Ming Chen, MD, Recognized as 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor for Ophthalmology Excellence

Ming Chen, MD, MSc, FACS, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the second year he has received this prestigious designation. Only 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians are chosen annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties in their respective regions. Dr. Chen, an ophthalmologist and founder of Ming Chen, MD, INC in Honolulu, provides comprehensive eye exams, cataract and glaucoma care, and advanced eye surgery. "I'm honored to be recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. This recognition reflects the dedication I have brought to my medical career and to caring for my patients every day," says Dr. Chen. "Providing the best care begins with genuine compassion for each patient and what they are experiencing."

Dr. Chen evaluates and treats primary ocular conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye disease, and refractive errors, while also managing complex cases such as vitreoretinal diseases and blepharoptosis. His key procedures encompass 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. The practice includes the Ming Chen Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers a Scholarship for Modern Eyecare Education, and maintains a multilingual staff fluent in English, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Mandarin to better serve diverse communities.

Dr. Chen earned his Doctor of Medicine from Zhong Shan Medical College in Taiwan in 1973, completed a research fellowship at the University of Illinois and Cook County Hospital in 1974, followed by a general surgery residency at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He finished his four-year residency training in ophthalmology at Cook County Hospital in Chicago in 1980 and later earned a Master of Science in Evidence-Based Practice from the University of Teesside, UK, in 2011. Throughout his career, Dr. Chen has published 45 peer-reviewed articles in ophthalmology and currently serves as a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. His previous leadership roles include serving as President of the Hawaii Ophthalmological Society and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Kuakini Hospital, and he was recently honored as the 2025 Hawaii Mandarin Award recipient.

Top Doctors are nominated by peer physicians and selected by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team based on rigorous criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at https://castleconnolly.com and in various print and online partner publications. Nominations are open to all board-certified MDs, DOs, and DPMs, and doctors cannot pay to be selected, ensuring the integrity of the recognition process. This acknowledgment underscores Dr. Chen's commitment to advancing eye care through clinical expertise, research, and education, benefiting patients in Hawaii and beyond.