Consultant interview - Mr Ali Abbas

Mr Abbas is also a General Medical Council (GMC) and Optometry Level 3 examiner, a laser course tutor at Moorfields Education, and the Glaucoma Module Lead at University College London (UCL), reflecting his deep commitment to both clinical excellence and education.

Please tell us more about your areas of expertise.

I have extensive experience in managing both routine and complex cataract and glaucoma cases, including experience carrying out revision surgeries to improve surgical outcomes for patients treated elsewhere. I tailor my approach to each patient, using a wide range of techniques and technologies – from minimally invasive glaucoma surgery to trabeculectomy and drainage devises - to care for each patient based on their disease severity and lifestyle factors.

I have a strong interest in education, and I am committed to developing teams around me to improve efficiency and surgical outcomes for my patients.

Why do patients come to see you?

Patients are often referred to me because I take a collaborative, patient-focused approach to care. I make it a priority to ensure that my patients feel understood, respected, and fully informed about their condition and treatment options. Many tell me that they feel more in control and more confident after our consultations, and therefore less anxious about their condition and future treatments.

I believe that good communication is essential—not just with patients, but with the wider healthcare team. I always provide clear, timely, and detailed correspondence to referring clinicians and GPs, so that everyone involved in a patient’s care is kept fully informed.

As one of very few Arabic-speaking consultants at Moorfields Private, I’m also proud to offer a more comfortable and accessible experience for Arabic-speaking patients, ensuring they receive all the information they need in a language they understand.

What a patient can expect from their appointment with you?

Patients can expect a high standard of professionalism, compassion, and honesty. I take time to answer their questions, address their concerns, and explain things in a way that’s easy to understand. My aim is for every patient to leave their appointment feeling reassured, and clear about the next steps.

I take pride in building trust with my patients, and I believe this relationship plays a vital role in their long-term treatment success.

Please tell us about your recent research projects.

My interests focus on collaborative projects that make a real difference to patients. I’ve worked with anaesthetic colleagues to develop and refine minimally invasive ophthalmic anaesthesia techniques—enhancing patient comfort, preserving tissue integrity, and shortening recovery times.

I also work with the surgical team at UCL to design protocols to safeguard glaucoma patients from pressure spikes that often occur during robotic abdominal surgery and to avoid treatment delays.

Are you a teaching consultant?

I’m passionate about education and take an active role in developing the next generation of ophthalmic professionals:

• I provide weekly teaching through the Moorfields Shared Decision-Making Scheme, training allied health professionals in cataract, medical retina, and glaucoma care, to help meet the increasing demands on our service.
• I tutor on the Moorfields Laser Training course, supporting nurses and optometrists to become independent laser practitioners—helping to reduce waiting times for patients.
• As Glaucoma Module Lead at UCL, I’m involved in planning educational content, setting assessments, and organising hands-on practical sessions for postgraduate students.