About Dr. Xu Gezhi
Dr. Xu Gezhi (徐格致) is the Director of the Department of Vitreoretinal Surgery at the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University — China's premier specialized eye hospital and the national reference center for retinal diseases. One of China's foremost vitreoretinal surgeons, Dr. Xu specializes in the surgical and medical management of retinal detachment, macular diseases, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and complex vitreoretinal conditions. His surgical expertise, combined with access to the most advanced retinal imaging and treatment technologies in China, makes him a destination specialist for patients with vision-threatening retinal diseases from across the country and internationally.
Dr. Xu leads a high-volume vitreoretinal surgery program that performs thousands of procedures annually, encompassing the full spectrum of posterior segment diseases — from straightforward retinal detachment repair to the most complex cases involving proliferative vitreoretinopathy, giant retinal tears, ocular trauma, and pediatric retinal diseases including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). His department is a national training center for vitreoretinal surgery, and his techniques are studied and replicated by retinal surgeons across China.
Hospital Affiliation
The Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University is China's only specialized hospital dedicated exclusively to ophthalmology and otolaryngology, consistently ranked as the nation's top eye hospital. Its Department of Vitreoretinal Surgery is a National Key Clinical Specialty and operates dedicated surgical suites equipped with the latest wide-angle visualization systems, 27-gauge microincision vitrectomy platforms, intraoperative OCT, and fluorescein angiography-guided laser systems.
The hospital's retinal imaging center offers the full range of advanced diagnostic modalities including spectral-domain OCT, OCT angiography (OCTA), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), fundus autofluorescence, and wide-field retinal imaging — enabling precise characterization of retinal pathology and treatment planning. The department's close integration with the hospital's uveitis, glaucoma, and medical retina teams provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary framework for patients with complex posterior segment diseases.
Clinical Expertise
- Retinal detachment — rhegmatogenous, tractional, and exudative retinal detachment; primary and complex/recurrent cases; proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR); giant retinal tears; macular-off detachment repair
- Macular diseases — epiretinal membrane (ERM); macular hole (full-thickness and lamellar); vitreomacular traction syndrome; myopic macular degeneration; macular schisis
- Diabetic retinopathy — proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR); tractional retinal detachment; vitreous hemorrhage; diabetic macular edema (anti-VEGF and laser)
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — neovascular (wet) AMD; anti-VEGF therapy (ranibizumab, aflibercept, bevacizumab); subretinal membrane surgery; geographic atrophy monitoring
- Retinal vascular diseases — central and branch retinal vein occlusion; central retinal artery occlusion; retinal vasculitis; Coats disease
- Ocular trauma — open globe injury; intraocular foreign body removal; traumatic retinal detachment; vitreous hemorrhage from trauma
- Pediatric retinal diseases — retinopathy of prematurity (ROP); familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR); pediatric retinal detachment
- Uveitis-related retinal complications — vitreous opacities; epiretinal membrane; hypotony maculopathy; surgical management of uveitic complications
- Inherited retinal diseases — retinitis pigmentosa; Stargardt disease; choroideremia; genetic counseling coordination; clinical trial access
- Intraocular tumors — choroidal melanoma; retinoblastoma (with oncology); choroidal metastases; vitreoretinal lymphoma
Academic & Research Contributions
Dr. Xu Gezhi is one of China's most prolific vitreoretinal researchers, with hundreds of peer-reviewed publications in leading ophthalmology journals including Ophthalmology, JAMA Ophthalmology, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS), Retina, and the British Journal of Ophthalmology. His research spans surgical outcomes in complex retinal detachment, the pathogenesis and treatment of myopic macular degeneration, anti-VEGF therapy optimization in AMD and diabetic macular edema, and the genetics of inherited retinal diseases in Chinese populations.
He has served as principal investigator on multiple NSFC-funded research programs and multicenter clinical trials evaluating novel anti-VEGF agents, gene therapy approaches for inherited retinal diseases, and surgical techniques for complex vitreoretinal conditions. Dr. Xu is an active member of the Chinese Ophthalmological Society and has held leadership roles in its vitreoretinal surgery committee. He is a regular presenter at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting, the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) Congress, and the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) meeting.
His work on myopic macular degeneration — a condition of particular relevance in East Asian populations with high rates of pathological myopia — has been internationally recognized as a landmark contribution, providing surgical and natural history data that informs management decisions for this increasingly prevalent condition globally. Dr. Xu has also been a pioneer in the adoption of 27-gauge microincision vitrectomy surgery in China, significantly reducing surgical trauma and recovery time for patients undergoing vitreoretinal procedures.
Why International Patients Choose Dr. Xu Gezhi
International patients seek Dr. Xu's expertise for complex retinal detachment repair — including cases with PVR, giant retinal tears, or prior failed surgery — surgical management of macular holes and epiretinal membranes, treatment of diabetic retinopathy complications, and access to anti-VEGF therapy and clinical trials for AMD and inherited retinal diseases at significantly lower cost than in Western countries.
The high volume of retinal surgery at Fudan's Eye & ENT Hospital means that even rare and complex presentations are encountered regularly, giving Dr. Xu and his team a depth of pattern recognition and surgical experience that is genuinely difficult to replicate at lower-volume centers. For patients with vision-threatening retinal conditions, this experience translates directly into better surgical outcomes and lower complication rates.
Anti-VEGF therapy for AMD and diabetic macular edema — which requires repeated injections over months to years — is available at Fudan's Eye & ENT Hospital at a fraction of the cost of equivalent treatment in the United States or Europe. For patients managing long-term retinal disease, this cost advantage can be transformative.
What to Expect at Your Consultation
Consultations with Dr. Xu begin with a comprehensive ophthalmic history and examination including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and dilated fundus examination. Advanced retinal imaging — including OCT, OCTA, and fundus photography — is typically performed on the day of consultation. CMCS will arrange certified translation of all prior ophthalmic records and imaging in advance. Dr. Xu will provide a detailed management plan including surgical options, anti-VEGF therapy protocols, and monitoring schedules — all summarized in English for your home ophthalmologist or retinal specialist.
Frequently Asked Questions
My retinal detachment was repaired but has re-detached. Can Dr. Xu help?
Yes. Complex and recurrent retinal detachment, including cases with PVR, is one of Dr. Xu's core specialties. His high-volume surgical experience with these challenging cases gives him a significant advantage in achieving successful re-attachment.
Is anti-VEGF therapy for AMD available at Fudan Eye & ENT Hospital?
Yes. All major anti-VEGF agents including ranibizumab, aflibercept, and bevacizumab are available at significantly lower cost than in Western markets. CMCS can also coordinate ongoing injection therapy for patients who wish to continue treatment in Shanghai.
Does Dr. Xu treat inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa?
Yes. The department offers comprehensive evaluation of inherited retinal diseases including genetic testing, natural history monitoring, and access to clinical trials for emerging gene therapy approaches.
Book a Consultation Through CMCS
China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides end-to-end support for international patients seeking vitreoretinal care with Dr. Xu Gezhi at the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, including priority appointment scheduling, certified medical translation, retinal imaging coordination, and post-consultation follow-up. Contact us at contract@medicalsh.com, or visit medicalsh.com.
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