to raise awareness of ocular surface and corneal diseases, appropriate refractive correction, and contact lens safety. Her efforts focus on promoting evidence-based practice and reducing disparities in eye care, particularly across Asia. By mentoring young clinicians and researchers, she encourages the next generation to pursue ocular surface and visual science with curiosity and compassion. She has been invited to deliver numerous lectures in Japan and internationally, sharing her expertise and passion for integrating optical science into clinical ophthalmology.
As a TFOS Global Ambassador, Dr. Koh aims to strengthen international communication and education in the field of ocular surface health, facilitate scientific exchange between Asia and the global community, and promote awareness of tear film-related and corneal diseases among clinicians, patients, and the general public.
Outside of work, Dr. Koh enjoys traveling and playing music—particularly the hammered dulcimer, an instrument she learned during her fellowship in Rochester. She also has a deep affection for mille-feuille, a dessert she seeks out wherever she travels. To her, its delicate, layered structure mirrors the beauty and complexity of the tear film and corneal layers she studies—a reminder that both art and science reveal their true elegance through harmony among layers.
