- TFOS Ambassadors
Japan
Tomo Suzuki
Dr. Tomo Suzuki is Chief of Ophthalmology at Kyoto City Hospital and Clinical Professor at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. A clinician–scientist, she has devoted her career to understanding the meibomian glands and ocular surface in both health and disease, integrating patient care with translational research and the mentorship of younger ophthalmologists.
Her interest in the ocular surface began during her PhD training in Kyoto, where she studied conjunctival epithelial damage in dry eye and investigated the role of meibomian gland inflammation in corneal disease such as phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis (PK). This early work led her to propose that meibomitis caused by Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) could be a key driver of ocular surface inflammation, a concept that shaped the direction of her later research. Motivated by the observation that conditions such as PK were more common in young women, she became intrigued by the role of sex hormones in regulating meibomian gland physiology. To pursue this, she trained for five years at the Schepens Eye Research Institute at Harvard Medical School, where she worked under Dr. David Sullivan on pioneering studies of androgen and estrogen effects on the meibomian and lacrimal glands. These investigations provided foundational insights into the hormonal regulation of the ocular surface.
After returning to Japan, Dr. Suzuki expanded her research into new conceptual frameworks and clinical observations. She introduced the concept of meibomitis-related keratoconjunctivitis (MRKC), reframing inflammatory changes of the meibomian glands and ocular surface as a distinct clinical entity. This idea was later broadened by showing that pediatric ocular rosacea, PK, and pediatric blepharokeratoconjunctivitis can be understood within the same spectrum as MRKC. By unifying these entities, she encouraged clinicians to recognize underlying meibomian gland inflammation and host–microbe interactions rather than treating them as isolated disorders.
Her subsequent studies highlighted cyclical changes in meibomian gland function and lipid composition related to hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, providing a biological explanation for sex-linked variations in ocular symptoms. She also described how age-related alterations in meibum lipid profiles contribute to meibomian gland dysfunction and ocular surface instability, work that helped define the lipidomic basis of these disorders.
Dr. Suzuki has also been at the forefront of ocular microbiome research. She has shown that commensal organisms such as Cutibacterium acnes may play dual roles in health and disease, potentially contributing to corneal infiltrates in PK and granuloma formation in chalazion. Her team also compared microbiome profiles of the eyelid skin, conjunctiva, and meibum in younger and older adults, revealing age-related shifts in bacterial communities. These findings challenged the long-standing belief that the ocular surface is nearly sterile and emphasized the dynamic interplay between microbes, lipids, and host immunity.
To integrate these diverse observations, Dr. Suzuki proposed the concept of the meibomian glands and ocular surface (MOS) as a unified system. This framework highlights how lipid metabolism, hormonal signaling, and microbial ecology converge to maintain ocular surface health or drive disease. Most recently, her group identified an intracrine mechanism within the meibomian glands, suggesting that local steroid production may be critical for gland function and pointing toward novel therapeutic strategies.
Throughout her career, Dr. Suzuki has remained active as both a surgeon and scientist. She continues to perform cataract and ocular surface procedures while pursuing translational projects aimed at developing better treatments for meibomian gland dysfunction, MRKC, and related diseases. She has shared these findings through international conferences, collaborative networks, and TFOS initiatives.
As a TFOS Ambassador, Dr. Suzuki is committed to advancing global understanding of ocular surface health. Her work exemplifies the integration of clinical insight, experimental research, and international collaboration—all directed toward improving the lives of patients with ocular surface disease worldwide.
