Ming Chen, MD, MSc, FACS, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the second consecutive year he has received this prestigious designation. The Castle Connolly Top Doctor recognition is awarded to only 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians each year, based on nominations from peer physicians and selection by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team. This rigorous selection process, detailed at castleconnolly.com, evaluates medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories, with doctors prohibited from paying for selection.
Dr. Chen, founder of Ming Chen, MD, INC in Honolulu, provides comprehensive ophthalmological services including eye exams, cataract and glaucoma care, and advanced eye surgery. His practice addresses primary ocular conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye disease, and refractive errors, while also managing complex cases including vitreoretinal diseases and blepharoptosis. The recognition reflects Dr. Chen's dedication to patient care, which he describes as beginning with genuine compassion for each patient's experience.
The ophthalmologist's specialized procedures include phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, endocyclophotocoagulation, limbal relaxing incisions, punctal plug insertion for dry eye, sutureless blepharoptosis repair, astigmatic keratotomy, and bimatoprost implant administration. These advanced techniques represent the cutting edge of ophthalmic surgical intervention, potentially improving patient outcomes and recovery times.
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Chen established the Ming Chen Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers a Scholarship for Modern Eyecare Education. His practice also maintains a multilingual staff fluent in English, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Mandarin, enhancing accessibility for diverse patient populations in Hawaii's multicultural community.
Dr. Chen's educational background includes a Doctor of Medicine from Zhong Shan Medical College in Taiwan, a research fellowship at the University of Illinois and Cook County Hospital, a general surgery residency at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and a four-year ophthalmology residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He further earned a Master of Science in Evidence-Based Practice (Ophthalmology) from the University of Teesside, UK, demonstrating his commitment to integrating research with clinical practice.
With 45 peer-reviewed publications in ophthalmology, Dr. Chen contributes significantly to medical literature while serving as Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. His leadership roles include former President of the Hawaii Ophthalmological Society and former Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Kuakini Hospital. He was recently honored as the 2025 Hawaii Mandarin Award recipient, adding to his professional distinctions.
The Castle Connolly Top Doctor designation carries implications for healthcare quality assurance, as it provides patients with independently verified information about physician qualifications. For the ophthalmology field specifically, Dr. Chen's recognition highlights the importance of specialized expertise in managing both common and complex eye conditions. The multilingual capabilities of his practice address healthcare accessibility challenges, while his foundation's educational scholarship supports the next generation of eye care professionals. This recognition reinforces the value of peer-reviewed excellence in medical practice and may influence patient decision-making when selecting specialized eye care providers.
