02 · Co-owner & Medical Director · Retina Specialist and Surgeon· Cataract Surgeon
Dr. JD Ferwerda, MD
Dr. JD Ferwerda is a Dutch ophthalmologist with over 30 years of experience in retinal and cataract surgery. He trained in the Netherlands and Belgium, practised across Europe, and has led European Eye Center in Ho Chi Minh City as co-owner and medical director since opening the clinic.
Who he sees
Adults and children with vision problems: - Retinal concerns in adults: diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular changes, vitreo-retinal disease - Patients planning cataract care - Children needing a specialist eye assessment - Families seeking a senior specialist for a second opinion or a complex case
Dr. JD Ferwerda comes from a medical family and trained as a doctor at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. He chose ophthalmology and completed his residency at KUL Leuven in Belgium, then returned to Utrecht for a fellowship in vitreo-retinal surgery — the demanding subspecialty that has shaped his career.
After practicing in Europe and the Caribbean, Dr. Ferwerda relocated to Vietnam in 2014 and opened his private eye clinic in Thao Dien in 2017. European Eye Center quickly became sought after by patients across Vietnam and neighbouring countries — drawn by Dr. Ferwerda's considered consultations, his expertise in retina disease and other complex cases, and his reputation for explaining what a scan really shows in plain language.
Outside the clinic, Dr. Ferwerda is learning Vietnamese, loves tennis and is a familiar figure in Ho Chi Minh City's expat and Vietnamese patient communities alike. He speaks English, Dutch, Spanish, and basic French.
Credentials & training
30+ years of European retinal & cataract specialty
Dr. Ferwerda's training combines the Netherlands and Belgium — medical school at Utrecht, ophthalmology residency in Leuven, and a vitreo-retinal fellowship back in Utrecht. He has practised continuously in Europe, the Caribbean and in Vietnam, with a clinical depth in retinal disease, cataract care, and complex diagnostic workups.
30+ years of specialist practice
300,000+ consultations, cataract and retina evaluations and procedures
Consultations in English, Dutch, Spanish, and basic French, Vietnamese with use of certified medical translators
Dr. Ferwerda earned his medical degree at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, then specialised in ophthalmology in Belgium, before returning to Utrecht for fellowship training in vitreo-retinal surgery — a subspecialty requiring some of the most demanding microsurgical training in eye care.
MD — University of Utrecht, Netherlands (1988)
Ophthalmology Residency — KUL Leuven, Belgium (1989–1993)
Fellowship in Vitreo-Retinal Surgery — University of Utrecht (2000)
Dr. Ferwerda practised across Europe before relocating to Vietnam in 2014. He opened his private eye clinic in Thao Dien in 2017 and has led European Eye Center in Ho Chi Minh City as co-owner and medical director since.
Dr. Ferwerda's clinical depth sits at the intersection of cataract care and the retina — areas where careful diagnosis, precise imaging, and experienced judgement matter most.
Cataract and lens exchange evaluation, and surgery
Glaucoma, AMD management
Vitreo-retinal disease and surgery
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
30+ years of specialist practice across Europe and Vietnam
15,000+ cataract evaluations and procedures
6,000+ retinal interventions performed
Consultations are available in English, Dutch, Spanish, and basic French. Dr. Ferwerda is also learning Vietnamese, and the clinic team supports Vietnamese-speaking patients throughout every visit.
