HBI Deals+Insights / Interviews

What Europe can learn from Asia’s high-volume ophthalmology models — in conversation with Carl Zeiss Meditec

As demand for ophthalmic care continues to rise, health systems are facing increasing pressure to manage higher patient volumes while maintaining quality of care. New technologies, including digital workflows and artificial intelligence, are beginning to reshape how eye care is delivered.

Regional differences are also shaping how these changes unfold. In parts of Asia, rapidly growing patient numbers have pushed clinics and hospital groups to develop models designed to deliver care at scale.

Ahead of the Ophthalmology Community Summit at HBI 2026 in partnership with Carl Zeiss Meditec, HBI speaks to Ana Neves, Head of Global Strategic Marketing, and Michael Achtelik, Managing Director of Carl Zeiss Meditec about how digital workflows, interoperability and AI are influencing the development of ophthalmic care, and what Europe may be able to learn from developments in Asia, and vice versa.

HBI: What does personalised care look like today in ophthalmology?

Ana Neves: Standardisation, which means having consistent processes to ensure reliable outcomes, is no longer optional in ophthalmology.

With patient volumes increasing due to demographic changes, the growing prevalence of myopia, and improved diagnostics, clinics need more efficient ways to manage demand. Technology adoption and standardisation is the only way forward to manage this increasing demand, which leads to improved efficiency, error reduction, and more consistent outcomes. 

Once standardisation is firmly established, clinics can further refine their workflows to make them more efficient and adaptable. This progression leads to personalised medicine, or as I like to think of it, care that is truly tailored and predictive for each patient.

While the entire healthcare industry is marching down this path today, it is particularly evident in ophthalmology, with the eye being a relatively contained organ and with comprehensive workflows already well established in the market. These end-to-end workflows are key to enabling personalised care, supported by digital technologies that ensure connectivity, interoperability and cybersecurity. The ultimate goal is for data to move seamlessly across systems, tracking a patient’s journey from the first visit to follow-up and supporting better outcomes alongside a smoother, faster patient experience.

HBI: Could you share a case study from ZEISS that shows how innovations have enabled more personalised ophthalmic care? And how have these advances translated into measurable growth?

Neves: I believe personalised care will only continue to grow and further develop in ophthalmology. While this is being driven by practitioners, it’s important to recognise that patients are increasingly expecting more personalised treatment as well.

One example is the ZEISS AI IOL Calculator in our digital solutions portfolio. This data-driven tool allows for highly precise calculations to determine which intraocular lens (IOL) best fits a patient’s needs. This technology does not replace the doctor’s calculations but rather serves as another set of “AI eyes” on the calculations.

Precision is essential for achieving solid refractive outcomes, particularly when patients are paying out of pocket for a premium IOL and expect a high level of personalised care.

Another example is the ZEISS CIRRUS PathFinder, which uses AI-driven software trained by leading retina specialists worldwide. It can identify areas of interest in OCT images and indicate to physicians where deeper analysis might be warranted, tailoring the assessment to each individual’s eye.

HBI: Which are the fastest-growing Asian markets when it comes to ophthalmology? What practical models have worked best, and which of those could realistically translate into European systems?

Michael Achtelik: Asia is a large and very diverse region. While there has been strong growth in ophthalmology throughout the region, we currently see a few different dynamics at play. Some countries, like Vietnam or ASEAN countries, are leading in terms of overall market growth, while other countries, such as South Korea, have entered more mature stages in their markets. Current geopolitical and global economic conditions have increased the level of uncertainty in many markets, impacting consumer confidence and leading patients to be more selective in their spending on elective procedures or even to postpone them. 

We are also witnessing ongoing market consolidation in India, with major groups either forming or expanding. Positive economic developments in the country have been driving steady growth in the sector, creating a greater need for standardisation to manage high procedure volumes. In this context, the introduction of data-driven standardised processes, strongly supported by the implementation of digital workflow tools, can serve as an excellent example for European systems seeking to improve efficiency and optimise productivity. Hospital and clinic groups from India and China are certainly setting a benchmark in this regard.

HBI: Interoperability remains a challenge. How is ZEISS Medical Technology addressing integration between devices, EMRs and AI across different regulatory environments, and what is still holding back international scaling of AI diagnostics?

Achtelik: Interoperability is improving, but the progress has been slow. The key necessity remains clear: facilitate interfaces that can move relevant diagnostic and patient data seamlessly between devices and systems. This sounds simple, but it’s not. One problem is a level of reluctance on the manufacturer’s side, which is understandable given the fear of losing their competitive edge in the market. Additionally, the industry still needs stronger standards for data management. Without solving these issues, delivering high-quality care is at risk as healthcare demand grows.

AI has great potential in healthcare, but adoption is still limited due to regulatory hurdles and the need for advanced devices and infrastructure. As these barriers are addressed, we can expect faster deployment of AI applications across devices and the cloud, keeping pace with future innovations.

HBI: A closing question for both of you. What critical discussion points for your session, “Bridging continents: European and Asian strategies for standardising and scaling ophthalmology,” are you most interested in exploring further at HBI 2026?

Neves: In Asia, eye disease, particularly myopia, is highly prevalent, and patient volumes are enormous in some regions. I find it fascinating to learn how clinics and chains have been able to innovate and successfully address these challenges. Attendees can learn a lot from these experiences, which often emphasise service and patient satisfaction as drivers of standardisation and scaling. In Europe, medical treatments and clinic consolidation are highly advanced, though patient volumes are smaller. As the saying goes, “necessity drives ingenuity.” Europe can learn from Asia’s strategies, just as Asia can gain from Europe’s clinical and regulatory expertise.

Achtelik: I would like to better understand how we can drive stronger standardisation across the region, because it has been a real challenge for many European groups. I also look forward to discussions on how to move the needle on the next big thing: true personalisation of care. Individualised, predictive care is the ultimate goal, supported by research across ophthalmology and other disciplines like oncology. Without robust, clinically proven value in improving outcomes and quality of life, we risk falling short of this ambition.

 

The Ophthalmology Community Summit, held in partnership with Carl Zeiss Meditec, will feature a panel including Franz-Robert Klingan, Managing Partner at Bain & Company; Ana Neves, Head of Global Strategic Marketing at Carl Zeiss Meditec AG; Sebastian James, Group CEO of Veonet Group; Volker Wendel, Founder and CEO of Sanoptis; Elaine Zhang, Vice President at Aier Eye Hospital Group, China; and Paul Tomasic, Managing Director and European Head at Houlihan Lokey Inc.

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We would welcome your thoughts on this story. Email your views to Rakshitha Narasimhan or call 0207 183 3779.