Prof. Paulo E Stanga
Professor of Ophthalmology & Retinal Regeneration – University of Manchester
Consultant Ophthalmologist & Vitreoretinal Surgeon – Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
Prof. Paulo E. Stanga has worked in Ophthalmology for over 20 years and is currently a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal Surgeon for the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. He is also Professor of Ophthalmology and Retinal Regeneration for the University of Manchester and Member of the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre.
Prof. Stanga specialises in vitreo-retinal disorders that require either medical or surgical treatment, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy, retinal vein occlusions, macular hole, retinal detachment and ocular trauma.
Since 1993, Prof. Stanga has worked in the development and application of new outpatient and surgical therapies and technologies. He has also set up and runs a Retina Research Fellowship Program.
Prof. Stanga has also significantly contributed towards the field of Retinal Imaging.
In 1998, Prof. Stanga introduced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging into the clinical setting in the UK. This technology is now an indispensable and everyday use examination tool in Ophthalmology.
In 2006, Prof. Stanga introduced into the EU the new retinal laser photocoagulation system Pattern Scan Laser (Pascal®) and since then has been developing new retinal laser photocoagulation techniques/strategies for the treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy. As a result of the research that Prof. Stanga leads, the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and the University of Manchester are now one of the world leaders in this field. Prof. Stanga also pioneers surgery for artificial vision in blindness that includes electronic epiretinal prosthesis implantation or “bionic eye”. Prof. Stanga is just one of only 4 doctors in the world currently being able to offer this surgery. The Argus II implant, developed by American company Second Sight, aims to restore a basic level of useful vision in patients blind due to degenerative diseases of the outer retina.
In 2010, Prof, Stanga et al demonstrated the feasibility of patients implanted with the Argus II device of identifying high contrast letters and mentally constructing short words. One of the Manchester patients – a 51-year-old man – was the first subject to undergo word recognition testing in a clinical trial.
In 2011, Prof. Stanga et al demonstrated the feasibility of patients implanted with the Argus II device of identifying colours. Manchester Royal Eye Hospital is one of the largest eye teaching hospitals in Europe. Globally acknowledged as a centre of excellence, the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital is renowned for its work in all aspects of ophthalmology, attracting patients from overseas for private treatment, and surgeons from many countries who come to benefit from highly specialised additional training.