Athanasios (Thanos) Vardarinos

About

I'm a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, specialising in medical retina with a particular focus on age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). I studied Medicine at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, graduating in 2000, and completed a PhD there in 2008.

I hold a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Ophthalmology from Greece (2011) and undertook further specialist training with a Medical Retina Fellowship at the University Hospitals of Leicester. I'm a Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology and a Member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK).

Since joining West Suffolk Hospital in 2013, I’ve been instrumental in developing a comprehensive ARMD service. I introduced new therapies for exudative ARMD, pioneered proactive and individualised treatment pathways—now adopted nationally—and consistently deliver high-quality outcomes for patients. In January 2023, I was appointed Clinical Lead and have continued to drive service development, support recruitment, and expand the team.

I have an active research background, with publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at national and international conferences, and involvement in multicentre clinical trials.

I'm currently collaborating with Newmedica Suffolk to establish a pioneering service offering novel treatment options for patients with non-exudative (dry) ARMD—marking a first for the region.