Professor Colm McAlinden is a highly distinguished, multi-award-winning Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon specialising in advanced cataract, cornea and refractive surgery at Sancta Maria Hospital.

Prof McAlinden is dedicated to delivering the highest standards of care, remaining at the forefront of the latest advancements in eye surgery. Patients appreciate his warm and friendly approach, and he is known for making them feel comfortable and at ease. He takes the time to listen to your concerns, understands your needs, and personalises his surgical approach to ensure the best possible outcome for you. With Prof McAlinden, you can feel confident that you’re in caring and capable hands. Visit I Want Great Care to see Prof McAlinden’s patient reviews.

Widely recognised as a “surgeon’s surgeon,” Professor McAlinden is frequently sought out by fellow doctors, nurses, and allied healthcare professionals to perform their own eye surgeries, the ultimate testament to his clinical skill and reputation. With Professor McAlinden, you can be entirely confident that your vision is in caring, world-class hands.

Background training:

Professor McAlinden’s expertise is backed by extensive, elite training at some of the world’s leading ophthalmology institutions. After attending medical school and completing his postgraduate ophthalmic specialist training in Wales, he achieved Fellowship status with both the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the European Board of Ophthalmology.

He went on to complete prestigious, specialist fellowship training in Cornea and Cataract at the world-renowned Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. Further cementing his sub-specialist expertise, he earned the Certificate in Laser and Refractive Surgery (CertLRS) from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and was elected a Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery and Visual Sciences. His international experience includes time spent at the Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear hospital in Boston, USA, alongside a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education from the University of Cambridge.

Research:

Professor McAlinden bridges the gap between cutting-edge science and clinical practice. He holds five degrees in total, including three advanced research degrees (a Master’s, PhD, and MD), and completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at Flinders University in Australia. He firmly believes that active academic research refines his critical thinking and problem-solving, directly translating into safer, more advanced surgical outcomes for his patients.

• Research Funding & Innovation: He has been awarded numerous prestigious research grants. Notably, he is a Co-applicant on a £1.7 million funding grant from Health and Care Research Wales for the development of the Centre for Vision Services Research (CVSR) within Cardiff University. The CVSR is dedicated to advancing innovation, equity, and sustainability in eye care, aiming to deliver research-driven improvements in access, quality, and outcomes for those affected by sight problems.
• Global Impact: He holds an exceptional H-index of 72 with over 195 publications in prestigious, peer-reviewed medical journals and has authored a number of authoritative book chapters.
• Peer Review & Grant Assessment: Trusted by the wider scientific community, he serves as an expert grant reviewer for major funding bodies and regularly reviews submissions for leading peer-reviewed medical journals.
• International Lecturer: A frequent speaker on the global stage, he is regularly invited to lecture at national and international conferences, congresses, and meetings. His contributions include presenting cutting-edge research results, chairing key meeting sessions, and delivering invited, named keynote lectures.
• Global Academic Positions: He holds positions as a Visiting Professor at the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University (Shanghai) and Wenzhou Medical University (China).
• Innovation & Clinical Tools: Professor McAlinden developed the Quality of Vision (QoV) questionnaire, which has become a household name within international ophthalmology. It is globally utilised throughout clinical practice, by universities, clinics, and independent clinicians and researchers. Furthermore, it serves as a vital tool for assessing surgical outcomes in clinical trials and research studies.
• Industry Collaboration & Advisory Roles: He works closely with the medical industry, including many of the leading companies that develop intraocular lenses used in cataract surgery. Acting as a consultant and Key Opinion Leader (KOL), he is frequently appointed to prestigious medical advisory boards. Furthermore, he collaborates with numerous companies to support new product approvals through major regulatory bodies, such as the FDA in the USA, helping to steer the future of ophthalmic technology.

Leadership, Teaching & Mentorship

Beyond his clinical practice, Professor McAlinden is deeply involved in shaping the future of ophthalmology through senior educational, instructional, and advisory roles:

• Postgraduate & Undergraduate Education: He is the Co-lead for the OPT026: Cataract and Refractive Surgery postgraduate module at Cardiff University and is actively involved in the teaching and training of medical students.
• Surgical Instruction: He is passionately involved in hands-on clinical teaching, instructing surgeons-in-training both in the UK and internationally through specialised wet labs and dry labs.
• Academic Mentorship: He dedicates substantial time to training the next generation of NHS junior doctors. He currently supervises two PhD students at Cardiff University, one researching the optimisation of corneal cross-linking therapy for keratoconus management, and another focusing on patient-reported outcomes.
• Research Mentorship: He supervises and mentors trainee talent within clinical research, supporting candidates under prestigious schemes including the Emerging Researcher Award and the Zakarian Award (awarded by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists).
• National Leadership & Standards: He serves as the Treasurer of the British Society for Refractive Surgery (BSRS) and acts as a PROM (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) advisor to the National Audit for Cataract Surgery with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
• Editorial Contributions: He sits on the editorial boards of seven peer-reviewed medical journals.

Awards & Honours

Professor McAlinden’s clinical excellence and research contributions have been recognised through numerous prestigious national and international accolades, including:

• Théa International Contest of Clinical Cases in Pathologies of the Eye: Trophy UK National Winner
• Patrick Trevor-Roper Award: Awarded by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists
• Foulkes Foundation Fellowship
• Obstbaum Award
• Kestrel Cup Winner
• Welsh Ophthalmic Forum (WOF) Award

Qualifications & Professional Memberships

• FWCRS – Fellow, World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences
• FRCOphth – Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, London
• FEBO – Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology
• CertLRS – Certificate in Laser and Refractive Surgery, Royal College of Ophthalmologists
• MD – Doctor of Medicine, College of Medicine, Swansea University
• PhD – Doctor of Philosophy, University of Ulster
• MSc – Master of Science, University of Ulster
• MB BCh – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Swansea University
• BSc (Hons) – Optometry (First Class Honours), Cardiff University
• PG Cert (Med Ed) – Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education, University of Cambridge