Corneoplastics and ophthalmology

The QVH eye unit (corneoplastics and ophthalmology) and eye bank is a specialist and tertiary referral centre for complex corneal problems and oculoplastics. It is a high-profile and technologically advanced department that delivers high quality care in its sub-specialties and sets standards for care in the UK and internationally.

We provide:

• Cataract surgery: we perform modern small incision cataract surgery with availability for advanced toric correction of astigmatism with value-added toric lenses. The unit takes referrals for expert opinion from all over the UK for complex cataract surgery and anterior segment reconstruction.
• Glaucoma services: including Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), SLT laser, trabeculectomy and glaucoma drainage devices.

Our specialist cornea services include: high risk corneal transplantation; stem cell transplantation for ocular surface rehabilitation; innovative partial thickness transplants (lamellar grafts); and vision correction surgery.

The team also offer specialist techniques in oculoplastic surgery including Mohs micrographic excision for eyelid tumour management; facial palsy rehabilitation; endoscopic DCR and modern orbital decompression techniques for thyroid eye disease.

We also welcome referrals for refractive problems; ocuplastic, orbital and lacrimal disorders but do not provide retinal services.

Dry eye service

QVH has also developed a dry eye service for local people. Our specialist nurse led clinic is for people with severe dry eye conditions including Sjorgrens syndrome and Blepharitis. Referrals are welcomed from GPs or eye specialists for this service which is based here in East Grinstead.

Clinical effectiveness

Departmental audit shows that cases of post-operative eye infection after cataract surgery are extremely rare and well below national average rates. We also perform cataract surgery on a large cohort of patients with complex anterior segment conditions as part of our specialist surgery service which is not comparable to other units.

What is glaucoma and how common is it? Watch our short film

Please note we do not offer a walk-in emergency service. If you feel that you need to speak to one of the team please contact us via the number in your appointment or discharge letter.

Mr Samer Hamada

Specialist interests: Management of adult and children’s corneal disease, corneal transplantation (graft) in adults and children, complex corneal and anterior segment surgery; stem cells transplantation; cataract surgery; glaucoma surgery; primary and secondary intraocular lenses implantation including special intraocular lenses, and laser eye surgery.

Mr Samer Hamada is a highly trained and experienced corneal surgeon with 18 years’ experience in ophthalmology both in the UK and internationally. He has completed cornea and anterior segment fellowships at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Wolverhampton Eye Infirmary, and QVH’s Corneoplastic Unit and Eye Bank. He also completed a fellowship in paediatric ophthalmology at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London.

Mr Hamada devotes a lot of time to developing new innovations for managing patients with cornea and ocular surface diseases. He has special interest in managing corneal problems in children including corneal transplantation for babies born with congenital eye diseases and looked after babies and children with complex cornea and ocular surface diseases at Great Ormond Street before joining QVH.

Mr Hamada regularly lectures at international conferences and teaches new techniques in corneal transplant surgery to international colleagues. His articles have been published in many peer-reviewed journals and he has written many book chapters on cornea and cataract. He has chosen as a reviewer for several renowned ophthalmology journals including the American Journal of Ophthalmology and British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Mr Hamada is respected and liked by his patients and colleagues who praise him for his professionalism, expertise, and kindness.

Mr Mohamed Elalfy

Mr Mohamed Elalfy is a double-qualified consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataracts, cataract surgery, intraocular lens surgery, refractive laser eye surgery, ocular surface diseases, corneal diseases and grafts and dry eye.

Mr Elalfy is a fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in London, the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, the European Board of Ophthalmology, and the International Council of Ophthalmology. He is a member of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons and EUCornea.

Mr Elalfy joined Queen Victoria Hospital in 2015 and has been a consultant since 2017. As the fellowship programme director at Queen Victoria Hospital, he trains several fellows annually.

He is also an ophthalmology examiner in two royal colleges and supervises undergraduate doctors at the University of Brighton independent research projects programme in the undergraduate medical school, where he supervises the projects of medical students. Mr Elalfy supervises masters and doctoral degree students in ophthalmology.

Mr Elalfy holds multiple vocational diplomas and has been published in more than 50 peer-reviewed publications.

Mr Damian Lake

Specialist interests: laser corneal transplants, stem cell research, advanced cataract surgery and refractive surgery.

Mr Damian Lake is the Lead Corneal Transplant surgeon at Queen Victoria Hospital, having joined the team in 2007.

He graduated from The University of Glasgow Medical school in 1997 before obtaining Ophthalmic surgical training in London. In 2006 he was granted a fellowship position at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and the following year undertook a further Fellowship in Cornea,External diseases and Refractive surgery here at Queen Victoria Hospital, before being appointed as a Consultant Ophthalmologist.

Mr Lake is a Fellow of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and a member of The United Kingdom and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (UKISCRS-former council member),European Society of  Cataract and Refractive surgeons (ESCRS), The American Academy of Ophthalmologists,The Cornea Society,The Medical Contact lens & Ocular surface Association,The British Refractive Society and The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association.

Mr Lake has been actively involved in the national organisation of corneal transplant services as Medical Advisor to our eye bank, Chair of the Ocular Tissue and Transplantation Advisory Group (OTTSG) at the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and a member of the Ocular Tissue Advisory Group (OTAG) for NHSBT.

His research interests include corneal stem cells, corneal transplants and advanced cataract surgery techniques. Mr Lake has presented these research findings at specialty meetings in the UK and Internationally, and published many papers in internationally renowned and peer reviewed professional journals.

Mr Andre Litwin

Specialist interests: Eyelid, lacrimal and orbital disease. Teaching, training and assessment of surgical skill; including cataract surgery.

Mr Andre Litwin is a full-time Consultant Ophthalmic and Oculoplastic Surgeon at QVH. With over 20 years of experience in ophthalmology he specialises in the management of eyelid, lacrimal and orbital disorders. He has lectured at national conferences covering his research interests and has multiple peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.

Mr Litwin graduated from the University of Southampton and trained in ophthalmology in the UK. He started his surgical training in the South Thames region before completing higher training at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. He undertook two Fellowships in oculoplastic and orbital disease before joining the consultant staff at QVH in 2014.

He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and a full Member of the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS) and European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ESOPRS). . Valued for his straightforward explanations, gentle manner and professionalism, he ensures every person receives individualised care.

Mr Raman Malhotra

Specialist interest: Ophthalmology

Mr Raman Malhotra – Consultant ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon, Corneo Plastic Unit, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust, East Grinstead

Sub-specialties:

• Orbitofacial surgery
• Lacrimal disorders
• Oculoplastic surgery
• Eyelid skin cancer

Special clinical interests:

• Eyelid disorders
• Orbital disease
• Lacrimal (water eye) surgery
• Cataract surgery

Research interests:

• Reconstructive surgery in the orbitofacial region
• Eyelid skin cancer
• Thyroid eye disease and modern techniques of orbital decompression
• Lacrimal disorders and endoscopic DCR techniques
• Facial palsy

Year of first medical qualification: 1993

Current membership(s) of professional, national and regional bodies:

• European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ESOPRS)
• Founder member British Oculoplastic Surgeons Society (BOPSS)
• The Royal College of Ophthalmologists
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASOPRS)

Professional profile

Having finished his basic surgical ophthalmic training at the Western Eye Hospital, London, Mr Raman Malhotra went on to complete his higher surgical training experience in Oxford.

He then completed a fellowship in oculoplastic, orbital and lacrimal surgery (watery eye disorders) at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Women and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.

Whilst in Australia, Mr Malhotra learnt innovative surgical techniques in eyelid reconstruction after tumour excision, endoscopic lacrimal surgery and browlift surgery.

He has had much experience in teaching trainees as well as personally performing a range of eye operations and treatments. He actively participates in organising regional courses and has published a range of papers on many aspects of eye surgery and procedures related to facial plastic surgery around the eyelids.

Mr Malhotra’s publications

Read reviews from Mr Malhotra’s patients on iWantGreatCare

Miss Artemis Matsou

Specialist interests: Cornea, complex cataract, refractive surgery and Glaucoma.

Miss Artemis Matsou is a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Cataract Lead at Queen Victoria Hospital, specialising in Cornea, Complex Cataract, Refractive surgery and Glaucoma. She also has a special interest in ocular surface reconstruction and limbal stem cell transplantation.

Miss Matsou has completed two prestigious Corneal Fellowships in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge and Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. She is a Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians of London. Miss Matsou sits at the Education Committee of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS) and the Young Ophthalmologists Committee of the ESCRS, with continuous involvement in projects that aim to improve educational opportunities for ophthalmologists around Europe. She is also a Council Member of the MCLOSA and ESASO societies.

Miss Matsou has authored a number of peer-reviewed publications, including randomized controlled trials on endothelial corneal transplant techniques. She is an invited speaker in national and international Ophthalmology Conferences and a guest Reviewer in leading Ophthalmology Journals.

Mr Gokulan Ratnarajan

Specialist interests:
– Specialist cataract surgery for patients with glaucoma: cataract surgery combined with minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) to prevent glaucoma progression and reduce the dependence on glaucoma drops. MIGS includes endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP laser); I stents; Xen gel implants; Innfocus microshunt; goniotomy; and visco-expansion.

– Comprehensive glaucoma care: glaucoma diagnosis; laser treatment including Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT laser to reduce dependence on drops); glaucoma surgery including trabeculectomy and aqueous shunt implantation/tube surgery and the full range of MIGS.

Research interests: Innovations in glaucoma surgery; innovations in cataract surgery; optimising patient pathways for glaucoma and cataract care.

Mr Gokulan Ratnarajan is a full-time Consultant Ophthalmic and Glaucoma Surgeon at Queen Victoria NHS Foundation Trust. He is a keen teacher and is actively involved in clinical research. He publishes regularly in peer-reviewed journals and his research has won numerous awards at national and international level. He is regularly invited to review for international peer-reviewed journals.

Mr Ratnarajan graduated from University College London and completed his Ophthalmology training in Oxford. He undertook a MD research degree in Patient Pathway Optimisation at The Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.

He has completed three specialist fellowships in glaucoma and anterior segment at The Oxford Eye Hospital, The Western Eye Hospital in London and the world renowned fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada, where he has learnt and developed many new glaucoma surgeries, many of which are not available in the UK at present. Mr Ratnarajan brings innovation in glaucoma care to the UK to help treat glaucoma patients with safer and more effective treatments.

Glaucoma is a chronic condition requiring long-term treatment and follow-up. Patients appreciate Mr Ratnarajan’s gentle and empathetic approach. He takes the time to explain the diagnosis to his patients so they understand their condition and why they need to take their treatment.