Mr Sidath Liyanage is a consultant ophthalmologist specialising in laser vision correction, lens-based (lens replacement and ICL) vision correction, cataract and retinal surgery.
While at medical school in London, Sid won the Duke Elder Award. This is the annual examination held by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists that is open to all medical students in the United Kingdom. He finished his medical degree with distinctions, placing third in his year with prizes in medicine and surgery.
Sid undertook ophthalmology training at Moorfields Eye Hospital, working with leaders in various ophthalmic sub-specialities such as glaucoma, cornea and neuro-ophthalmology. During this time, he won the Harcourt Medal for placing first in the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ Consultant examinations.
His training inspired him to pursue a research degree. He was successful in winning a £250,000 national research grant from the Medical Research Council & Fight for Sight for his project aimed at finding new ways to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). He completed his PhD and gained valuable analytical skills that allows him to evaluate new research, techniques and treatments. This ensures that his patients have the safest and most effective refractive and ophthalmic procedures available.
Sid followed this with three years of prestigious fellowships at Moorfields for advanced training to treat difficult and challenging medical and surgical retinal (vitreoretinal) conditions. Thanks to this, Sid is skilled in dealing with a variety of conditions from routine epiretinal membrane surgery to high-risk cataracts, sight-saving macular hole and retinal detachment repairs, all using the latest technology.
He has been a consultant ophthalmologist at the Bristol Eye Hospital since 2017. Sid is also an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Bristol and researches ways of improving surgical outcomes in vitreoretinal surgery. He was previously head of Vitreoretinal Surgery at Bristol Eye Hospital and participates in running the respected vitreoretinal fellowship programme at Bristol Eye Hospital that has trained surgeons from around the world. He has been an invited speaker at local, national and international ophthalmology meetings.
Sid has achieved the Royal College of Ophthalmologist’s Certificate in Laser & Refractive Surgery (CertLRS), to perform laser vision correction (including LASIK, LASEK and PRK) and lens-based vision correction (including lens replacement and ICL) surgery.
The quality of care he provides is influenced by his ability to build a partnership with his patients. He strives to understand their anxieties and concerns first, and then provides all the relevant information about their condition in a clear manner. He believes in open and honest communication and patients have time to consider their choices so they feel confident and at ease with the journey ahead.
Sid lives in Bristol with his wife and two children, he enjoys spending his free time with his family and practicing mindfulness (without much success!).
