Professor Chandra Balaratnasingam, MBBS (Hons) PhD (Dist), FRANZCO

Professor Chandra Balaratnasingam is an experienced vitreoretinal surgeon with a broad scope of expertise that encompasses clinical excellence, innovative research and medical leadership.

Appointed Medical Director of the Lions Eye Institute in 2025, he is committed to advancing the Institute’s mission of providing world-class clinical care and promoting groundbreaking ophthalmic research. As a member of the Board of Directors, Professor Balaratnasingam also plays an integral role in guiding the strategic direction of the Institute, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of eye care and medical advancements.

Professor Balaratnasingam received his medical degree with Honours, and PhD with Distinction from The University of Western Australia. Following his specialist ophthalmology training in Western Australia, he undertook more than three years of post-fellowship sub-specialty training in medical and surgical diseases of the retina. His training included 15 months at the University of British Columbia (Canada), home to one of the busiest surgical retina services in North America, followed by two years with the Vitreous-Retina-Macular Consultants of New York and the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in the USA.

Upon completion of his fellowship training, Professor Balaratnasingam was appointed to the clinical faculty at New York University School of Medicine, where he served as a consultant vitreoretinal surgeon at Bellevue Hospital. After an impactful tenure in the USA, he returned to Australia in 2016 to continue his clinical and academic work at the Lions Eye Institute, where he remains deeply committed to advancing both patient outcomes and research initiatives.

A dedicated researcher, Professor Balaratnasingam leads several clinical and laboratory-based studies aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases. He is the Principal Investigator of the Perron Paediatric Retinopathy Initiative, a pioneering project focused on elevating the standard of eye care for children in Western Australia living with diabetes. This initiative is developing paradigm-shifting approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of retinal complications in paediatric diabetes.

With over 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 10 chapters in authoritative medical textbooks on retinal diseases, Professor Balaratnasingam is a recognised leader in his field. He serves on the editorial boards of esteemed journals, including Ophthalmology Science, Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, and Retinal Cases and Brief Reports, contributing to the shaping of future research in ophthalmology.

Professor Balaratnasingam’s approach to patient care is centred on his belief that every patient deserves the highest standard of treatment, informed by the latest research and technological advancements. Whether through cutting-edge therapies or personalised care, his focus remains on achieving the best possible outcomes for each patient.