Mr Mario Saldanha is a Consultant Corneal, Cataract and Refractive Surgeon at Sancta Maria Hospital, Swansea. He is a director of Eye Wales and holds an Honorary Senior Lectureship at Cardiff University.

Mr Saldanha has been invited to the faculty of the American Academy of Ophthalmology to teach corneal transplantation technique, one of only a very small number of UK surgeons to receive this invitation. He is the only surgeon in Wales offering accelerated cross-linking for keratoconus on both the NHS and privately, and the only corneal subspecialist providing expertise to the populations of Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda health boards.

Specialist Interests

• Corneal transplant surgery (DMEK and lamellar keratoplasty)
• Keratoconus management and accelerated corneal cross-linking
• Advanced cataract surgery with premium intraocular lenses
• Refractive lens exchange
• Complex anterior segment surgery
• Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy

Conditions Treated and Procedures Offered at Sancta Maria Hospital

Mr Saldanha offers private consultations and surgical treatment for a range of corneal, cataract and refractive conditions at Sancta Maria Hospital. His corneal practice covers DMEK (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty), lamellar keratoplasty and corneal transplant surgery for conditions including Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy and other corneal diseases. He offers accelerated corneal cross-linking for keratoconus, advanced cataract surgery using monofocal, monofocal plus, extended depth of focus and multifocal intraocular lenses for spectacle independence, refractive lens exchange, and complex anterior segment procedures including secondary IOLs, sutured lenses and iris clip lenses.

Corneal Transplantation

Mr Saldanha helped pioneer the technique of DMEK (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) at the University of Toronto, a minimally invasive corneal transplant procedure that replaces only the diseased inner layer of the cornea through a tiny keyhole incision, without the need for stitches. This approach offers significantly better outcomes than traditional full-thickness corneal transplants, with faster recovery and a lower risk of rejection. He has performed over 150 corneal transplants and is the only UK surgeon invited to teach this technique at the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Cataract Surgery

Mr Saldanha has performed over 1,000 cataract surgeries and offers a full range of intraocular lens options to suit each patient’s visual needs and lifestyle, including premium lenses for patients who wish to be spectacle independent after surgery.

Research and Academic Roles

Mr Saldanha holds an Honorary Senior Lectureship at Cardiff University and has contributed chapters and articles to textbooks and academic journals in corneal and refractive surgery. He has been awarded the Best Paper prize at the European Cornea and Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, and the Ethicon Foundation Travel Award from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. He is a member of the UKISCRS (UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons) committee board, and is invited faculty at both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the European Board of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

Professional Memberships

• Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS)
• Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth)
• UKISCRS committee board member
• Director, Eye Wales

Mr Saldanha’s NHS practice is at Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board.