Mr Stephen Lash

Professional statement

Mr Stephen Lash is a distinguished and highly respected consultant ophthalmic surgeon who specialises in cataract surgery, vitreous floaters, epiretinal membrane, macular hole, vitreomacular traction as well as super specialisation in the area of lens exchange. Mr Lash also specialises in YAG laser capsulotomy, dislocated lenses, scleral haptic fixation, retinal detachment, and advanced diabetic retinopathy surgery. He is currently practising at the Nuffield Health Wessex Hospital, the Optegra Eye Hospital Hampshire, Spire Southampton Hospital, and the Optegra Eye Hospital Surrey.

Mr Lash completed a BSc in ophthalmic optics at Aston University in 1993, completing his training at Essex County Hospital. Here, he was awarded a national prize (The George Wheatcroft Prize) for performance in his professional qualifying examinations. He went on to study medicine at University of Southampton medical school, and was awarded the Edith Hewitt prize for his performance in medical finals, and was twice runner up in the national Duke Elder Ophthalmology examination. Subsequently, he successfully completed further ophthalmic training at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth as well as at The University of Southampton Eye unit.

During the last years of his surgical training, he completed an MBA at the University of Southampton and was awarded the CMI Prize for the top mark in his year. He finished his training with a Vitreoretinal Fellowship at the prestigious Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Melbourne, Australia, before taking up his consultant post at the University of Southampton in 2010.

Mr Lash is the senior vitreoretinal surgeon at the University Hospital Southampton and former lead of this service, where he has been a consultant for over 12 years. He is also the national VR lead for Optegra where he was previously the medical director. He is a frequent speaker at national and international meetings and is passionate about teaching and training. He trains VR Fellows in his NHS post and also leads a course on lens dislocation for other consultants for the Royal College Of Ophthalmologists. He is a director of Lash Eye Care.