Mr Daniel Calladine

I was appointed as the lead consultant for the cornea and anterior segment surgery service at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital in 2013. Prior to this, I trained in Oxford and London, where I gained advanced sub-specialty skills in complex cataract surgery, cornea, transplantation and external eye disease. I also underwent a senior clinical and research fellowship in Nottingham, again concentrating on diseases of the anterior segment with a key focus on ocular surface inflammation and dry eyes. Since 2016, I have been based solely at the Spire Eye Centres in Worcester - Spire South Bank Hospital and Spire Little Aston Hospital, where I am totally dedicated to running my private practice.

Each year, I perform on average 800 private cataract and clear lens exchange procedures covering all levels of complexity and I am able to offer the complete range of premium toric ‘anti-astigmatic’ and multifocal intraocular lenses. Since starting as a consultant in 2013, I have performed 7,000 cataract operations and my surgical complication rate for posterior capsule breaks is 0.01% - this is well below the local and national average of 1 in 400, or approximately 0.5%. In my current practice, I carefully and prospectively audit my work and attend frequent national and international medical conferences both as an instructor and delegate to help maintain my professional development. My surgical outcomes compare favourably to the best international benchmarks and the highest standards of care.

My research into cataract surgery incision imaging has been recognised throughout the world. I was one of the first surgeons to look at techniques for improving cornea micro-wound architecture using optical coherence tomography. This work led to improvements in blade design and the understanding of how to create better and safer incisions. I have published extensively on the subject of cataract surgery; writing book chapters on the subject. In 2012, I was also the first author of a major Cochrane review update comparing multifocal intraocular lenses with monofocal lenses for cataract surgery. These type of lenses aim to correct both distance and reading vision to help patients be less dependent on glasses. I have a keen interest in the techniques and equipment used in micro-incision cataract surgery and complex cases, in particular, the commercially available “Calladine capsulorhexis forceps,” which have helped to improve the quality and safety of micro-incision cataract surgery. These forceps are used by hundreds of surgeons throughout the world.

I have a particular interest in refractive cataract surgery and clear lens exchange. In 2014, I set up the Laser Refractive Surgery service at Spire South Bank and Spire Little Aston hospitals. This year has seen the culmination of my hard work with the recent purchase of a VISX excimer laser, enabling me to correct the primary refractive error in the form of wavefront-guided customised LASIK and LASEK surgery, which also enhance the quality of refractive outcomes from lens surgery. This service is not only valued locally but further afield where I accept tertiary referrals from other consultants to correct residual refractive error following cataract surgery.

Over the past five years, I have performed over 250 endothelial cornea grafts (DSEKs), one-third of these have either been combined with cataract surgery or deemed complex cases. Despite this, I have over a 99% surgical success rate and a 100% record at graft utilisation using a manual hand dissection Melles' technique. Internationally, I run surgical wet labs at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons annual conference teaching new microsurgery techniques to produce ‘ultra-thin’ cornea DSEK transplants.

In 2014, I set up the keratoconus cornea collagen cross-linking service at the Spire South Bank Hospital and then later in 2015, I also established the service at Spire Little Aston Hospital. I am a keen exponent of the latest techniques for stabilising the cornea in keratoconus, using accelerated collagen cross-linking when appropriate with a UV laser setting at 10mWcm2. This produces, approximately, 50% depth ‘cross-linking’, which augments the strength of the superficial cornea while not damaging the endothelial cells on the inside of the cornea. I have treated over 200 eyes with this technique with no serious complications and I currently look after a large cohort of patients with keratoconus, which I monitor for signs of progression.

As well as my specialist interest in anterior segment surgery, I also look after a large cohort of local patients with general ophthalmological diseases such as glaucoma and dry eye. I am able to offer selective laser trabeculoplasty for glaucoma patients, and also YAG laser capsulotomy for posterior capsular opacification. I operate every week (unless away on annual or study leave) on Thursday afternoons at Spire South Bank Hospital and Friday mornings at Spire Little Aston Hospital. My timetable is designed to give patients maximum flexibility and also full support if any urgent help is needed. All of my theatre lists have anaesthetic cover with a dedicated team of highly experienced ophthalmic consultant anaesthetists and surgery can be carried out either with local or general anaesthetic as required.