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Dr Mohammad Anwar graduated in 1962 in Lahore, Pakistan with a BSc. He went on to attain his MBBS at King Edward Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan in 1965, before beginning his medical career as a Medical Officer in orthopaedics at the Mayo Hospital, Lahore. From Lahore, he moved to Libya to become a Medical Officer at the Civil Hospital in Benghazi. He then transferred to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to act as General Officer at the Military Hospital, GHQ. Upon gaining his Diploma in Ophthalmology (DO) in 1970, Dr Anwar decided to relocate to the UK. He joined Glasgow Eye Infirmary as Resident House Officer (SHO) and from 1971 to 1974 fulfilled the role of Registrar. In 1974, he joined the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow. Here he gained extensive experience in Argon laser coagulation, fluorescein angiography, and ocular problems of connective tissue diseases, ocular traumatic surgery, micro-surgical techniques and IOL implants. He also participated in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes. From 1980 to 1981 he became Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist at Stirling Royal Infirmary, Stirling, before moving to a similar role at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock from 1981 to 1982. After a brief period with the West Midlands Health Authority, in 1983, Dr Anwar accepted the position of Senior Registrar (Higher Surgical Training Scheme) with Riyadh University Hospitals in Saudi Arabia. In 1986, he became Consultant Ophthalmologist for the Greater Riyadh Health Authority (Teaching), a position he held until 1991. During this time, he was appointed Honorary Senior Lecturer at King Saudi University Hospital. As well as undertaking undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, he supervised junior staff training in the department, with four out of six juniors obtaining the Fellowship of the College of Ophthalmologists during this period. In 1991, Dr Anwar made the decision to return to the UK, where he joined King’s College Hospital in London as Locum Senior Ophthalmic Registrar. He went on to work at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds and Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, before settling at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, where he held the position of Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Clinical Leader and Head of the Eye Department from 1992 to 1995. In 1995, he became Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Stonehouse Hospital in Lanarkshire, a position he holds to the present day. Dr Anwar’s higher surgical training has allowed him to specialise in the anterior segment, diabetic eye disease, trachoma and its complications and taediatric and neuro-ophthalmology. He has also gained extensive experience in ocular trauma. He has presented numerous papers at conferences and is currently involved in an ongoing study into conjunctival autograft for recurrent pterygium (Saudi Arabia). Dr Anwar-Ul-Haq joined Optimax’s Glasgow clinic in 1998.

Dr Mohammad Ayoubi began his medical education at the Aleppo University in Syria, where he qualified as an MD in 1984. Following his tertiary education, he held the position of Senior House Officer at the Aleppo Red Crescent Hospital before later joining Aleppo Great University Hospital, where he taught medical students for two years. In 1990, he decided to relocate to the UK, accepting his first clinical ophthalmic position at the East Glamorgan General Hospital. During his time there, he gained extensive experience in laser surgery including the use of Argon and Yag lasers. He later worked at St. Wooles Hospital in Gwent, Ipswich Hospital, and The Royal Hospital in Chesterfield. As well as his work in the field of refractive surgery, Dr Ayoubi has been involved in numerous research projects, audits and publications. He also has a special interest in paediatric ophthalmology and diabetic eye diseases. His formal qualifications include being a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and he holds a Masters of Science Degree. He is also a member of the United Kingdom & Ireland Society of Cataract & Refraction Surgeons (UKISCRS) and of the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS). In addition to his work with Optimax, Dr Ayoubi works at King Edward VII Hospital in Windsor. Dr Ayoubi joined Optimax in 2001.

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Dr Tahera Bhojani-Lynch graduated from Aberdeen University Medical School in 1989. Having completed her pre-registration house officer roles and performed voluntary work abroad, she then embarked on an NHS career in ophthalmology, which has now spanned more than 10 years. She worked at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Welwyn Garden City in eye casualty and cataract assessment, before taking up the position of Senior House Officer at Worcester Eye Hospital. During a period at the North Riding Infirmary in Middlesbrough, she gained experience in corneal graft surgery and also worked in the regional referral centre dealing with glaucoma that could not be treated by conventional surgery. She then became a training officer for the nursing staff who manned the eye casualty department, instructing them on how to use ophthalmic equipment and how to diagnose and treat eye injuries. In 1994, Dr Bhojani-Lynch took up the post of Registrar at Derby Royal Infirmary before moving to one of the largest eye departments in the UK, at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham – a highly prestigious teaching hospital with sub-specialists in many areas of ophthalmology. During her time at Nottingham, she gained extensive experience in areas including cornea, glaucoma and paediatric ophthalmology. She taught opticians and medical students, and also became involved in medical research with a new class of drugs developed specifically for glaucoma. She was also part of the international team involved in the safety studies that helped bring this revolutionary sight-saving medication to market. Following her marriage, Dr Bhojani-Lynch relocated to the South East, working first at the eye department at Wycombe Hospital and then as an International Medical Adviser for Allergan, a company specialising in drugs for the eyes. Having had a family, she now works part-time undertaking consultancy work for the pharmaceutical industry; works in her own optometric practice in Chesham; and performs laser eye surgery for Optimax. She is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, the British Medical Association and the British Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians. Dr Bhojani joined Optimax in 2000.

Dr Louis Boezaart was born and educated in South Africa. He began his medical career at the University of Pretoria in 1969, from where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) in 1974. Over the next year, he worked as an intern at Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria, and in 1976 gained his Medical License (Medical Practitioner). Following a period as Medical Officer (Family Medicine) at Thusong Hospital in Ligtenburg and in private general practice, Dr Boezaart began his Masters Degree in family medicine at the Department of Family Medicine, Pretoria, in 1982. He qualified as MPraxdMed in 1985. In 1987, he became Registrar (Resident in Ophthalmology) at the University of Stellenbosch in Tygerberg and began a Masters Degree in Ophthalmology. In 1990, he qualified MMed (Ophth) and began working in a private ophthalmology practice at Bellville in the Western Cape. In addition to his private work, in 1997 he accepted the position of parttime Consultant at the Department of Ophthalmology at Stellenbosch University, a position he holds to this present day. In addition to his interest in cataract, refractive surgery and vitreo retinal surgery, Dr Boezaart is a Director of the Cape Eye Hospital. His professional memberships include the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa, the South African Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the South African Vitreoretinal Society and the South African Glaucoma Society. Dr Boezaart began working for Optimax in 2001.

Mr Brahma graduated from Manchester Medical School in 1998 and completed his ophthalmic training in Leeds, Dundee and Manchester. He gained registration as FRCOphth in 1992 and was appointed Consultant Ophthalmic surgeon at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital in 2000. He is the Senior Consultant in corneal, cataract, anterior segment and refractive surgery at MREH and provides a tertiary, regional and supra regional service. In 2001 he set up the corneal and intraocular refractive and PTK surgery unit at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital which treats both private and NHS patients. Mr Brahma is a member of the following: * British Medical Association * Royal College of Ophthalmologists * European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeon * Medical Contact Lens and Ocular Surface Association * International Society of Refractive Surgeons * United Kingdom and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons * American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Mr Brahma has over 50 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals and contributes chapters to books. Mr Brahma’s research interests include visual function following laser vision correction (with UMIST) and the development of artificial corneas (with Lancaster University). Mr Brahma, in addition to his clinical, academic and research roles, also undertakes medico legal work in anterior segment and refractive surgery.

Dr Andrew Fink was born in Manchester and studied medicine at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne before graduating MBBS in 1984. He specialised in ophthalmology in hospitals in the North West and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in 1991. During that time, he also completed his training as a family doctor, becoming a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 1993. While working as a GP, he conducted a research project with the Western Eye Hospital in London, focusing on improving general practitioners’ management of eye problems. In 1994, Dr Fink relocated to Tel Aviv, Israel, where he completed further ophthalmology training at the Tel Aviv University Eye Department, Sheba Medical Centre, Tel Hashomer, where he became an Israeli Consultant Eye Specialist in 1997. Between 1997 and 1999, he returned to England and underwent higher professional training in cataract and refractive/laser surgery. After moving back to Israel, Dr Fink worked for a year as a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the famous St John’s Eye Hospital in Jerusalem, treating patients from the West Bank and Gaza. In 2000, he began working in his own independent practice near Tel Aviv, receiving both public and private patients with a wide variety of eye and vision problems. He is also an experienced cataract surgeon and, for over five years, worked in the corneal unit of the Tel Aviv University Eye Department, Sheba Medical Centre. Between posts, he spent a period in 1993 working in Brisbane, Australia as a GP, and as a locum eye specialist registrar in the Professorial Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney. He also volunteered as an optometrist in a Romanian orphanage in 1991. Dr Fink is a member of the British Society of Refractive Surgery, European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, Israel Ophthalmologists Association and Israel Society of Refractive Surgeons. He has published scientific papers in the field of laser and other optical surgical procedures, attended many advanced surgical courses, lectured at international conferences and has been active in recent years in training new laser surgeons in Israel, Holland and Germany. Dr Fink began working for Optimax in June 2007.

Dr Hill began his career by attending the Medical School at Newcastle University and Newcastle Royal Infirmary, where he achieved his MB and BS in 1973. He received his Diploma in Ophthalmology (DO) from the Royal College of Surgeons in 1978 and obtained Fellowships from the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh (FRCSed) in 1979 and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth) in 1988. Dr Hill decided to relocate to Cape Town, South Africa where he continued his studies and achieved his MD at the University of Cape Town in 1994. In 1996 he received a Doctorate for his work on Corneal Graft Rejection and published an international book on the same subject. He has published over 50 scientific articles, mostly on corneal diseases, and has lectured in all five continents. He has been performing refractive surgery since 1994 and was one of the first doctors to use the Excimer laser in South Africa. Dr Hill has over 90 papers at scientific meetings worldwide, including Corneal Grafts at the Annual Ophthalmological Society of SA Meeting; Risk Factors in Keratoplastry at Confederated Corneal Society Meeting in Toronto; Hyperopic LASIK using the Nidek EC5000 Excimer Laser at the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery in Boston USA in May 2000 and many more. Since joining Optimax, Dr Hill has performed almost 4000 LASIK and 3000 Epi-LASEK treatments. As well as working with Optimax, Dr Hill has his own private clinic in Cape Town, South Africa, where he has performed over 12,000 refractive procedures including over 9000 LASIK and 10,000 Cataract treatments.

Dr Wilbert Hoe was born and educated in Myanmar and went on to graduate with an MB, BS from Rangoon University Medical College in 1969. Having gained extensive experience at the School of Preventative and Tropical Medicine in Rangoon, he decided to relocate to the UK in 1980 and joined Cheltenham General Hospital. He attained his DO at the Royal College of Surgeons in 1983 and, in 1987, became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd). This was followed, in 1990, with a fellowship of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth). In addition to his work with Optimax, Dr Hoe works as an Associate Specialist at the Corneo-Plastic Unit at East Grinstead, a position he has held for over 10 years. He has attended numerous courses and conferences and conducted research on a variety of subjects for publications and presentations. In 1993, he co-founded a new eye unit in Myanmar, which he visits once a year to provide a self-financed voluntary service to the community by performing eye surgery and providing teaching and demonstrations to locally trained eye surgeons. His professional memberships include the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the United Kingdom & Ireland Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons and the Southern Ophthalmological Society. Dr Hoe began working for Optimax in 2002.

Dr Imran Khurshid was born and educated in Pakistan and graduated from King Edward Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan in 1979. Following completion of his internship at the Mayo Hospital, Lahore, and two years’ compulsory service in the Army medical corps from 1982, after which he came to the UK to pursue his postgraduate studies. He began his training as a full time resident in ophthalmology with positions at St. Paul’s Eye Hospital, Liverpool and at the Kent County Ophthalmic and Aural Hospital in Maidstone. In 1979, he attained his FRCS Ophthalmology from the Royal College of Surgeons, Glasgow and FRCOphth from Royal College of Ophthalmologist, London. He then worked as a Registrar in ophthalmology at the Kings Mill Hospital Sutton in Ashfield and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, and has four years’ Registrar experience. In 1989, Dr Khurshid moved to Pakistan. He was appointed Senior Registrar at a state-of-the-art Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital and became an active member of the team involved in commissioning the hospital. In 1991, he relocated to Saudi Arabia to work as a Consultant Ophthalmologist in the Almana General Hospital and, in 1993, became head of the department, where he was actively involved in refractive surgery. Dr Khurshid’s main interest is in anterior segment surgery including refractive surgery. He is considered one of the pioneers in refractive surgery in Saudi Arabia and has trained several ophthalmologists in this field. Since 1998, he has also been member of the American society of cataract and refractive surgery. Dr Khurshid joined the team of highly qualified doctors at Optimax in March 2008.

Born and educated in Bangalore, India, Dr Seethappa Madhusudhan gained his medical education at Bangalore Medical College from where he graduated in 1988. In 1989, he joined the Minto Regional Institute of Ophthalmology as a postgraduate, where he gained invaluable experience in cataracts, squints, glaucoma surgeries, corneal transplant and retinal detachments. Having achieved his postgraduate degree in Ophthalmology (MS Ophth) from Bangalore University in 1993, Dr Madhusudhan joined the Chabbra Eye Clinic in New Delhi as a Registrar. Later that year, he relocated to the UK to further his studies and experience. Working within the NHS as a Registrar at Whipps Cross Hospital and King’s College Hospital, both in London, Dr Madhusudhan passed his primary FRCS examination from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the Royal College of Surgeons (Dublin). He then passed his final FRCS exams at the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh). From 1997 to 1998, he furthered his qualifications in the USA, passing two prestigious American exams as an MD and working as a Clinical Fellow in neuro-ophthalmology at Michigan State University. In April 2000, Dr Madhusudhan joined Optimax, where his area of special interest and expertise is in treating high and mixed astigmatism prescriptions.

Dr Anand Masilamani began his career at the Stanley Medical College in Madras, India. Following his graduation in 1994, he furthered his medical training in general ophthalmology, receiving his Diploma in 1998. During his postgraduate residency years, he gained valuable experience in eye trauma management, cataract and glaucoma surgeries. He also participated and operated in various surgical camps. In 1998, Dr Masilamani came to the UK to further his training. He worked as a Senior House Officer (SHO) in a number of hospitals, including the Victoria hospital in Blackpool. During three and a half years as an SHO, he trained in phacoemulsification of cataracts, as well as various oculoplastic and corneal grafting procedures, and has performed laser treatments using the ARGON and the Nd: YAG laser for various ocular disorders. He received his Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, in November 2000 and is also a member of the European and United Kingdom Society of Refractive Surgeons. While undertaking a Fellowship in medical retina at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, he passed the necessary licensing exams to practice medicine in the United States. In 2003, Dr Masilamani joined Optimax, where he specialises in lasik using the latest femto second technology. He also trains ophthalmologists from the NHS in laser refractive surgery.

Dr Richard Maske was born and educated in South Africa, where he graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1970 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MB ChB) degree (cum laude). After completing his intern year, he worked as a Medical Practitioner in Windhoek, Namibia for four years before returning to Cape Town to carry out research. He received his degree as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 1979 and was awarded a Post-doctoral Fellowship to undertake visual research at the Australian National University in Canberra, for the next two years. He returned to South Africa to specialise in ophthalmology at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, and received his Fellowship of the Colleges of Medicine in Ophthalmology (FCS (SA) OPHTHALMOL) in 1986. He then worked as a full-time specialist and consultant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town and developed a special interest in corneal diseases. In 1990, he went into private practice in Cape Town, but continued to consult on a part-time basis at Groote Schuur Hospital until 2001. Since then, he has run his own private practice on a full-time basis. He performs refractive surgery as well as other anterior segment surgery including cataract and glaucoma surgery and performed excimer laser surgery in 1994. The author of more than 30 articles published in international peerreviewed journals, Dr Maske has also presented more than 20 papers at congresses and meetings. A member of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa and the Southern African Society of Cataract and Refractive Society, he regularly attends their annual congresses and is also an examiner for the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa for Ophthalmology. Dr Maske joined Optimax in May 2007.

Dr Mathen began his medical education in 1962 at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, India. Having attained his MBBS, he gained valuable experience as House Officer at the Christian Medical College and later as Medical Officer at CSI Mission Hospital, Kannakkary. In 1970 Dr Mathen decided to specialise in Ophthalmology. Studying at the Government Ophthalmic Hospital in Kerala, Dr Mathen received his Diploma in Ophthalmology from the University of Kerala in 1972. Later that year he joined the Tiruvalla Medical Mission Hospital in Kerala before moving on to St Thomas Mission Hospital in 1974. In 1975 Dr Mathen took the position of Registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at University College Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria and later became Senior Hospital Medical Officer. He was then appointed Principal Hospital Medical Officer. In 1989 Dr Mathen decided to relocate to the UK, settling at Lancaster Moor Hospital as SHO in Ophthalmology. Having worked as a full time Clinical Assistant in Ophthalmology from 1995 to 2000, he became Associate Specialist in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. His duties included all routine Ophthalmic work including regular theatre sessions for Intraocular and Extraocular surgery, Argon and Yag Laser Photocoagulation and Fluorescein Angiography. Dr Mathen’s formal qualifications include Membership of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (MRCOphth), Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh FRCS(Ed) and International Member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is also involved with the North of England Ophthalmological Society and is a member of the International Glaucoma Association. Since joining Optimax’s Manchester clinic in May 2000, Dr Mathen has performed almost 3000 PRK/Epi-LASEK treatments. As well as his work with Optimax, Dr Mathen currently works as a Locum Consultant at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

Dr Mughal studied medicine at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee, Scotland, qualifying in 1992. He completed his pre-registration training in the Midlands. After having worked as a Senior House Officer in Neurosurgery at Wessex Neurological Centre, Dr Mughal began his Ophthalmic Training in 1994 obtaining his Diploma and Membership in Ophthalmology from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in 1997 and 2002 respectively. Dr Mughal also studied for a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Science in 1995 from the University of Manchester prior to completing Basic Surgical Training in the Midlands. During the three and a half years as a Senior House Officer and eighteen months as a Specialist Registrar, he gained experience in managing ocular trauma, phacoemulsification cataract surgery, management of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. He also gained experience in the use of the Argon and Nd: Yag lasers for various ophthalmic disorders and basic lid surgery whilst he was a Clinical Assistant in Ophthalmology from 1997 to 1999. His last NHS posts in Higher Surgical Training were in Yorkshire and University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. Dr Mughal initiated his interest in corneal refractive laser surgery after having completed the Online Refractive Surgery Programme with distinction in June 2006. He was welcomed by Optimax in March 2007 and is currently performing Conductive Keratoplasty treatment for presbyopia. He also perfroms LASIK and EPI-LASEK procedures.

Dr Elsayed Osman graduated from Alexandria University Medical School in Egypt in 1987. Following his graduation, he completed his internship in Khartoum North Teaching Hospital in Sudan, in 1988, before working as a Medical Officer in ophthalmology at Khartoum Eye Teaching Hospital where he developed an interest in ophthalmology as a career. To further his career, Dr Osman registered for a full time one year postgraduate course in ophthalmology, at the world renowned Tennent Institute for Ophthalmology in Glasgow, between 1990 and 1991. He then returned to Sudan, where he practiced ophthalmology at Khartoum University Teaching Hospital until 1993. In 1994, Dr Osman returned to Scotland, where he joined the services of the NHS. In March 1997, he became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, having passed the required postgraduate examinations in ophthalmology. Dr Osman worked in the NHS in Scotland for 13 years, carrying out a range of surgical procedures including cataract, glaucoma and squint procedures, as well as thousands of laser procedures. A very experienced and qualified eye specialist, he joined Optimax in 2006.

Dr Manek Patel studied for his MBBS at the Grant Medical College in Bombay, where he qualified in 1967. He then spent several years working as a General Ophthalmologist in India and completed his post-graduation in ophthalmology before moving to London in 1972, becoming a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in 1973. Dr Patel’s ophthalmic experience developed through his work in London’s leading hospitals including Moorfield’s, UCL and St George’s, where he had the opportunity to teach general ophthalmology to medical students and nurses. He has also worked at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Sutton General Hospital, and Epsom General Hospital, where he was a Consultant performing intra ocular/extra ocular surgery, cataracts, glaucoma and squint DCR surgery. He has been involved in many types of ocular surgery such as laser treatment for diabetics and cataracts. Dr Patel is a member of an international charity organisation – the Lions International Club – of which he is a past President. The Lions Club work to help many organisations that provide medical equipment for third world country medical practices, equipment for the handicapped, school supplies and numerable other worthy causes. Dr Patel began working for Optimax in 1996.

Dr Manzar Saeed completed most of his higher specialist training in ophthalmology in South Thames Deanery. He then worked as a Locum Consultant at King’s College Hospital and Lewisham University Hospital in London, for approximately two years, where he performed primarily high volume cataract surgery, and complemented medical retina and general ophthlamic services. He was introduced to excimer laser and refractive procedures at St Thomas’s Hospital London, and then worked for Optimax in our Croydon and London clinics, performing Epi-LASEK & LASIK procedures. Dr Saeed completed his Medical Retina Fellowship training in West London (Hillingdon and Western Ophthalmic Hospitals). This was followed by a Vitreo Retinal Fellowship at King’s and Moorfield’s eye hospitals. He relocated to Scotland to complete his NHS training and was accredited in June 2005. This was followed by a second Vitreo Retinal Fellowship at the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology in Glasgow. Dr Saeed will also be performing cataracts/RLE treatments as of October, shortly followed by ICL treatment. Dr Saeed joined Optimax in 2006.

Born and educated in South Africa, Dr Johann Slazus began his career in medicine at the Medical School of Stellenbosch, graduating MBChB (Stell) in 1975. In 1979, he began his post-graduate training as a full-time resident in the Department of Ophthalmology at Tygerberg Hospital, qualifying MMed (Ophth) and FCS (SA) in 1983. He then joined the hospital as a part-time Consultant, a position he held until 1990. In 1990, he went into private practice and currently works full time at clinics in both Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Having qualified as a fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth) in 1991, Dr Slazus has since held numerous positions, including member of the Organising Committee of the Southern African and Refractive Society Congress and Chairman of the Western Cape Province Branch of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa (1993-1995). In addition to being a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cape Eye Hospital and Chairman of the Cape Excimer Laser Group, Dr Slazus is currently President Elect of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa. As well as having a special interest in refractive surgery and performing cataract and glaucoma surgery on a regular basis, Dr Slazus has presented scientific papers to both the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa and the South African Cataract and Refractive Society congresses on subjects including central islands in excimer photorefractive keratectomy, irregular astigmatism and excimer laser surgery, and LASIK Five-Year Follow-Up Study. Memberships of professional organisations include the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa (OSSA), Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth), Fellow of the College of Surgeons with Ophthalmology (South Africa), member of the American Cataract and Refractive Society, member of the South African Cataract and Refractive Society, member of the International Refractive Surgery Club, and member of the International Society of Refractive Surgery. Dr Slazus began working for Optimax in 2001.