When Alison takes a break from her busy schedule, she still loves to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning, play with her children, and watch the sunset. After work, on the way home, I appreciate the beauty of nature: "a way of recharging my soul."

Alison feels very satisfied with her work.

Every time I see Dr. Alison Chiu, this ophthalmologist is always smiling. I said to Alison, "When you smile, your eyes sparkle. It seems like you can laugh."

"Yes, I am a person who loves to laugh. When faced with a day's hard work, it is best to complete it one by one with a smile." Alison has the ability to "command troops with laughter."

Patients who come to see her will believe that no matter whether it is cataract surgery or surgery related to refractive vision, Alison can solve all the problems. When Alison smiles and says to the patient, "No worries," the patient should believe: there is really no need to worry.

From the parents

Alison, an outstanding ophthalmologist based in Sydney, said that her success today started with her parents: "My Chinese father taught me the importance of a strong work ethic, a deep sense of humility, and that everyone should be treated as equals. He is also a deeply pragmatic man, and that grounded mindset shaped me early on."

"My mother was Irish. She had fiery red hair, deep blue eyes and a big smile. She was gentle, smart and serious about her work."

Alison said: "That combination gave me a foundation of grit and determination, combined with an ability to talk and connect with almost anyone."

Alison has all the advantages of her parents. She said that her grades were not excellent when she was in middle school. "But everything changed when I went to college." Alison, who is shy by nature, rarely socializes and spends all her time on books. "being tucked away in the library suited me perfectly."

Dr. Alison Chiu in the radiology room.

Harmonious family and successful career

In Australia, Alison has become a mother and has multiple responsibilities: "Children are always the top priority. I try my best to pick them up and drop them off at school. But often due to work, my nanny has to help. I am not a strict parent. I want my children to enjoy their childhood, but also grow into kind and responsible humans."

"I am to be firm but fair, and to create a peaceful, calm home."

This specialist doctor has to prepare dinner for the family when he gets home from get off work. After the children go to bed, she has to take out her laptop and continue working: writing lectures, planning surgeries, managing business development, organizing work travel. 24 hours in a day are not enough.

With this simple belief: "To keep things running smoothly", Alison has achieved family harmony and career success. Not easy at all.

In order to strike a balance between family and work, Alison reduced her work in the clinic and her lectures at the university.

Alison feels very satisfied with her work: "Helping people with their sight and restoring vision is a privilege, and my work brings me immense purpose and satisfaction."

The best surgeon

When you walk into Alison's clinic, you'll notice that everything is well organized. Agree with Alison: "My theater team is exceptional. Our atmosphere is calm, focused, and respectful. Building that team has taken time, but it's been worth it."

"My clinic team is talented and hardworking, and I want them to feel appreciated and valued."

"The best surgeons aren't just technically skilled-they're great communicators who stay composed when things don't go to plan."

Alison also went to Stuttgart, Germany, to try her hand at racing, fulfilling her childhood dream.

Take a break from your busy schedule

Alison said she likes to be busy: "I enjoy being busy-it keeps me energised, focused, and moving forward."

When Alison takes a break from her busy schedule, she still loves to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning, play with her children, and watch the sunset. After work, on the way home, I appreciate the beauty of nature: "a way of recharging my soul."

Alison also went to Stuttgart, Germany, to try her hand at racing on a racetrack "to fulfill a childhood dream".

"My passion for sports cars helps me reconnect with a simpler, joyful side of myself. It's a hobby that brings me exhilaration, and reminds me of the importance of taking time for personal enjoyment, no matter how busy life gets."

Postscript

Dr. Alison Chiu mentioned IOL to me, and seeing that I didn’t quite understand what it meant, she gave me an explanation:

"New intraocular lens (IOL) technologies are evolving rapidly-taking existing platforms and enhancing the optics to give patients a broader range of vision. Traditionally, greater freedom from glasses came with significant visual compromises, but these next-generation lenses aim to change that. Whether it's replacing a cataract or dysfunctional natural lens, or an implantable contact lens (ICL) for younger patients without cataracts, the innovation is exciting. I was honored to be the first surgeon in Australia / New Zealand to implant this new lens for younger patients—and one of only three with early access—so we can build experience and help guide future adoption. Sharing information and expertise is a two way street and I was fortunate to receive guidance from surgeons in Asia for this first implantation.”