Dr. Asterios Diafas
Ocular OncologyVitreoretinal Surgery
+30 694 240 6078asterisdiafas@hotmail.com

Asterios Diafas

Ophthalmic surgeon
Specialist in Ocular Oncology and Vitreoretinal Surgery.

MD · MSc · MScRes · PhD(c) FEBO FRCOphth 35+ peer-reviewed
Dr. Asterios Diafas.
Curriculum Vitae

Dr Asterios Diafas is an ophthalmologist specialising in ocular oncology, vitreoretinal surgery and cataract surgery. He has trained and worked at leading ophthalmic centres in the United Kingdom and internationally, gaining extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of ocular tumours, retinal diseases and macular conditions.

Alongside his clinical practice, Dr Diafas is actively involved in research, education and academic ophthalmology. His particular interests include ocular tumours, retinal diseases, and advances in the imaging, diagnosis and treatment of complex ophthalmic conditions.

Through this website, Dr Diafas aims to provide clear, reliable and accessible information about eye conditions, their symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. It also offers an overview of his clinical interests, professional experience and academic work, helping patients and colleagues better understand his areas of expertise.

A. Professional activity – Experience & Specialisation

He has completed extensive subspecialty training at leading ophthalmology centres in the United Kingdom, gaining significant experience in the diagnosis and management of diseases of the posterior segment of the eye. Specifically, he specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of intraocular tumours, such as uveal melanoma, choroidal metastases and retinoblastoma, as well as benign ocular tumours and conjunctival tumours.

In addition, he is an expert in the diagnosis and surgical management of vitreoretinal diseases, including retinal detachment, macular disorders, diabetic retinopathy and intraocular haemorrhages, as well as in the use of laser techniques and intravitreal injections for retinal diseases. In addition, he has extensive experience in cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation, including complex cases and intraocular lens exchange.

B. Education & Academic Career

He is a graduate of the Medical School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He worked as an ophthalmology resident at Xanthi General Hospital and at the 2nd University Ophthalmology Department of Papageorgiou General Hospital in Thessaloniki.

Since 2020 he has held the Certificate of Completion of Specialty Training in Ophthalmology as well as the European Board of Ophthalmology qualification (FEBO).

Since 2021 he has been working in the United Kingdom, where he subspecialised in ocular oncology at Liverpool University Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. He also subspecialised in vitreoretinal surgery at Liverpool University Hospital, Cheltenham General Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital.

From 2026 he holds a Consultant post in Ocular Oncology at Moorfields Eye Hospital.

He holds two postgraduate degrees, in Medical Research Methodology and Ophthalmic Imaging, and is a PhD candidate in Ocular Oncology at the University of Thessaly, in collaboration with the University of Liverpool.

C. Research – Publications – Distinctions

He maintains an active research and academic profile, participating in multicentre clinical studies, teaching and supervising postgraduate students. He has published numerous scientific papers in high-impact international journals and regularly presents lectures and talks at international conferences.

His CV includes important distinctions and scholarships. He received the “E. Gragoudas” scholarship from the Panhellenic Ophthalmological Society, ranking first in nationwide examinations, which enabled him to attend the Harvard Medical School “Lancaster Course in Ophthalmology” in the United States. He also received a scholarship from the Greek Vitreoretinal Society in 2020 for further training in the United Kingdom, and since 2025 he has been selected for the Euretina Mentorship Programme.

Training & Career

Education & Academic Qualifications

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Thessaloniki, Greece.

Master of Science (MSc) in Ophthalmic Imaging

Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Alexandroupoli, Greece.

Master of Science (MSc) in Medical Research Methodology

Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Thessaloniki, Greece.

PhD Candidate in Ocular Oncology

Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly (UTH), Larissa, Greece, in collaboration with the University Hospital of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Professional Qualifications

Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO)

European Board of Ophthalmology Examination · Paris, France

Certified Ophthalmic Surgeon – Specialist in Ophthalmology (CCT)

Certificate of Specialist Training in Ophthalmology · Greece

Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth)

Royal College of Ophthalmologists · United Kingdom

Ophthalmology Residency

Resident in Ophthalmology

Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Xanthi, Xanthi, Greece.

Resident in Ophthalmology

2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), “Papageorgiou General Hospital”, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Fellowship Training

Vitreoretinal Fellow

St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Ocular Oncology Fellow

St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Vitreoretinal Fellow

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cheltenham General Hospital, Cheltenham, United Kingdom.

Vitreoretinal Fellow

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Ocular Oncology Fellow

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Medical Retina Fellow

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Current Appointments

Consultant in Ocular Oncology

Ocular Oncology Department, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Director of the Ocular Oncology Department

European Interbalkan Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Awards, Scholarships & Professional Distinctions

Scholarships

Harvard Medical School Honorary Scholarship

Awarded a scholarship by Professor Evangelos S. Gragoudas (Harvard Medical School) to attend “The Lancaster Course in Ophthalmology” in Massachusetts, USA. Selected as the sole scholarship recipient among the applicants following a nationwide competitive examination.

Greek Vitreo-Retinal Society (GVRS) Scholarship

Awarded the annual honorary scholarship of the Greek Vitreoretinal Society (GVRS) to undertake advanced training in Vitreoretinal Surgery at St. Paul’s Eye Unit, Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Professional Distinctions

2nd Prize Poster Award – Ophthalmology Away Day 2021

Awarded second place for the scientific presentation “Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy Associated with SARS-CoV-2”, recognising excellence in clinical research and academic presentation.

EURETINA Observership Programme

Selected to participate in an international clinical observership at Lariboisière Hospital, Paris, under the supervision of Professor of Ophthalmology Aude Couturier, with specialised exposure to retinal surgery and advanced retinal imaging.

EURETINA Mentorship Programme 2025–2026

Selected to participate in the EURETINA Mentorship Programme, under the guidance of Professor of Ophthalmology Jens Folke Kiilgaard, an internationally recognised expert in ocular oncology and retinal diseases.

Collaborators

Sofia Androudi

retinauveitis.gr

Sofia Androudi, MD, PhD is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Thessaly and an ophthalmic surgeon specialising in retinal diseases and ocular inflammation. She has extensive international clinical and academic experience, including postgraduate training at Harvard University and Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

Her clinical expertise includes complex vitreoretinal surgery, retinal diseases, uveitis and ocular immunology. She has an extensive international research and teaching portfolio, with numerous publications, invited lectures and academic distinctions.

Irene Oustoglou

isight.gr

Dr Eirini Oustoglou is an Ophthalmic Surgeon and holds a PhD from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), as well as a Master’s degree in Public Health. She completed her ophthalmology training at the 2nd University Department of Ophthalmology at Papageorgiou Hospital, gaining extensive clinical and surgical experience.

She is currently a consultant at the Interbalkan Medical Center in Thessaloniki, with a particular focus on cataract surgery and the management of retinal diseases. Alongside her clinical practice, she maintains an active involvement in academic and research activities, participating in scientific and continuing medical education initiatives in the field of modern ophthalmology.

Maria Samouilidou

Dr Maria Samouilidou is an ophthalmic surgeon who has been working at “Papageorgiou” University Hospital since 2021 as an Academic Fellow of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). She runs a private ophthalmology practice and is a collaborating ophthalmologist at Interbalkan Medical Center, Thessaloniki.

She graduated from the Medical School of AUTH and completed her ophthalmology residency at the 2nd Department of Ophthalmology at “Papageorgiou” Hospital. She is a Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO), with a particular interest in the diagnosis and management of retinal and macular diseases, as well as glaucoma and cataract.

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