About Professor Simunovic
About Professor Simunovic
Matthew Simunovic is an eye surgeon specialising in surgery and diseases of the retina and vitreous in children and adults. His clinical training was undertaken in Australia, North America and the United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (FRANZCO) and has been elected to the Macula Society, USA. Matthew is a senior specialist vitreoretinal surgeon at Sydney Eye Hospital and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, in addition to being Professor of Ophthalmology & Visual Science at the University of Sydney.
Prof. Simunovic attended medical school at the University of Cambridge (MB BChir with distinction in medicine & surgery), where he also gained his PhD (for a thesis entitled The Cone Dystrophies). He completed specialist ophthalmic surgical training at Sydney Eye Hospital and undertook subspecialty fellowship training at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London and the John Radcliffe Hospital/Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford.
Prof. Simunovic’s clinical practice focuses on vitreoretinal surgery, medical retina and cataract surgery (including sutured and sutureless scleral fixation techniques for intraocular lenses).
Teaching
Prof. Simunovic is actively engaged in training and assessing the next generation of eye surgeons and retinal specialists as the vitreoretinal surgery fellowship director at Sydney Eye Hospital and as an examiner for the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists’ Advanced Clinical Examination. He also participates in Sight for All’s fellowship training program, delivering in-person and virtual patient care and surgical mentoring/teaching in South East Asia.
Research
In addition to caring for patients, Prof. Simunovic is actively involved in laboratory and clinical research into emerging treatments for retinal disease and experimental vitreoretinal surgery. He has received major research funding support from the Foundation Fighting Blindness, USA, the Global Ophthalmology Awards Program, the Sydney Medical School Foundation, the Macular Disease Foundation Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Foundation (NHMRC), the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation and the Macula Society, USA. Matthew also serves on the boards of the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation, Australian Vision Research (formerly ORIA) and internationally on the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology’s research standing committee.
Qualifications
- MB BChir - Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (with distinction in Medicine & Surgery), University of Cambridge
- PhD - Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge
- FRANZCO - Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmology residency
- Sydney Eye Hospital
Fellowship training
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital/University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Prizes and awards
- Foundation Fighting Blindness Career Development Award
- Elected to the Macula Society, USA
- RANZCO Eye Foundation/Novartis Fellowship
- Bayer Global Ophthalmology Awards Program Fellowship
- ARVO MIT Outstanding Poster Award
- ARVO International Travel Grant
- RANZCO/Bayer Australia Scholarship
- Sydney Eye Hospital Alumni Association Travelling Fellowship
- Norman Rose Travelling Scholarship, Sydney Hospitallers
- The Duke-Elder Examination Prize, Royal College of Ophthalmologists
- The Patrick Trevor-Roper Award, Royal College of Ophthalmologists
- Foulkes Foundation Fellowship, The Foulkes Foundation
- The Packer Scholarship, Cambridge Commonwealth Trust
- The Wellcome Research Prize, The Wellcome Trust
- Department of Surgery Prize, University of Cambridge
- E. M. Burnett Prize, University of Cambridge
- The Denis Dooley Prize, University of Cambridge
- W.D. Wright Award, Colour Group of Great Britain
- Research Scholarship, Cambridge Philosophical Society
Prof Simunovic pictured with the Governor General receiving a major grant awarded by the Macular Disease Foundation Australia.
In the media
Dr Simunovic has featured a number of times in the media. You can see some examples of his work by selecting the link below.
Research
Dr Simunovic is actively engaged in research into retinal diseases. Read his list of publications by selecting the link below.
LOCATIONS
APPOINTMENTS
You may book an appointment with Professor Simunovic by calling one of our locations. If you are preparing for a visit, please read this important information prior to your appointment
