Focus 01
Cataract & lens surgery
Routine and complex cataract surgery, with lens planning that may include toric, multifocal and enhanced depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses when clinically appropriate.
Profile & experience
A career across surgery, teaching and retinal science
Prof. Dr. Amer Awan is a UK-trained, CCT-certified Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist with more than 25 years of clinical and surgical experience across Cataract, Refractive and Vitreoretinal Surgery.
At Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, he combines comprehensive patient care with complex surgery, postgraduate education, research and participation in national and international ophthalmology meetings.
Qualifications listed on the current public profile
MBBS (KE), MRCS (Edinburgh), MRCOphth (London), FRCSEd, FRCOphth (London), FRCS (Glasgow), CCT (UK), FACS (USA), FASRS (USA)
Current role
Chief of Ophthalmology, Shifa International Hospital
Academic role
Professor of Ophthalmology, Shifa College of Medicine (STMU)
Subspecialty
Fellowship-trained Vitreoretinal Surgeon
Practice
Cataract, Retina and Refractive Surgery
Surgical practice
Experience across cataract, refractive and retinal surgery
Care is planned around the condition, the health of the whole eye and the patient's visual priorities. No single procedure or lens is appropriate for every patient.
Focus 02
Refractive surgery
Assessment and treatment planning across PRK, LASIK, Femto LASIK, implantable collamer lenses (ICL) and refractive lens exchange.
Focus 03
Vitreoretinal surgery
Adult and paediatric retinal care, including complex retinal disease and sutureless microincision vitrectomy using 25- and 27-gauge systems.
Microincision vitreoretinal surgery
Prof. Amer Awan was an early adopter of 27-gauge vitrectomy in South Asia. His retinal practice includes advanced sutureless microincision vitrectomy using both 25- and 27-gauge systems, with the operative approach selected after examination and imaging.
Training & development
Built through specialist training and continued practice
Training in Pakistan and the United Kingdom established the foundation for his current clinical, teaching and research work.
Stage 01
Medical foundation
Medical graduate of King Edward Medical College, followed by postgraduate ophthalmology training and Royal College examinations in the United Kingdom.
Stage 02
UK specialist training
Completed UK specialist training with CCT and fellowships of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Royal Colleges of Surgeons.
Stage 03
Vitreoretinal fellowship
Specialised fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery at the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology in Glasgow.
Stage 04
Surgical leadership
Completed surgical leadership study through Harvard Medical School and continues clinical, teaching and research work in Islamabad.
International education
Sharing surgical experience with the profession
Conference lectures, instructional courses, live surgical demonstrations and research presentations extend his educational work across Pakistan and international ophthalmology meetings.
Postgraduate education
Professor of Ophthalmology at Shifa College of Medicine and a supervisor within Shifa's postgraduate ophthalmology programme.
Examining & professional service
Examiner for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in London and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, with service in national and international ophthalmic societies.
Research & clinical trials
Author of peer-reviewed work and a principal investigator in multicentre studies including the Asia Pacific Ocular Trauma Study and the ALVOEYE wet AMD trial.
Selected recognition
- American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) Honor Award — July 2026
- Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award
- President's Award of Excellence
- Lateef Chaudhry Gold Medal for vitreoretinal services in Pakistan
Invited surgical faculty
Operative teaching at national ophthalmology meetings
Selected invitations to contribute operative teaching and surgical demonstrations at cataract and vitreoretinal meetings in Pakistan.
December 2019
Invited cataract surgeon
Performed premium cataract surgery at a Pakistan Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting in Lahore.
August 2017
Vitreoretinal workshop surgical faculty
Contributed to an Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan vitreoretinal workshop at Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi.
February 2017
Invited vitreoretinal surgeon
Participated in the OSP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vitreoretinal workshop at the national ophthalmological meeting in Peshawar.
May 2016
Guest vitreoretinal surgeon
Invited to contribute to a Pakistan Vitreoretinal Society symposium at Mughal Eye Hospital in Lahore.