ONE VISION VALE EYE SURGEONS

Here, colleagues Magda, Thomas and Ryan tell us about their journey to setting up their dream clinic.

The three met during their ophthalmic specialty training in Wales and became friends. They each shared a dream of owning their own eye clinic. This formed the basis for setting up Vale Eye Surgeons and, in their own words, “basically came about through a series of lucky events, and hard work”.

Tom and Ryan have lived in the Vale for quite few years and saw a possibility of renting premises in the Beauty

Within Medi Spa in Cowbridge at the beginning of 2022. At that point Magda was still working in Gibraltar. Many video calls later they decided to make their dream a reality. “We set up the company, rented the premises, prepared all relevant paperwork, transported the equipment and subsequently renovated the new clinic rooms. We are all delighted with what we have achieved in such short period of time and especially proud as we all hold full time jobs in the NHS in addition to setting up the Vale Eye Surgeons.”

Obviously we wanted to find out more about their plans, so we caught up with the team at their Cowbridge clinic.

Why did you set up the clinic? What was the motivation?

We came together to open the Vale Eye Surgeons with a vision of being able to provide tailored patient care in a nice, clinical set up. We aim to offer appointments and treatments to our patients promptly and at convenient times, as well as offer services which are not available on the NHS.

Please tell us about the treatments... These would include removing lumps and bumps from the eye lids, treating cataract surgery as a procedure to get rid of the need for glasses, and facial aesthetic treatments. We also have a YAG laser in the clinic, which we use for treatment of thickening of posterior capsule. This treatment might be needed after cataract surgery. Our onestop laser clinics have become very popular with patients.

You offer cataract surgery. What are cataracts and how would you treat them?

A cataract is clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. It is usually an agerelated process, which causes blurred vison, loss of contrast or glare. Cataract can be treated by surgery during which your natural cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens.

These days there are many artificial lenses to choose from and each provides different benefits for post operative vision.

At the Vale Eye Surgeons clinic, we can advise you on which of these lenses will fit your lifestyle best, as well as discuss options for less dependence on glasses after your surgery.

As we get older, some of us have fairly good vison but we need reading glasses, why is that?

When our eyes mature two things happen to the natural lens of the eyeit gets stiffer and becomes cloudy.

Clouding is called a cataract and leads to blurry vison, loss of contrast or glare. Whereas loss of the lens elasticity causes reduction in the range of close-up vision and in most people, this is the reason for needing reading glasses. This is called Presbyopia and it is not synonymous with cataract.

The two processes are caused by a different issue with your natural lens. However, both can be addressed by one procedure - cataract surgery. If you are interested in glasses independence after cataract surgery, please come and have a chat with us.

What are your future plans for the clinic?

Our ultimate goal would be to open our very own eye theatre. Currently we each take our Vale patients to be operated on in established private hospitals in the Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff and Newport. We hope to build links with other clinics in Cardiff, so we can provide eye services to a wider community. We also would like to offer a wider range of aesthetic treatments to our patients partnering with a local plastic surgeon.

VALE EYE SURGEONS

Treatments and services

n Ophthalmic consultations n YAG laser treatments for lens polish n Cataract surgery n Blepharoplasty n Removal of lid lumps and bumps n Pterygium removal n Botox

MEET THE PARTNERS Thomas Betts Tom

I am a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the University Hospital of Wales. I am experienced in providing general ophthalmology care, cataract surgery and I have a specialist interest in oculoplastic surgery. This encompasses eyelid position and cosmetic eyelid surgery, watery eye surgery and the treatment of cancer around the eye. I also deliver botulinum toxin (Botox) treatment.

I graduated from The University of Dundee Medical School in 2007 and subsequently completed general ophthalmology training in Wales. I spent two years undertaking subspeciality training in oculoplastic surgery as a Fellow at Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand.

In 2020 I returned to a consultant position at The University Hospital of Wales. I am the ophthalmic lead for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Skin Cancer Service and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Cardiff University School of Optometry and Vision Science.

My Vale Life...

I really love living in The Vale of Glamorgan with my young family. I am a keen sportsperson and enjoy multisport activities. Training for races in the Vale is such a treat with so many fantastic cycling and running opportunities on the doorstep. My personal highlight was completing Ironman in Copenhagen. This year I am getting into surfski paddling and the team at Pen-y-bont Surf Life Saving Club have been very encouraging.

When we get the time to eat out, I tend to head to the Bush Inn in St. Hilary. Andy and Liz have created such a welcoming family environment and the food is always delicious.

Meet The Partners

Magdalena Popiela Magda

I am a cornea and anterior segment specialist at the clinic. I also work as Consultant Ophthalmologist in the University Hospital of Wales.

Apart from general ophthalmology I look after patients who are interested in refractive cataract surgery, dry eyes and anyone with problems of the anterior segment of the eye. I really enjoy doing complicated lens calculations. I am a go to person for anyone who had refractive surgery in the past or has current problems with their cornea and now wishes to undergo cataract surgery.

I graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2007 and subsequently completed my ophthalmology training in Wales. I have undertaken a cornea and anterior segment fellowship in Southampton. My initial consultant job took me to Gibraltar, where I set up corneal services and performed the first ever corneal transplant there. In 2022 I decided to return to Wales due to work and family commitments. I currently live in Cardiff with my husband, two children and our Labradoodle puppy.

My Vale Life...

I have always loved the Vale of Glamorgan as it is so picturesque. The Vale was the first place I visited when I moved down to Wales for my ophthalmology job in 2009. I also have a distant family connection to the Vale - my maternal uncle used to live here, and my mother spent her summer holiday in The Vale of Glamorgan as a teenager. In 2009 we tried to trace her steps and came across my favourite beach in the Vale - Southerndown. I enjoy walks along the coast and paddle boarding. We are looking for a new house and I might just convince my husband to move closer to the clinic and the coast.

Our favourite place to eat in the Vale, as a group, I would have to say is the Bear hotel - it is most frequently visited for business dinners. It is so nice to walk from the clinic to the restaurant. I also like visiting Lanerch Vineyard, sitting outside among the vines and tasting the produce. I am very glad we have had an opportunity to open the clinic is such a wonderful location. I do enjoy my scenic drive to work.

Ryan Davies

I am a general Ophthalmologist with a special interest in Paediatric eye conditions, strabismus (squints), and complex cataract surgery.

I also work as a Consultant at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. I enjoy all aspects of ophthalmology and being a Paediatric Ophthalmologist gives me the opportunity to maintain a broad skill set.

My Vale Life...

I have lived in The Vale of Glamorgan for the best part of a decade, along with my wife, two children and Border Terrier. We lived in St Nicholas for a period of time but now closer to Cowbridge. We are very settled here so the opportunity to open the clinic in Cowbridge was too good to miss.

My main role of course is social secretary and taxi driver for my two children. Fortunately, the Vale has more than enough activities in its vicinity to keep them entertained, weather depending of course.

Vale Eye Surgeons don’t just offer clinical or restorative surgery. The clinic also provides cosmetic surgery through association with Mr Richard Karoo. Richard tells us more.