Dr. Siempis Thomas
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Dr Thomas Siempis is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon specialising in Glaucoma, Cataract and Advanced Anterior Segment Surgery with a special interest in Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery.
He graduated from the School of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and then spent nine years in the United Kingdom where he completed his Ophthalmology Specialty Training and did his first fellowship in Glaucoma and Cataract surgery at the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology in Glasgow.
Dr Siempis went on to complete the highly competitive and prestigious Glaucoma and Advanced Anterior Segment Fellowship (GAASS) at the University of Toronto in Canada, working as an associate of Dr Ike Ahmed, one of the leading Glaucoma and Advanced anterior segment surgeons in the world. Dr Ahmed was listed as the most influential Ophthalmologist in the world for 2024 in the Power List of the "The Ophthalmologist" website. Upon completion of his fellowship, Dr Siempis was appointed Consultant Ophthalmologist at King’s College Hospital in London.
He has now returned in his hometown, Thessaloniki and sees patients at his new and fully equipped private practice in the centre of Thessaloniki as well as in the private hospital of St Luke’s where he is the lead doctor of the Glaucoma and Anterior Segment clinic. Dr Siempis works also as a part time Consultant Ophthalmologist at Newmedica Bristol, UK
Dr Siempis has significant experience in all aspects of ophthalmology due to his comprehensive training in the United Kingdom. With regards to his glaucoma specialisation, in addition to the classic glaucoma operations of Trabeculectomy and Ahmed and Baerveldt Glaucoma Drainage Devices, the doctor has performed hundreds of surgeries using glaucoma micro implants and devices such as iStent® (G1, G2W, Infinite), Hydrus®, iTrack Advance ™, Preserflo® and Xen Gel Stent ® as well as the GATT (Goniotomy Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy) technique. He is certified iStent®, Hydrus ®and Preserflo® surgeon.
All of the above techniques allow for safer surgical treatment of selected glaucoma patients at an earlier stage in order to maintain good functional vision in the long term. In addition, Dr Siempis has significant experience in cataract surgery having completed his residency and fellowship with over 1000 cases and continues to perform a significant number of cases on a monthly basis. At the same time, he has experience in dealing with advanced anterior segment pathology such as unstable cataracts with donesis, IOLs subluxations, IOL exchanges as well as surgical treatment of iris defects with iridoplasty techniques. During his fellowships in the UK and Canada, he performed over 400 glaucoma surgeries and over 400 glaucoma laser treatments and maintains certified logbooks with over 2500 ophthalmic procedures to date.
With respect to his academic interests, Dr Siempis is an Honorary Lecturer in Clinical Medicine at the University of Glasgow since 2021. During his training, he assisted in the undergraduate teaching of Ophthalmology to medical students of University of Bristol and University of Glasgow in the UK as well as of University of Toronto, Canada.
He also has a keen interest for clinical research in ophthalmology, having published various articles in international peer reviewed journals and presented numerous oral and poster presentations at international conferences in Europe and the United States.
He is also been a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of the United Kingdom (FRCOphth) and of the European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO).
| 05/2024-Today |
Private Practice, 110 Mitropoleos Street, Thessaloniki, Greece |
| 01/2024 – Today | Consultant Ophthalmologist with a special interest in Glaucoma and Cataract, Newmedica, Bristol, United Kingdom |
| 12/2023- Today | Lead doctor of the Glaucoma and Anterior Segment clinic at St Luke’s Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece |
| 08/2021 – Today | Honorary Clinical Lecturer, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow |
| 10/2023 – 03/2024 | Consultant Ophthalmologist with a special interest in Glaucoma and Cataract, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom |
| 09/2022-09/2023 | Clinical Fellowship in Glaucoma and Advanced Anterior Segment Surgery, Prism Eye Institute, Credit Valley Hospital και Donald K. Johnson Institute, University of Toronto, Canada |
| 08/2022 | Certificate of Completion of Training and registration on the specialist registry (Ophthalmology) with the General Medical Council in the United Kingdom |
| 08/2021-08/2022 | Clinical Fellowship in Glaucoma and Cataract, Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom |
| 09/2021 | Fellow of Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth) |
| 06/2021 | European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma |
| 08/2015-07/2021 | Specialty Training in Ophthalmology (residency) with National Training Number in Scotland, United Kingdom with rotations at: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Ayrshire and Arran. |
| 08/2014-08/2015 | Foundation Year 2 Doctor with rotations in the Stroke Unit, Cardiology and Trauma & Orthopaedics, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Swindon, United Kingdom |
| 12/2013-07/2014 | Foundation Year 1 doctor with rotations in Elderly Medicine and General Medicine at Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK and Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Swindon, UK |
| 09/2007-07/2013 | Medical Degree, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece |
Dr. Siempis Thomas
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Publications
- Publications
- Presentations
- Surgical videos
Publications
Dr Siempis has a keen interest in clinical research and has published numerous papers in international peer reviewed journals.
He is also an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow. During his training, he participated in the undergraduate teaching of medical students of the University of Bristol and the University of Toronto.
He has also supervised and trained residents in cataract and glaucoma surgery.
Publications:
“Long-Term Outcomes of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Surgery in a Scottish Cohort of Patients With Refractory Glaucoma”. Cureus. 2023 Mar 7;15(3):e35877. doi: 10.7759/cureus.35877. PMID: 37033581; PMCID: PMC10079806
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37033581
“Current Perspectives in Angle Closure Management and the Evolving Role of Laser Peripheral Iridotomy”, Ophthalmology Rounds, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. Volume 15, Issue 3
https://www.ophthalmologyrounds.ca/_files/ugd/b076e2_522ec70d69034adfa67a7315bc945819.pdf
“Evaluation of Clinical and Histological Outcomes of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Rabbit Corneal Alkali Burn Model. Stem Cells Int. 2021 Mar 7;2021:6610023. doi: 10.1155/2021/6610023. PMID: 33763139; PMCID: PMC7964115.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33763139/
“The incidence and management of persistent cystoid macular oedema following uncomplicated cataract surgery-a Scottish Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit study.” Eye (Lond). 2021 Feb;35(2):584-591. doi: 10.1038/s41433-020-0908-y. Epub 2020 May 6. PMID: 32376978; PMCID: PMC7202460.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32376978/
“Twenty-four-month real-world visual outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept as monotherapy for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration”. Oman J Ophthalmol. 2019 May-Aug;12(2):99-103. doi: 10.4103/ojo.OJO_24_2018. PMID: 31198295; PMCID: PMC6561052.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32376978/
“Reduced vision in a diabetic patient due to incidental leukaemic retinopathy”. Clin Exp Optom. 2019 Jan;102(1):91-93. doi: 10.1111/cxo.12808. Epub 2018 Jul 10. PMID: 29989226.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32376978/
“Discontinuation of the herbal preparation Hypericum perforatum, also known as St John's wort, associated with improved intraocular pressure control in a patient on topical beta- blockers for primary open-angle glaucoma”. Oman J Ophthalmol. 2018 May-Aug;11(2):188- 189. doi: 10.4103/ojo.OJO_165_2017. PMID: 29930462; PMCID: PMC5991063.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32376978/
“Ciliary Body Melanoma manifesting as unilateral ocular hypertension and early cataract”.Clin Exp Optom. 2018 Mar;101(2):308-310. doi: 10.1111/cxo.12625. Epub 2017 Nov 2. PMID: 29094468.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...
“Dolichoectasia of the internal carotid artery- a report of two cases masquerading as glaucoma.” Clin Exp Optom. 2018 Mar;101(2):305-307. doi: 10.1111/cxo.12610. Epub 2017 Oct 11. PMID: 29024006.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...
“Allergic Conjunctivitis in Patients with Respiratory Allergic Symptoms; a Retrospective Study in Greece”. Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol. 2017 Spring;6(1):3-9. PMID: 28428968; PMCID: PMC5392226.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...
“Urgent eye care in the UK. Increased demand and challenges for the future”. Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol. 2014 Winter;3(4):103-10. PMID: 25756059; PMCID: PMC4352203.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25756059/
“Allergic Conjunctivitis and The Most Common Allergens In Northern Greece." World Allergy Organ J. 2013 Jul 16;6(1):12. doi: 10.1186/1939-4551-6-12. PMID: 23866689; PMCID: PMC3726364.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23866689/
“Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury and trauma: current concepts". Arch Trauma Res. 2013 Aug;2(2):63-70. doi: 10.5812/atr.12501. Epub 2013 Aug 1. PMID: 24396796; PMCID: PMC3876547.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...
“A para-canalicular abscess resembling an inflamed chalazion." Case Rep Ophthalmol Med; 2013: 618367. Case Rep Ophthalmol Med. 2013;2013:618367. doi: 10.1155/2013/618367. Epub 2013 May 27. PMID: 23762696; PMCID: PMC3673339.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...
“The educational and practical value of clinical audit in Greece: a pilot study by surgical interns. Is it time to adapt a structured way to improve quality in healthcare?"”. AUMJ, 2014 Jun; 41(2).
https://ejournals.lib.auth.gr/...
“Congenital Cataract. Causes and Pathophysiology”. Panoptis Journal. Volume 25, Issue 1, June 2013, pages :17-24
Presentations
Dr Siempis has presented a significant number oral and poster presentations in international conferences in Europe, United Kingdom and United States. A selection of them is presented below.
“Twenty-four month clinical outcomes of iStent Inject®Trabecular Micro-bypass Glaucoma Surgery in West of Scotland”, Royal College of Ophthalmologists Congress, Birmingham, UK, May 2023.
“20 year old female with angle closure, what to do next?”, American Glaucoma Society Grand Rounds, Austin, Texas, USA, March 2023.
“SLT in the management of steroid induced elevation in IOP”, Scottish Ophthalmological Club Virtual meeting, February 2022.
“Clinical outcomes of iStent inject Trabecular micro-bypass glaucoma surgery”, Scottish Ophthalmological Club Virtual meeting, September 2021.
“A Scottish Ophthalmology Surveillance Unit study of persistent Cystoid Macular Oedema following uncomplicated cataract surgery”, Scottish Ophthalmological Club meeting, Edinburgh, February 2020.
“Orbital Pathologies in Children”, ASTOC Congress, Royal Society of Medicine in London, December 2018.
“Visual Field Profile of Glaucoma patients attending a Shared Care Optometry Led clinic”, RCOphth congress, Liverpool, May 2018.
“Twenty four month real world visual outcomes of intravitreal Aflibercept as monotherapy for the treatment of wet AMD – PRN approach in the second year”, COPHY congress, Athens, Greece, March 2018.
“Discontinuation of St John’s wort associated with improved intra-ocular pressures”, Scottish Ophthalmological Club meeting, Glasgow, February 2018.
”Aflibercept Experience in RVO”, Scottish Ophthalmological Club meeting, Stirling, September 2017.
“Tolerability of SimbrinzaTM (brinzolamide/brimonidine tartate ophthalmic suspension 1%/0.2%) in patients with open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension: A retrospective case series. “, Scottish Ophthalmological Club meeting, Stirling, September 2017.
“Comparative biometry in macula off retinal detachments”, EURETINA, Barcelona, September 2017.
“Comparison of biometry data using A-Scan, Lenstar and IOL master in macula off Retinal Detachments undergoing combined phaco-vitrectomy”, RCOphth Congress 2017, Liverpool, May 2017.
“Post-op PredForte® - Is one bottle enough?” Oxford Ophthalmological Congress, Oxford, July 2016.
“The use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Alkali Corneal Burns”, RCOphth Congress 2016, May 2016
"Prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis in an allergic population in Northern Greece”, EVER 2013 conference, September 2013, Nice, France
“Urinalysis documentation in patients admitted with UTI/ Urosepsis”, “Quality Improvement in Clinical Practice: Initiatives from a Foundation Doctor” 2nd National Annual Conference, Stoke Madenville, June 2015.
“Clinical Audit into the pattern and appropriateness of referrals to the Casualty Eye Service at Great Western Hospital (2014)”, ASTOC Congress, Royal Society of Medicine in London, December 2014.
Surgical videos
In this section, a selection of surgical videos is presented. These videos are available on YouTube and Instagram by clicking on the video thumbnail.
It is necessary to log in to YouTube in order to watch the videos as they have an age restriction.
Contact Us
Dr Siempis accepts new consults at his new private practice in the city centre of Thessaloniki that is located at Mitropoleos 110 Street and is equipped with state of the art diagnostic equipment.
He also accepts new patients at St Luke’s Hospital in Panorama.