【Shigeto Shimmura (Cornea Specialist)】What today’s healthcare truly needs is the careful communication of ”accurate information.”

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Shigeto Shimmura, MD, PhD

Professor and Chair, Department of Clinical Regenerative Medicine, Fujita Health University

Spent his youth in Montreal, Canada, before entering the Keio University School of Medicine in 1983. Since graduating in 1989, he has specialized in ophthalmology and regenerative medicine. As a leading cornea specialist, Dr. Shimmura has performed over 1,000 corneal transplants and more than 100 corneal regenerative medicine surgeries. He has also conducted over 10,000 cataract surgeries, including highly complex cases. In 2023, he was appointed Professor and Chair of Clinical Regenerative Medicine at Fujita Health University, where he drives advanced research into iPS cell-based regenerative therapies. He made medical history by successfully performing the world’s first transplant of human iPS cell-derived corneal endothelial cell substitute for bullous keratopathy. He is a Board Certified Physician for Regenerative Medicine (The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine) and a board-certified specialist of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine. He is deeply dedicated to the widespread adoption and international expansion of regenerative medicine.

Areas of Expertise: Cornea, Regenerative Medicine

【Expertise & Track Record】A Cornea Specialist Driving Human iPS Cell-Derived Corneal Endothelial Cell Transplants

Could you tell us about your areas of expertise and your clinical track record?

Within ophthalmology, my specialty is the cornea, and I have performed numerous corneal transplant surgeries. However, corneal transplants cannot be performed without donors. To provide treatments that do not rely on donors, research into cell therapy and the utilization of iPS cells is currently advancing worldwide. Since securing donors is a particularly significant challenge in Japan, I strongly believe that cell therapy and the use of iPS cells are absolutely necessary.

In 2014, Dr. Masayo Takahashi (President of Vision Care Inc. and Consultant at the Kobe City Eye Hospital, Research Center) made history by successfully performing the world's first transplant of retinal cells derived from iPS cells. This breakthrough triggered the development of iPS cell-based treatments across various medical fields. We also began basic research about ten years ago to create and transplant corneal endothelial cells using iPS cells, and we have recently achieved successful administration to one patient.

What led you to choose the cornea as your specialty?

When I was a young ophthalmologist, I also performed retinal surgeries. The variety and nature of surgeries differ significantly between the cornea and the retina. With the retina, the pathology varies greatly depending on the case, requiring a very tailored approach for each surgery. It is a field that heavily relies on experience. On the other hand, while the cornea does not have as many variable patterns as the retina, it presents a high level of difficulty because you must bring every single patient's eye to the exact same top standard of final outcome, despite their differing conditions.

I felt a strong desire to challenge myself with my own skills: "To make the cornea transparent, reshape it, and bring out the patient’s vision—finishing every single surgery with the same flawless quality." It might sound a bit narcissistic, but that was one of the reasons I decided to specialize in the cornea.

A unique feature of ophthalmic surgery is that the final result is completely visible. For instance, in gastrointestinal surgery, once you close the abdomen, the surgical field is no longer seen. But because the cornea and crystalline lens are open to view, any ophthalmologist can evaluate the quality of your work. The fact that anyone can look and see, "That is a magnificent surgery," is both the difficulty and the true reward of specializing in the cornea.

What originally inspired you to become a medical doctor?

One of the reasons was my interest in the "mystery of life." Medical research itself is an exploration of this mystery, and it serves as one of my primary driving forces for continuing advanced initiatives.

In fact, since I was young, I have been interested in philosophical questions, such as "What is a human being?" and "What is my own existence?" When you pursue these questions to the limit, they naturally connect to the "brain"—to matters of knowledge and consciousness. Therefore, when choosing a specialty in medical school, neurosurgery, which deals directly with the brain, was a strong candidate. Psychiatry was also a possibility.

In addition, I have always enjoyed working with my hands. Considering my interests and strengths, choosing ophthalmology was a natural progression, as it is a field that involves an organ closely linked to the brain and allows me to utilize my manual skills.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have chosen ophthalmology. It offers so many advantages: it lets me work with my hands, it is performed under a microscope so having presbyopia (aging eyes) is not a hindrance, and surgeries are done while seated, making it physically sustainable for the long term. I am now 63 years old (as of May 2026), and I feel I can continue performing surgeries for a long time to come.

What appeals to me about ophthalmic surgery is that the results are known immediately. You know right after the surgery whether the patient's vision has improved. While not every patient can restore their vision to a fully satisfying level, I find deep reward in being able to help those who could not see, see again.

【Vision】Balancing Research and Cutting-Edge Care—Because "Change is Inevitable"

You are active in both research and applying it to actual treatment. What is the motivation behind this?

In the field of ophthalmology, a single physician can consistently manage the entire process from research to treatment. This is difficult to achieve in larger medical departments, and I see it as a major appeal of working in fields like ophthalmology, dermatology, and otolaryngology (ENT). The reward of delivering the technologies or cells you researched and developed directly to patients with your own hands is truly exceptional.

As the American economist Joseph Schumpeter noted, innovation is inevitable. When I was a university student, we used rotary dial black telephones, watched large CRT televisions, and used paper encyclopedias for research. Today, all of those functions are contained within a single smartphone. Knowing that "innovation will always happen, and if someone is going to do it, it might as well be me," I actively take on advanced treatments.

Could you also tell us about training the next generation and standardizing your techniques?

For over 20 years, I have taught an instruction course on how to safely perform corneal transplants at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the world’s largest association of clinical ophthalmology professionals.

While I take pride in my own skills, I have no intention of keeping them to myself as something "only I can do." I believe it is equally important to build a system where anyone can perform surgeries safely and to the same standard. Therefore, systematizing these techniques is one of my ongoing missions.

In recent years, advances in regenerative medicine and cell therapy have gradually reduced the heavy reliance on artisan-like surgical skills. While I feel a bit of loneliness as a surgeon, this is a welcome change because it makes it easier for patients to receive consistent treatment. That is exactly why I continue my research: I see it as my role to develop the next standard of care—one that does not depend on the skill level of an individual.

【Policy】Explaining Accurate Information Thoughtfully: Helping Patients Make Confident Choices

What do you keep in mind when communicating with patients?

We welcome patients from overseas, but my approach is exactly the same for both Japanese and international patients. First, I try to create a friendly and comfortable environment where patients can feel at ease before we start talking. I make a conscious effort to understand their anxieties and concerns. Since time is limited, it is also crucial to organize and present information in a way that helps them fully understand and accept their situation.

Along with creating a comfortable environment, I focus on giving clear, thorough explanations so patients can make confident decisions. Of course, it is not possible to cure every single patient. Therefore, helping patients understand and accept a situation where improvement is difficult is an important part of a doctor's job.

To achieve this, delivering "accurate information" is essential. For example, when a doctor says, "This condition cannot be treated," the meaning can differ completely depending on whether they mean "I cannot treat it myself" or "It is medically impossible." If this difference is not communicated clearly, it causes misunderstandings, which is why I am very careful in how I explain things.

If there is a treatment we cannot provide at our hospital, our service includes referring the patient to a doctor who may be able to help. Physicians connect based on the accuracy of information and mutual trust. I maintain these networks and communicate with colleagues to ensure each patient receives the choices that fit them best.

Isn't "accurate information" already the standard?

The reality is that it is not. For example, "regenerative medicine," which is my specialty alongside the cornea, was overly expected to be a miracle cure when it first appeared. In reality, however, there are situations where regenerative medicine is effective and situations where it is not. Even with the same disease, whether regenerative medicine can be applied depends on the patient's specific condition. It is crucial to have a proper specialist evaluate your case and to consider your options based on accurate information.

【About the Facility】A Wide Range of Treatment Choices and Strict Privacy Management

What are the key advantages for overseas patients at your clinic, Fujita Health University Haneda Clinic?

To ensure that patients from overseas can have a comfortable stay, our entire staff is dedicated to providing warm hospitality. Of course, this is paired with our clinical skills. We always aim to deliver surgeries based on reliable, proven techniques.

In Japan, while standard treatments are accessible anywhere, the range of available treatment choices can sometimes be limited. At our clinic, in addition to general care covered by Japanese public health insurance, we offer a wide range of self-pay options, strictly limited to those that are legally approved. By expanding the range of choices, we are able to propose the treatment that best fits each individual patient.

How does your clinic differ from general clinics that primarily offer care covered by public health insurance?

Under public health insurance care, the time a doctor can spend with each patient is quite limited. The more patients there are, the shorter that time becomes.

At our clinic, we believe it is essential to thoroughly explain all available choices. Therefore, by offering self-pay care, we secure enough time to provide deep consultations and explanations, much like a second opinion.

As I mentioned earlier, I believe accurate information is the most important thing in healthcare today. We live in an era where anyone can get information through the internet or AI. However, determining whether that information is "truly accurate" or "suitable for you" requires an expert evaluation. Our ability to provide the time needed to support a patient's decision-making is the major difference from general clinics in Japan.

How do you handle language support for international patients?

Almost all the doctors who see patients directly are at the professor level. Since they are actively continuing their research and regularly attending international conferences, they have no problem communicating in English. However, because we also receive many patients from Asia, it is difficult for the doctors themselves to respond to every language. In most cases, patients bring their own interpreters, but we also have a system in place to arrange interpreters at our clinic.

To ensure strict patient privacy, our clinic is designed so that patients do not have to meet other patients or spend time waiting in the hallways. Private rooms are available even for general consultations, providing a very comfortable environment.

Fujita Health University Haneda Clinic (Fujita Academy)

https://haneda.fujita-hu.ac.jp/

Zone A (B1F–3F), HANEDA INNOVATION CITY, 1-1-4 Haneda Airport, Ota-ku, Tokyo

※Approximately 3 minutes (1.7 km) from Haneda Airport International Terminal

※Directly connected to Tenkubashi Station (Keikyu Airport Line / Tokyo Monorail)

Clinic Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:45 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and National Holidays, Certain consultations and health screenings are available on an appointment-only basis.)