Why did I choose to become an eye surgeon?

It’s quite a personal story in that when I was 11 years old; my great aunt had cataract surgery. Before she had surgery she had severe diabetes which gave her very, very bad cataracts and her vision deteriorated to the point where she was very visually disabled, and she needed a lot of care. And she was a remarkable, very independent woman.

And as an 11-year-old, I went to the hospital and saw the process of cataract surgery, and the impact it had on her life was absolutely profound. And it left a big mark on me as an 11-year-old. And although I knew I wanted to become a doctor and help people, I think having seen that, it naturally… I was drawn in the direction of eye surgery and the massive impact it has on quality of life for patients.

More about Alex J Shortt

Alex J Shortt is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Grange Eye Consultants. With many years of experience and expertise in Corneal surgery, Cataract surgery, and Refractive surgery, he is providing his patients with a wide range of treatment options. As he has worked as a consultant and trainer in advanced technologies for correcting vision for over 14 years, he has a broad knowledge of various eye conditions and can, therefore, find the best suitable solution for every individual client. Apart from working as an Ophthalmic Surgeon, Mr Shortt is also involved as an editorial board member of the Cochrane Collaboration’s Eyes and Vision Group and expert advisor to the European Medicines Agency.