Mr Sami Habal is a Consultant Ophthalmic and Vitreoretinal Surgeon. From junior beginnings he has risen to be one of the leading surgeons in his specialty. Mr Habal is happy to see patients with problems of the eyes including the cataract and retinal problems. Mr Habal prides himself on being able to treat simple and complex conditions with kindness, passionate, care and high quality and service. His broad and deep knowledge combined with excellent surgical skills will allow him to successfully help and advise you.

What is Vitreoretinal Surgery (VR)?

VR is a unique surgical specialty in eye conditions related to the back part of the eye. The specialty undertakes treatment in the anatomical area from the natural lens extending backwards until the retina. To become an experienced VR surgeon Mr Habal has undertaken 11 years of training and 8 years of practicing VR surgery independently. During this time he has gained degrees in Medicine and higher Ophthalmology and Medical and Surgical Retina fellowships.

Training

Mr Habal undertook his medical degree at Damascus University in Syria with distinction in 2003. He then was awarded a place for Ophthalmology training on the competitive Damascus rotation at the Eye Surgical Hospital in Damascus and that was completed with a full year acting as a chief Ophthalmology resident. He had also carried out a second full training in Ophthalmology in the West Midlands and South Yorkshire areas in the UK where he consolidated the full and comprehensive Ophthalmology training but he has been always keen in keeping his knowledge and surgical skills on surgeries related to the posterior segment of the eye (retina).

Fellowships

Mr Habal is one of the very few Ophthalmic world surgeons that has dedicated six years of his life to purely train in advanced medical and surgical retinal conditions through completing formal fellowships programs in centres of excellence in the world. This was augmented by undertaking the competitive fellowship of Ocular Oncology in the Univeristy of Toronto, Canada combined with the prestigious retinal surgical fellowships in vitreoretinal conditions in the Birmingham & Midlands Eye Centre in Birmingham and also at the John Radcliff Hospital at Oxford University.

Current Consultant Appointment

Mr Habal is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London with a special interest in medical and surgical retinal conditions.

Qualifications

• 2003 MD, Damascus University
• 2008 COS Ophthalmology, Ministry of Health, Syria
• 2010 MRCSEd Ophthalmology, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• 2017 FRCOphth, Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth), London
• 2019 CESR, General Medical Council and RCOphth

Teaching

Mr Habal has a passion for teaching and training the next generation of Ophthalmic surgeons. He regularly lectures, participates in the postgraduate teaching sessions and teaches a direct hand-on surgery in the NHS. He is an assessor at the Royal College of Ophthalmologists based at Queen Mary’s Hospital, King’s College Hospital. He had already trained nine VR fellows who have eventually become VR consultants practicing independently both in the UK and abroad.

Mr Habal has been an instructor in retinal laser course, examiner at the London eye course for RCOphth examinations preparation and also previosuly joined a faculty at the VR fellows wetlab conventional retinal detachment repair course.

Research

Mr Habal is a surgeon who is passionate in optimising the care offered to patients with retinal problems. He has authored peer-reviewed publications and has presented his work at international and national meetings.

• Cataract surgery (simple & complex) with premium intraocular lenses
• Macular holes
• Epiretinal membranes
• Vitreomacular traction
• Retinal detachment
• Diabetic retinopathy and vitrectomy
• Intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF and steroid implants
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Retinal vein occlusions

• Midland Ophthalmological Society
• North of England Ophthalmological Society
• Medical Defence Union
• Ophthalmic Oncology Group
• European Society of Retina Specialists
• British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons
• Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• Royal College of Ophthalmologists
• General Medical Council
• European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• International Society of Ocular Oncology