My Life in Ophthalmology

Intrigued by technology

In the first of a new series Guy Sallet, Medical Director, Eye Institute Aalst, Belgium, talks about his life in ophthalmology

Why ophthalmology? I LEARNING LASIK was destined to be I also had contacts in South Africa and an ophthalmologist in the last year of my residency I went as my father was an for one year to the University of Pretoria. ophthalmologist. I made friendships for life there. I also

What I liked about ophthalmology got the opportunity to carry out anterior was the physics of the visual optics, how segment surgery and to expand my precious the sense of vision is and surgical skills. how great the gratitude was from In 1994 there had been no people getting their vision LASIK procedure carried back after surgery. The other out in Belgium. A group thing I liked was that you of distinguished Belgian have full control over the doctors started an excimer process, from making the laser group. I wanted to be diagnosis, proposing the part of this group, which treatment, doing surgery and was not easy as I was not well seeing the final results. You known enough. Eventually I work very independently, so this was quite attractive to me. Guy Sallet, MD was able to become part of this group and through my contacts

The prospect of doing private practice was in South Africa I learned the LASIK also attractive as this meant you were not procedure because at that time LASIK entirely dependent on working in a clinic. was quite popular in South Africa and as

During my training in ophthalmology a young ophthalmologist, this boosted I was also intrigued by the evolution of my refractive practice. the technology in ophthalmology.

MAJOR INFLUENCES One of the major influences in my career was my father. He told me: “Guy, you should go about technology in a totally different way to the way I did it.” When I started in the 1990s in Belgium, the only downside to our education was that we did not have a lot of exposure to ocular surgery. That is why at the beginning I concentrated on medical retina and became a retina specialist.

I did a lot of research on melanoma, macular degeneration and various retinal diseases because we did not have any access to surgery. This triggered my interest in clinical studies and the scientific part of ophthalmology. EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE As you progress in your career, you take on added responsibilities. Having newer and younger doctors involved and having regular staff meetings helps this process.

Over the years, I have come into contacts with different leaders in the field and in their different sub-specialties. This has triggered my interest in new things and has helped me to expand my knowledge. I started off in a solo practice, which grew gradually, and I am now working with eight ophthalmologists and with a staff of 12 people. The younger ophthalmologists have given me an insight into new developments in medicine, which as I student I did not have access to. I’m thinking about genetics, molecular biology and other treatment resources.

I did a lot of research on melanoma, macular degeneration and various retinal diseases because we did not have any access to surgery You need to have the character to be comfortable with leadership

LEADERSHIP SKILLS You need to have the character to be comfortable with leadership. As a resident I was a board member of the Belgian Society of Residents in Ophthalmology and in this way, I became involved in organising congresses. My involvement as a board member of the Excimer Laser Group also helped me to become a Practice Manager.

We do not have a large practice. At the beginning I was doing everything, including administration, recruitment and financial management. As the practice grew, I tried to develop a framework where everybody has their own tasks and this was the next evolution in developing my management skills.

ADVICE FOR YOUNG OPHTHALMOLOGISTS I would advise young ophthalmologists to get a comprehensive knowledge of ophthalmology, to know the different aspects of the eyes and then to get involved in sub-specialties. The other advice is that you should be triggered by new treatment modalities and new technologies. This will ensure that your job will never become boring and ophthalmology will be a great thing to do for the rest of your life. The training opportunities available now with virtual training modules for surgery and platforms like the ESCRS training platform are also very useful. This article is based on an interview in the EuroTimes Eye Contact video series, which can be accessed on the ESCRS Player at https://player.escrs.org