Dr Harry Bennett

My current practice includes all general ophthalmic problems with special surgical interests in cataract extraction (small incision and complex) and vitreo-retinal procedures. I am often referred patients with complex cataracts both in my NHS and private practice.  I do not see children.

My undergraduate training was at Manchester University, qualifying with an MB ChB in 1989. After working in a variety of medical specialties, gaining the MRCP(UK) diploma in 1992, I moved north to Glasgow to commence a training rotation in ophthalmology. I spent seven years working in a number of ophthalmic units around the west of Scotland, achieving FRCOphth in 1995. I have undergone specialist fellowship training in vitreo-retinal surgery both in Glasgow, 1998-1999, and in Manchester in 2000, under the supervision of Professor David McLeod. I became a fellow of the RCS of Edinburgh in 2004 and am a member of their ophthalmic committee.

In the past I have been the Training Programme Director for South East Scotland 2009-2014 and the Regional Adviser for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists up until 2015. I am still an honorary Senior Lecturer in Clinical Ophthalmology at the University of Edinburgh.

Having a longstanding interest in teaching and ocular trauma, I co-organised a two day Ocular Trauma course in Edinburgh in 2009 which included wet lab experience and internationally renowned invited speakers. I have also been an invited speaker at ocular trauma courses in Lublin and Warsaw, Poland, presented at Euretina, in Nice 2015, and also at the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons (BEAVRS) meeting - twice organising the national survey of clinical practice among members.

In November 2014 I organised a successful annual congress of BEAVRS in Edinburgh and previously served as the membership and communications secretary on its board until November 2018. I am also the honorary secretary of the Scottish Ophthalmological Club which organises academic meetings twice a year. I have an interest in ophthalmology in developing countries and have worked abroad on 16 occasions including on ORBIS, teaching VR surgery in Libya, and have co-organised and taken part in multiple cataract camps in Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Myanmar.