Power in Action! Dongguan Aier Refractive Experts Team Shines at 2026 “Light of the Sea” Awards, Winning Multiple Honors

From January 8 to 10, 2026, the 2026 “Light of the Sea” Academic Conference on Ophthalmology, Optometry, and Visual Science, the 2026 Visual Science Technology and Equipment Exhibition, and the 14th “Myopia Care · Smile Forum” grandly commenced in Shanghai, China. Experts and scholars from around the world gathered to focus on eye health issues across the entire lifespan, striving to inject new momentum into the fields of ophthalmology, optometry, and visual science through multidimensional, in-depth discussions and exchanges.

The refractive team from Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital was invited to attend this prestigious event. Representing the hospital were Dr. Liu Fei, Regional Director of Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital, along with Dr. Chen Xiaobei, Director of the Refractive Department, and Dr. Yin Na, Deputy Director. The team actively participated in multiple core academic sessions. Leveraging their solid professional expertise and cutting-edge clinical insights, they made a strong academic statement on the national stage alongside elite ophthalmologists, showcasing the hospital's leading technological capabilities and outstanding industry influence in the field of refractive diagnostics and treatment.

Dongguan's Strong Voice

Leading Discussions on Cutting-Edge Technology and Clinical Practice

The robotic SMILE pro technology represents an upgrade to the classic SMILE technique. With its core highlights of “ultra-fast,” “intelligent,” and “greater safety,” it propels refractive surgery into a new era of intelligent advancement, leading the next generation of minimally invasive SMILE technology. To date, China has surpassed 40,000 SMILE pro procedures. Among these, Aier Eye Hospital Group has cumulatively performed 10,000 surgeries, earning the “Breakthrough Contribution Award for China's Ophthalmic Hospital Groups” through its leading advantage. This signifies that one in every four SMILE pro surgeries in China is conducted at Aier Eye Hospital.

As one of the first 60 hospitals nationwide to install the technology and the medical institution that successfully performed the nation's first and Dongguan's inaugural robotic SMILE pro procedure, the Dongguan Aier Refractive Team has accumulated solid and extensive clinical experience and profound insights in this field, forming a uniquely valuable practical knowledge system. These invaluable experiences, derived from frontline surgeries and long-term follow-ups, have also translated into the team's professional influence and academic leadership within the industry.

Consequently, during the conference's cutting-edge forums and workshops, Dongguan Aier's refractive team—represented by Director Liu Fei and Director Chen Xiaobei—actively participated and shared insights. They not only presented their unique observations and reflections on SMILE pro clinical applications but also demonstrated the team's profound academic foundation and professional expertise, underpinned by pioneering practices that drive industry advancement.

President Liu Fei Shares Valuable Insights

At the SMILE pro Symposium hosted by Aier Eye Hospital Group, President Liu Fei participated as a panelist in a roundtable discussion. Joined by leading experts in refractive surgery from across China, the session focused on the critical topic of “Regional Collaboration for Scaling Operations.” Participants engaged in in-depth exchanges regarding the latest clinical research findings, operational protocols, and quality control standards for this procedure.

During the symposium, Dr. Liu Fei analyzed the clinical advantages of SMILE pro technology, emphasizing its “ultra-fast,” “intelligent,” and ‘safer’ characteristics that deliver superior visual outcomes for patients. He also explored how regional collaboration and technology promotion can standardize the widespread adoption of this technique under the “Regional Collaboration for Scaling Up” framework, enabling more people to benefit from high-definition visual experiences.

Advancing Technological Accessibility: Director Chen Xiaobei Contributes Insights for Industry Development

As an industry leader and pioneer in robotic SMILE pro technology, Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital has leveraged its extensive clinical expertise and continuous cutting-edge exploration to achieve systematic research and practical outcomes in the technology's clinical application, standardized operational procedures, and personalized treatment pathway planning.

Director Chen Xiaobei was invited as a panelist at the “High-Quality Development Forum for the New Generation Robot-Assisted SMILE Pro™ Minimally Invasive Surgery.” She engaged in in-depth discussions with multiple authoritative experts on standardized implementation pathways and high-quality development strategies for this technology. She systematically shared our hospital's practical experience as one of the first nationwide to successfully implement this technology. Using clinical cases, she elaborated on implementation methods and innovative approaches to promote technical standardization and precision diagnosis/treatment, contributing practical insights to advance intelligent development and overall quality enhancement in refractive surgery.

Honors Abound

Outstanding Contributions & Professional Services Recognized by the Industry

During the conference's achievements presentation and awards ceremony, China's latest breakthroughs in SMILE technology and high-quality refractive surgery development were showcased. Representative teams and individuals driving clinical quality and scale expansion within the industry were honored. Our hospital's Refractive Surgery Department, through its outstanding performance, once again received multiple prestigious awards, fully demonstrating the department's exceptional contributions and leading position within the professional field.

Director Chen Xiaobei Ranks Among Nation's Top 163, Setting New Professional Benchmarks

To date, only 163 ophthalmologists in China hold certification for the SMILE pro™ all-femtosecond laser surgery. Director Chen Xiaobei has joined this elite group through rigorous assessment, demonstrating exceptional technical proficiency and professional expertise. This achievement not only signifies authoritative recognition of her individual capabilities but also represents her professional standing among the nation's elite in refractive surgery.

As one of China's first practitioners and Dongguan's pioneer in performing robotic SMILE pro procedures, Director Chen has dedicated over 17 years to refractive surgery. She has accumulated extensive hands-on surgical experience and developed unique, profound insights into technological innovation and application. Her outstanding expertise has earned her repeated invitations to national academic conferences on SMILE technology, where she shares cutting-edge diagnostic concepts and clinical experience, garnering widespread industry recognition.

Refining Truth Through Critical Inquiry

Sharpening Wisdom Through Debate

The Dongguan Aier Refractive Team consistently brings a distinct “Dongguan perspective” and practical wisdom, transforming them into logically rigorous and evidence-based arguments. Through intellectual exchanges and technical debates with elite ophthalmologists nationwide, they not only showcase Dongguan Aier's clinical depth but also elevate extensive frontline practice cases into referenceable and discussable industry benchmarks, injecting a vibrant and powerful voice into the standardized development of cutting-edge technologies.

Director Chen Xiaobei Honored with “Critical Thinking Elite Award”

At the 2026 “Sea of Light: Envisioning the Future, Crystal Brilliance—EVO ICL Elite Debate Competition,” top experts and rising talents in intraocular endoscopy gathered. Director Chen Xiaobei represented the affirmative side, engaging in a profound clash of ideas and expertise with her team members on the debate topic: “Will intraocular endoscopic surgery surpass corneal laser surgery in the future?”

Through solid professional expertise, rigorous logical reasoning, comprehensive clinical evidence, and a poised and confident demeanor, Director Chen Xiaobei and her team secured the “Outstanding Achievement Award,” while she personally received the “Critical Thinking Elite Award.” This achievement not only validates her profound expertise and forward-thinking vision in intraocular endoscopy but also showcases her exceptional ability to transform clinical experience into analytical wisdom, guiding the future through academic discourse.

Deputy Director Yin Na Wins “Speed Star” Award

Yin Na, Deputy Director of the Refractive Surgery Department at Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital, delivered a keynote speech on her unique insights into the SMILE pro robotic femtosecond laser system at the “2026·SMILE Star New Year National Competition.” She engaged in discussions with elite ophthalmologists from across the nation and emerged victorious through rigorous selection and professional evaluation, earning the title “SMILE Star—Speed Star.” This prestigious honor represents authoritative recognition in the field of SMILE refractive surgery, signifying that Deputy Director Yin Na has achieved industry benchmark standards in surgical precision, safety, and clinical efficacy.

Building on 2026's New Beginnings

Continuously Enhancing Public Eye Health

Though the three-day academic feast has concluded, the journey to safeguard high-definition vision never ends. Every exploration, every shared chapter embodies the dedication and craftsmanship of medical professionals. Each exchange contributes to the advancement of public eye health. This not only highlights their leadership in the field but, more profoundly, ensures that all these efforts ultimately translate into more precise, safer, and personalized treatment plans that address the practical needs of public eye health.