Surgeons
Clinical Associate Professor Paul McCartney
FRANZCO, FRACS, FRCOphth (UK)
Cataract, Glaucoma & General Ophthalmology
Prof. McCartney graduated from Medicine from the University of Tasmania in 1983 and trained in Ophthalmology at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney under Professor Fred Hollows.
He has been head of the Ophthalmology Department at the Royal Hobart Hospital and has held an honorary academic appointment at the University of Tasmania since 1992. He was appointed Clinical Associate Professor in 2011.
Paul has always expressed strong clinical interests in cataract, corneal and refractive surgery. This has led him to continuously seek the best technologies in terms of intraocular lenses and cataract surgery techniques. As a result, he is invited to teach and demonstrate surgery internationally. He has performed live cataract surgery in India in 2009 and in Sydney at the International Conference of Ophthalmologists in 1990 before an audience of 1,000 fellow international ophthalmologists.
Paul’s research interests include advancements in specialised intraocular lens use in cataract surgery and the genetics of glaucoma. Paul has a long involvement in providing eye services to needy remote communities. He has worked as a volunteer ophthalmologist in communities in the Torres Strait Islands and Fiji, and since 2003 with the East Timor Eye Programme, treating local people and assisting in training local ophthalmologists.
Paul founded Hobart Eye Surgeons, a private practice in general ophthalmology in 1998. He is the principal of this practice which has developed into an innovative team of highly skilled and trained ophthalmologists. Hobart Eye Surgeons now offers a comprehensive range of leading diagnostic technology and provides professional medical and surgical ophthalmic care in purpose- fitted facilities with patient comfort and consideration in mind. In 2014 Tasmanian Cataract Clinic was incorporated into Hobart Eye Surgeons.
Dr Andrew Traill
MBBS (Hons), B Med Sci, FRANZCO
Vitreoretinal Specialist and General Ophthalmologist
Dr Andrew Traill is a retinal specialist with expertise in vitreoretinal surgery and macular disease.
Dr Andrew Traill graduated with honours in 2001 from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and a Bachelor of Medical Science and was awarded the undergraduate prize in Ophthalmology. He completed his Ophthalmology training at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and was awarded the James McBride White Medal for retinal research presented at the 15th Melbourne Ophthalmic Alumni Scientific Meeting. He went on to complete a surgical and medical retinal fellowship at the Cheltenham Hospital, UK, and a second vitreoretinal fellowship at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, UK.
He has published in peer reviewed international journals including the British Journal of Ophthalmology, Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, Archives of Ophthalmology and Ocular immunology and inflammation. He has presented at numerous international scientific meetings.
After a period as a UK NHS consultant Dr Andrew Traill has returned to practice as a vitreoretinal specialist at Hobart Eye Surgeons. He has an appointment as a VMO at the Royal Hobart Hospital and is a final year clinical lecturer for the University of Tasmania.
His clinical interest is in medical and surgical diseases of the retina, macula and vitreous and in small incision vitrectomy surgery.
Clinical Professor Nitin Verma AM
FRANZCO, MMed, MD.,Dip NBE,Arzt fur Augenheilkunde
General Ophthalmology, Cataract, Oculoplastics, Glaucoma, Medical Retina
Clinical Professor Nitin Verma AM has been a part of Hobart Eye Surgeons for 15 years. He is actively engaged in the management of Macular Degeneration (M.D.), and heads a number of research projects concerning new drugs and treatments for M.D. as well as Diabetic Macular Oedema. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Award for Prevention of Blindness (Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology) in 2009.
Clinical Professor Nitin Verma AM is Professor in the UTAS School of Medicine, Head of Ophthalmology at the Royal Hobart Hospital and also a Clinical Professor in, Ophthalmology, in the University of Sydney.
He leads the East Timor Eye Project, coordinating philanthropic, eye-care work in East Timor, by doctors, optometrists and nurses from almost all states of Australia. For his work, he was awarded the Order of Timor Leste in 2010, and was appointed Honorary Consul to East Timor, in 2006.
We are pleased to acknowledge Clinical Professor Nitin Verma AM being awarded Hobart’s Citizen of the Year, 2013 and being a finalist in 2013 for Tasmania’s Australian of the Year, 2013.
Clinical Professor Nitin Verma AM is on several Academic committees and Boards of Philanthropic organisations.
Professor Alex Hewitt
BMedSci(Hons), MBBS(Hons), MMedSci, PhD, FRANZCO
Professor Alex Hewitt joined Hobart Eye Surgeons in 2014. His major clinical interests are in general ophthalmology which includes both Adult and Paediatric Ophthalmology as well as Glaucoma, Cataract and Medical Retina.
During medical training he completed a B.Med.Sci.(Hons) degree investigating the outcomes of cataract surgery for people living in remote areas of the Northern Territory with Clinical Associate Professor Nitin Verma AM, and in 2001 he completed his undergraduate medical degree at the University of Tasmania. He obtained a PhD investigating the genetics of glaucoma through Flinders University of South Australia, under the supervision of Professors Jamie Craig and David Mackey.
He completed his Ophthalmology training at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne. In 2012 he was the Novartis Fellow at the Lions Eye Institute in Perth and was awarded a WA Tall Poppy Award from the Australian Institute of Policy & Science. He was also awarded a Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellowship from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.
Professor Alex Hewitt has a major interest in translational research – scientific research that helps to make findings from basic science useful for practical applications that enhance human health and well-being.
He has been involved with work relating to the identification of genes and risk variants in glaucoma and myopia, as well as quantitative traits such as central corneal thickness, optic nerve size and the retinal microvascular circulation. This work has resulted in publications in leading journals such as Nature Genetics, Human Molecular Genetics, PLoS Genetics and Ophthalmology. To date he has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications.
He has worked with major research projects including the Glaucoma Inheritance Study in Tasmania, the Norfolk Island Eye Study, the Twins Eye Study in Tasmania, the Australian and New Zealand Registry of Advanced Glaucoma. Professor Alex Hewitt is part of the International Glaucoma Genetics Consortium, and the global Consortium for Refractive Error and Myopia. Additionally, he has recently help establish independent research projects in China, Uganda, Nepal and Indonesia.
Dr Guy Bylsma
MBBS RANZCO
Cataract Surgery, Retinal Disease & General Ophthalmology
Guy joined Hobart Eye Surgeons in 2007 after post graduate training in the UK. In addition to being an experienced cataract surgeon in both traditional and laser assisted techniques, he brings skills across several sub-specialty areas.
Guy graduated as the top student in his year from the University of Melbourne medical school before training in Ophthalmology at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne. In 2005 he was the medical retina research fellow in the Centre for Eye Research at the University of Melbourne, involved in the then groundbreaking landmark international trials of injectable anti VEGF agents for Macular Degeneration. Subsequently he has had two further years of post graduate training in the UK in Oculoplastics, Paediatrics and Glaucoma before taking up his current position as consultant ophthalmologist at the Royal Hobart Hospital and in private practice at Hobart Eye Surgeons.
Guy is part of the team that provides a 24 hour on call service for ophthalmic emergencies in Hobart. He serves on the Continual Professional Development Committee for the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmology and is the supervisor of the ophthalmology surgical trainees at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Guy has a great interest in diseases of the retina such as diabetes and macular degeneration and is involved in several multinational clinical trials trying to identify ways to optimise treatment of these. He is experienced in laser treatment and surgery for glaucoma and sees many patients with paediatric, oculoplastic and neuro-ophthalmologic conditions. He is available at both the Argyle St and Rosny branches. When Guy is not at work he is busy with three young children, a dog, several chickens and an old wooden boat.
Dr Kate Rattray
MBBS RANZCO
Retinal, Cataract & General Ophthalmology
Dr Kate Rattray has returned home to Tasmania to start practice with Hobart Eye Surgeons. Kate studied ophthalmology at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, where she also completed a Glaucoma Fellowship. During this Fellowship year, Kate performed all of the Glaucoma Unit’s difficult and complex cataract surgeries, along with over 100 glaucoma surgeries.
Kate also has a particular interest in angle closure. She was involved in the International Memantine Trial, Genetic Research and has recently been working on changes in corneal asphericity with cataract surgery. After working as a consultant ophthalmologist in Melbourne, Kate then spent a 6 month fellowship at the Gimbel Eye Centre in Calgary, Canada, a world renowned Cataract and Refractive (LASIK) surgical centre.
Kate will be offering refractive surgery and is happy to see patients for pre-operative work up, as well as any post operative queries you might have. Remember, laser eye surgery isn’t just for the “Generation X”… Whilst Kate is now using toric IOL’s, she can offer laser eye surgery for post cataract patients with residual prescription (particularly astigmatism) from days when the toric lenses weren’t available. There is now a Medicare rebate for such patients.
Dr Robin Abell
BMedSci, MBBS (Hons), MMed, FRANZCO
General Ophthalmology, Cataract, Cornea and Refractive Surgery.
Dr Robin Abell returns to his home town of Hobart to begin practising at Hobart Eye Surgeons as a General Ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon, with subspecialty interests in Cornea and Laser Refractive Surgery.
Robin graduated from the University of Tasmania with First Class Honours before undertaking a Masters of Medicine in Ophthalmic Sciences and a research fellowship at the Launceston Eye Institute with Associate Professor Brendan Vote. He was involved in many of the early landmark anti-VEGF in macular degeneration trials. His Masters thesis titled “Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery versus. Conventional Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery” has garnered international recognition and has resulted in over 20 published research papers on the topic. He has presented at numerous international scientific meetings, and was an early adopter of laser cataract surgery.
Robin completed his Ophthalmology training at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, followed by subspecialty fellowship training in Cornea and Refractive Surgery. He has a special interest in laser vision correction, Fuchs Dystrophy, Keratoconus, and applying preventative strategies to avoid loss of vision in corneal disease. He is highly skilled in modern techniques of corneal transplantation, and has trained several local and visiting corneal specialists at the Eye and Ear Hospital in descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) surgery. He attends the Cornea Clinic at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne once a month as a visiting specialist. Robin will be available for all corneal, cataract, refractive and general ophthalmology consultations and emergencies at the Hobart and Rosny branches.
Dr George Smith
MB.ChB, FRCOphth, DO, FRCS(Ed), FRANZCO, Diploma in Refractive Surgery, Sydney.
General Ophthalmology, Cataract, Cornea and Refractive Surgery.
Dr. George Smith is an anterior segment expert. He specializes in small-incision suture-less cataract surgery and diseases of the cornea. He has performed over 10,000 cataract operations and over 500 corneal transplants. In addition he is also experienced in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma. He is also very happy to take general referrals including macular degeneration.
Dr. Smith is proud to now provide his specialist services for Hobart Eye Surgeons.
Dr John Banks
MB, BS, F.A.C.A.M
John is a graduate of Sydney University and had subsequent training in ophthalmology through Sydney Eye Hospital, Royal Newcastle Hospital and Royal Hobart Hospital, followed by two years providing ophthalmic services in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, during which time he was involved with delivering eye health services to the Northern Territory indigenous population plus undertaking research into Trachoma, the endemic eye disease of the outback.
He decided to have a career change and commenced general practice in Sandy Bay in 1985 but has maintained ongoing ophthalmic work and interest since.
He has been providing general ophthalmic examinations and services at Hobart Eye Surgeons for almost twenty years, part time and is an associate member of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology.