Cataract
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
Cataract at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital provides a dedicated cataract service at the Cataract Centre, Withington Community Hospital. The centre is set up for cataract assessment and surgery, allowing pre-surgery checks, biometry and the procedure pathway to be delivered in one specialist setting.
Observers and fellows can gain exposure to a consultant-led cataract pathway with morning and afternoon surgery sessions, one-stop assessment models, outpatient decision-making, theatre workflow and post-operative review. The service receives referrals through community optometrists and GPs, giving observers and fellows insight into NHS referral, triage and community-hospital working.
The hospital performs over 5,000 cataract operations each year across NHS and private services. Experience includes routine cataract surgery, complex cataract assessment, cataract surgery in eyes with ocular co-morbidity.
Cataract surgery at MREH includes modern phacoemulsification practice, micro-incision techniques, biometry, intraocular lens selection, advanced IOL options and exposure to technology developments designed to improve refractive and visual outcomes.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
- Cataract service development: At MREH, we continue to develop a high-volume cataract pathway at Withington Community Hospital, with a consultant-led model focused on safe assessment, efficient theatre flow and consistent patient experience.
- Technology and lens development: We work with lens manufacturers and technology partners to evaluate developments that support refractive accuracy, lens choice and visual outcomes for cataract surgery.
- Consultant academic activity: Our cataract leadership includes consultants with peer-reviewed scientific publications, international presentations and subspecialty expertise in cataract, refractive surgery, paediatric cataract and complex cataract management.
- Teaching recognition: Mr Bhamy Shenoy was awarded “Best Clinical Supervisor and Surgical Trainer” in 2022 for his contribution to teaching and surgical development.
- Service expertise: The cataract team includes surgeons experienced in routine cataract surgery, complex cataract cases, adult cataract surgery, paediatric cataract pathways and cataract surgery linked with other ophthalmic subs
Rare and complex cases
- Dense or advanced cataracts requiring careful surgical planning and risk assessment.
- Complex cataract surgery in eyes with glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, retinal disease or previous ocular surgery.
- Intraoperative and post-operative complication recognition, including posterior capsule rupture, infection risk, refractive surprise and post-operative inflammation.
- Cases requiring coordinated decision-making between ophthalmic surgeons, optometrists, nurses, imaging teams and theatre staff.
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Meet our expert supervisors
Our team consists of highly qualified and motivated professionals, who are all experts in their field. With many years of experience in the industry, they have the expertise to provide comprehensive, first-rate services to our clients.
Bhamy Hariprasad Shenoy
MBBS, MS (Ophthalmology), FICO, FRCOphth
Mr Bhamy Hariprasad Shenoy is a Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist and Clinical Lead for Cataract Services at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. He specialises in paediatric ophthalmology, strabismus, paediatric cataract and glaucoma, and adult cataract surgery, with extensive subspecialty training in both India and the UK. Alongside his clinical leadership role, he is actively involved in medical education, research, and the training of ophthalmologists, and was recognised with the Best Clinical Supervisor and Surgical Trainer award in 2022.
Our signature programmes
Observership
Cataract
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Understand cataract assessment, including visual impact, indications for surgery, patient selection and shared decision-making.
- Observe pre-operative assessment, biometry, intraocular lens selection and cataract risk stratification.
- Gain insight into high-volume cataract pathways, one-stop assessment models and theatre workflow at a dedicated cataract centre.
- Observe modern cataract surgery techniques, including phacoemulsification, micro-incision surgery.
- Recognise common and complex cataract presentations, including cases associated with glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, retinal disease and previous ocular surgery.
- Understand multidisciplinary care involving ophthalmic surgeons, optometrists, nurses, health care support workers and theatre teams.
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
Fellowship
Cataract
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Consolidate supervised clinical reasoning in cataract assessment, surgical planning and post-operative review, aligned to the fellow’s experience and agreed scope of practice.
- Strengthen interpretation of biometry, IOL selection, refractive aims and risk factors influencing cataract surgery planning.
- Develop understanding of high-volume surgical list preparation, safe theatre flow, consent, complications prevention and post-operative governance.
- Gain supervised exposure to complex cataract decision-making, including co-morbid glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, retinal pathology and previous surgery.
- Build confidence in recognising and managing intraoperative and post-operative complications, including posterior capsule rupture, infection risk and refractive error.
- Engage with audit, teaching, service improvement or technology evaluation activity where available within the fellowship structure.
Eligibility
- Postgraduate Qualification: Applicants must hold an overseas-recognised postgraduate medical qualification (MD, MS, Masters) in ophthalmology or a relevant specialty.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in ophthalmology or a related specialty within the last 5 years, including at least 12 months of continuous practice before applying.
- Training Level: Equivalent to ST5 or above, or post-CCT clinicians seeking subspecialty exposure.
- Language Proficiency: IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and overall 7.5, or OET Medicine with Grade B in all domains, with certificate validity within 24 months.
- Registration: GMC registration is required for fellowship activity. Sponsorship support may be available through approved routes where appropriate.
- Applicants must not have failed PLAB exams previously.
- Visa sponsorship is only available through approved routes; self-funded visas outside agreed schemes are excluded.
- Additional specialty expectation: Prior ophthalmology experience and familiarity with cataract assessment, slit lamp examination, biometry, IOL planning, surgical risk assessment or cataract theatre environments is desirable.