
Francesco Sabatino, Consultant Ophthalmologist, wins international prize
Francesco Sabatino, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal Surgeon, was awarded the prize for the best surgical video presentation at the Euretina EuroVersion 2022 conference by the European Society of Retinal Specialists.
He demonstrated his surgical technique for treating a complex tractional retinal detachment caused by poorly managed diabetic retinopathy, an eye condition in people with diabetes that damages blood vessels and scars the retina. As the scars get bigger, they can pull on the retina and detach it from the back the eye.
The three-minute surgical video, which had already won the national prize at BEAVRS (British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons) in 2020, showed a safe and innovative way to carry out the operation.
“Videos are a very useful teaching tool and are regularly used in the scientific community to demonstrate surgical techniques and outcomes,” said Francesco.
“The patient was considered an extreme case as she suffered from an advanced diabetic retinal detachment in her only seeing eye that was thought to be inoperable with conventional surgery.
“I decided to produce a short film to show colleagues my approach to such a challenging case. The visual recovery was excellent as the patient recovered from perception of light vision to 6/18 vision.”
Francesco joined NNUH in February last year and previously completed advanced vitreoretinal fellowships at the world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.