Professor Tom H Williamson

Specialises in ophthalmology with a specialist interest in vitreoretinal surgery.

Biography

Professor Tom H. Williamson is a vitreoretinal surgeon at St Thomas Hospital, London. He has a wide experience of surgical interventions for retinal disease with 400 operations performed under his care annually.

He is in demand as an international lecturer on this subject, and has had many leadership roles including ophthalmology training program director in London, and director of Consultants Eye Surgeons Partnership, South London and the London Claremont Clinic. Tom was President of the British and Eire Vitreoretinal Society. He holds a visiting professorship in engineering and biological sciences at The University of Surrey.

Conditions

• rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
• macular hole
• macular epiretinal membrane
• trauma
• diabetes
• complications of cataract surgery
• macular degeneration
• cataract.

Procedures/ treatments

• vitrectomy
• phacoemulsification cataract surgery and lens implant
• conventional retinal detachment surgery
• retinal laser therapy.

Special/ research interests

He has published 5 books and his text Vitreoretinal Surgery is the premier manual for training in vitreoretinal surgery internationally. He has the largest single surgeon dataset of vitreoretinal procedures (with over 14,000 operations over 22 years) internationally and over 200 publications on clinical topics in vitreoretinal surgery and ophthalmology, making him one of the premier opinions in vitreoretinal surgery. His interests include big data, artificial intelligence and computerised surgical modelling.

Tom has published 6 books and his text ‘Vitreoretinal Surgery’ is the premier manual for training world wide.

He has had many leadership roles including Ophthalmology Training Program Director in London, and Director of Consultants Eye Surgeons Partnership South London and the London Claremont Clinic. He was President of the British and Eire Vitreoretinal Society. He holds a Visiting Professorship in Engineering and Biological Sciences at The University of Surrey. The training program at St Thomas for vitreoretinal surgery is regarded as one of the premier programs for training in the subject.

His research interests have included use of artificial intelligence for diagnosis of retinal disease, investigation and design of new surgical methods, application of technology in clinical care and psychophysical tests in clinical retinal assessment. He regularly performs investigations to determine ways of maximising success rates and reducing complication rates of vitreoretinal surgery and is in demand as an international lecturer on this subject.

Tom’s charitable duties include setting up and directing the Eyehope charity for 5 years and performing duties for Fight for Sight and the World Sight Foundation.

Treatments

• vitreoretinal disorders
• retinal detachment
• macular hole
• epiretinal membrane
• complications of diabetic retinopathy
• severe ocular trauma
• complications of anterior segment surgery
• surgical management of uveitis
• cataract surgery.

Education

Tom Williamson graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1984 and trained in ophthalmology in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Cambridge and London.

He has had many training leadership positions and is currently President of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons.

Membership of professional bodies

• British and Eire Vitreoretinal Society
• American Retinal Society
• Gonin Club.

Practice locations

St Thomas Hospital