Mr Francesco Sabatino

I am an experienced Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, specialising in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery. In addition to Spire Norwich Hospital, I serve as a Consultant Vitreoretinal and Cataract Surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I am also honoured to have recently been appointed as Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at University of East Anglia, in recognition of my commitment to advancing clinical research and its impact on patient care.

I have gained extensive experience in vitreoretinal surgery, having trained at the world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, with internationally recognised fellowships in vitreoretinal surgery.

I specialise in complex and high volume routine vitreoretinal surgery, with over 500 vitreoretinal surgeries annually. My audited success rate for macular hole surgery, including very large and chronic macular holes, is 100%.

I receive referrals also from other surgeons to manage complex vitreoretinal conditions, as well as complications of cataract and vitreoretinal surgery performed elsewhere.

I am a certified surgeon for the implantation of artificial iris and I offer a range of options for anterior segment reconstruction, including the management of various iris problems (such as absence of the iris, congenital iris defects, traumatic iris defects or iris defects following complicated surgery) and management of aphakia (absence of the natural lens or artificial intraocular lens) with the most modern and advanced techniques of scleral-fixation and iris-fixation.

In addition to vitreoretinal surgery, I also specialise in high volume complex and routine cataract surgery with standard and toric intraocular lenses but also premium intraocular lenses (extended depth of focus, multifocal intraocular lenses). I completed an advanced cataract fellowship at the world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. 

I was also awarded with two prizes from Euretina (European Society of Retinal Specialists) and one prize from BEAVRS (British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons). I also hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery with distinction from the University of Ulster.

My passion for surgical and clinical research in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery is reflected in my numerous peer-reviewed publications, involvement in clinical trials, and role as an invited reviewer for international scientific journals. I am committed to training fellows and registrars in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery and regularly lecture at both international and national conferences.