Biography: Manchima Makornwattana, MD
Associate Professor Manchima Makornwattana, M.D. graduated from Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand in 1995. After having completed her Ophthalmology Residency training at the same institution in 2001, where she also served as a Chief Resident, she completed the Clinical Glaucoma Fellowship and the Glaucoma Research Fellowship at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in 2004, under the directorship of Professor Robert Ritch, M.D. and Professor Jeffrey M Liebmann, M.D.
Dr. Makornwattana currently serves as an Assistant Rector for Planning, Thammasat University. She was Director of Ophthalmology department, Director of the Clinical Glaucoma Fellowship Training Program, the Director of the Ophthalmology Residency Training Program, the Director for Academic and International Affairs at the Department of Ophthalmology, Thammasat University Faculty of Medicine.
Dr. Makornwattana has been appointed Vice President of International Affairs at the Royal College of Ophthalmologist of Thailand (RCOPT), Secretary of the Subcommittee for Academic Affairs, and member of the Executive Committee for 18 consecutive years. She served as a Scientific Chairman of the Thai Glaucoma Society for 12 years and is currently the Co-Chief of International Affairs and member of the Executive Committee. She has been a member of APAO Women In Ophthalmology’s (WIO) Standing Committee since 2012. She was elected Expert Consultant in Ophthalmology for the Thai Food and Drug Administration from 2018-2022.
Dr. Makornwattana has authored a textbook to educate ophthalmologists, general practitioners, and practical nurses about glaucoma. She has also written many chapters and articles on the subject of glaucoma, ocular surface, advanced technology intraocular lens, and cataract in other textbooks. Additionally, she has published a book about glaucoma with the purpose of helping to promote public awareness and to prevent glaucoma blindness.
Dr. Makornwattana is a distinguished glaucoma and cataract specialist whose current major research interests includes angle closure glaucoma, factors related to intraocular pressure, surgical techniques, advanced technology in glaucoma diagnosis and surgery, Premium and advanced technology of intraocular lens and cataract surgery. She collaborated with an engineer to create an application for Glaucoma patients to increase patient-compliance and knowledge about their disease for further glaucoma-prevention. This innovation received a medal from the 47th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva and will be translated for global accessibility.
Dr. Makornwattana is regularly invited as a keynote speaker, a chair of conferences, a lecturer, and a course instructor at various scientific conferences in the field of glaucoma and cataract in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Dr. Makornwattana has regularly travelled to teach and transfer surgical skills related to cataract and glaucoma for more than 15 years to ophthalmologists, residents, fellows, and practical nurses in various countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and Vietnam. Alongside this, she has been invited as a visiting surgeon for the Hawaiian Eye Foundation to perform surgery for challenging cases consulted by local ophthalmologists at the aforementioned locations on an annual basis since 2014.
Dr. Makornwattana is the Co-Founder and President of AECOM (Asean Economic Community Ophthalmology Meeting) which consists of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. AECOM is a scientific meeting that fosters international relations between ophthalmic professionals within AEC countries to work towards improving patient care. This is accomplished through foreign exchange of doctors and nurses to provide collaborative education and training. Additionally, Dr. Makornwattana co-founded the Eye South East Asia Medical Journal (EyeSEA) to promote research activities and publications within member nations of AEC. Dr. Makornwattana also co-founded the AECOM Foundation, which works to raise funds and provide resources needed by patients within these countries.
