Dr. Ming Wang is a Harvard and MIT graduate and one of the few laser eye surgeons in the world to also hold a PhD in laser physics. His extraordinary life story—from a childhood shaped by China’s Cultural Revolution to becoming a world-renowned eye surgeon and a believer in Christ—has inspired the feature film Sight, based on his autobiography From Darkness to Sight.
Born in China, Dr. Wang grew up during one of the most turbulent times in the country’s history. As a teenager, he faced extreme poverty, political persecution, and the threat of being sent to a labor camp for life. At just 14 years old, he began learning to play the traditional Chinese violin (Erhu) and dance in hopes of joining a government propaganda troupe—one of the only ways to avoid hard labor.
Dr. Wang: “Over 20 million high school graduates were deported to labor camps during the Cultural Revolution. I was about to be one of them. So I turned to music and dance, desperately hoping to avoid that fate.”
When China’s universities reopened after a decade-long shutdown, Wang’s parents encouraged him to try and leap ahead—jumping three school years in a matter of months to qualify for college before the door closed again.
Dr. Wang: “With my parents' help, I was accepted into the University of Science and Technology in China to study laser physics. In 1982, I came to America with $50 and a dream.”
Dr. Wang earned his PhD in laser physics at the University of Maryland, completed postdoctoral research at MIT, and—despite racial discrimination—was later accepted to Harvard Medical School. There, he earned his MD degree with highest honors, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and finishing first in his class for his thesis.
Dr. Wang: “I was told I’d never get into medical school because I was Chinese. But I didn’t listen. I worked harder—and God opened the door.”
He eventually became one of the most sought-after laser eye surgeons in the world. To date, Dr. Wang has performed over 55,000 procedures, including surgeries for more than 4,000 fellow doctors. He holds two U.S. patents for the amniotic membrane contact lens—an invention that has restored sight to millions of people globally.
His non-profit, the Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration, has helped patients from 55 countries and 40 U.S. states—all at no charge.
From Atheist to Believer
Dr. Wang says he arrived in America as an atheist, passionate only about science. But during medical school, something shifted.
Dr. Wang: “It was the human eye that challenged my worldview. I realized it was too complex, too precise, to be a product of random chance. That’s when my professor—a quiet Christian—asked me, ‘Can random metal pieces form a car? Then how can something more complex like the eye exist by accident?’”
This moment was a turning point. Over time, Dr. Wang moved from disbelief to belief, ultimately coming to know Jesus Christ as his Savior. His story inspired the character of the Chinese student in the film God’s Not Dead.
Dr. Wang: “Yes, that cute Chinese student was me! And I say ‘cute’ because the actor they chose was better looking than I am. But the story is real—I came to Christ through science.”
Honoring His Parents and Paying It Forward
In Sight, Dr. Wang dedicates the film to his parents, whose strength, sacrifice, and faith carried him through his darkest days.
He also hosts an annual event called the “Eye Ball” concert, where he performs on the Erhu, the instrument that once helped him avoid a labor camp. The next concert is scheduled for January 21st in Nashville, at the Steinway Piano Gallery.
Dr. Wang: “I play the Erhu each year as a tribute to America, to freedom, and to God.”
A Lesson from Kajal
The film Sight also tells the moving story of Kajal, a 5-year-old orphan from India who was intentionally blinded so she could sing on the streets for money. Her resilience and radiant spirit helped inspire Dr. Wang’s development of the amniotic membrane lens.
Dr. Wang: “Kajal taught us that there are two types of sight—physical and emotional. Even in total darkness, her heart emitted light. That’s the power of love—and Christ—in someone’s life.”
Although she was not allowed to stay in the U.S. due to immigration rules, Kajal returned to India and went on to earn a Master’s degree. Dr. Wang is currently working to reestablish contact with her.
A Message to America
Dr. Wang’s perspective on division in America today is sobering but hopeful.
Dr. Wang: “We’ve taken freedom for granted. That’s why we’re so divided. The cure is appreciation—fall in love with America again. Watch the film Sight. Hear the stories of those who don’t have freedom. Then, choose to love your neighbor. That’s how we heal.”
To learn more about Dr. Ming Wang, his foundation, or the movie Sight, visit www.drmingwang.com.
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