The Eye Consultants
Mr Christopher Blyth BSC (hons), MBChB (hons), FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Mr Blyth graduated from Liverpool University in 1988. He trained in Manchester, north Wales and Liverpool, first coming to south Wales in 1994. His final year of training was spent at Moorfields Eye Hospital. He became a consultant post at Royal Gwent Hospital on 1 March 1999. He specialises in medical retinal diseases, especially age-related macular degeneration and small incision cataract surgery.
Over the years Mr Blyth has taken on many professional roles. These included director of the Welsh Ophthalmology Training Programme (2000-6), Regional Advisor for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (2006-12), Chairman of the Welsh Retina Group (2006-13), Member of Royal College of Ophthalmologists Council representing Wales (2013-2016), Member of Royal College of Ophthalmologists Professional Standards Committee (2013-16). He also served as Clinical Director of the eye department (2012-2021).
Outside work he enjoys time with his family, walking in the Gwent countryside, photography and reading.
Mr Des O’Duffy
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Desmond O’Duffy studied medicine at University College, Dublin then completed junior ophthalmology training at Plymouth and Wolverhampton, competing his higher surgical training on the Oxford rotation. He did a year’s glaucoma fellowship at The Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia in 1999 before gaining his appointment as a substantive consultant at the Royal Gwent Hospital with a specialist interest in glaucoma. He was Clinical Director for eight years. With his then glaucoma colleague, Mr Andrew Feyi-Waboso, he has developed nurse led, glaucoma shared care clinics and community based optometry glaucoma shared care clinics to help improve access by increasing capacity to the glaucoma services overseen by the glaucoma specialists. As part of the glaucoma sub-specialty service, selective laser trabeculoplasty, augmented trabeculectomies plus Mitomycin C and Baerveldt tube surgery are available for the more straight forward to the more complex glaucoma cases.
Mrs Rita Sengupta
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Ms Rita Sengupta is a Consultant Ophthalmologist with a specialist interest in Medical Retina.
Born in London, she studied medicine at Leicester University, qualifying as a doctor in 1992.
Rita embarked upon a career in Ophthalmology and completed her Higher Surgical Ophthalmic training in South Wales. Following a Fellowship in Medical Retina at the prestigious Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, she was appointed as Consultant Ophthalmologist at The Royal Gwent Hospital in July 2005. She has been a fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists since August 1998.
She is trained in all aspects of Medical Retina including age-related macular degeneration, retinal vascular disorders as well as small-incision cataract surgery.
Rita has a keen interest in diabetic retinopathy and has been the Clinical Lead for Diabetic Retinopathy Services for the last 14 years.
Outside of work Rita is a keen rambler and enjoys exploring the Welsh countryside with her family.
Ms Madhu Mitra
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Ms Madhu Mitra is a Consultant Ophthalmologist with special interest in Medical Retina and Uveitis. She completed Specialist Registrar training from Wales Deanery and fellowship in Medical Retina and Ocular Inflammation from University Hospitals Bristol before taking up the Consultant post in Aneurin Bevan Health Board in 2010. Her work involves general Ophthalmology, Retinal pathologies, Ocular Inflammatory disorders and cataract surgeries. She has helped set up the Referral Refinement pathway for Wet AMD and runs the Rapid Access wet AMD Treatment Service at the Royal Gwent Hospital. She has helped expand the Retina service with the Ophthalmic Diagnostic and Treatment Centre for anti-VEGF treatment for Retinal diseases. She is the ABHB Lead for Ocular Inflammatory diseases and works closely with other specialities for management of vision threatening posterior Uveitis. Ms Mitra is the Educational Supervisor and College Tutor for the Ophthalmology trainees working in the Health Board and works closely with the Specialist Training Committee, Wales Deanery and Royal College of Ophthalmologist to this effect.
Outside work she enjoys family life in Cardiff, with interests including dance, drama, walking and reading. She is a trained Indian Classical dancer, loves teaching children and has organised many Indo-Welsh cultural programmes in Cardiff. As Executive Committee member of few charitable organisations she is involved in charitable fund raising for survivors of natural disaster in UK and India.
Mr Michael Andrew Roberts
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Andrew is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Aneurin Bevan Health Board. Originally from North Wales, he graduated from Bristol University in 1998 with degrees in both Medicine and Anatomy. Before starting his Ophthalmology training he worked in hospital medicine in Sydney, Australia and subsequently at Oxford University teaching Anatomy. His Ophthalmology training was based in South West England and South Wales followed by a specialist fellowship in Oculoplastic, Lacrimal and Orbital Surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London where he was trained by leading experts in this field. Andrew returned to South Wales in 2011 taking up a consultant position at Aneurin Bevan Health Board. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. His areas of expertise include small incision cataract surgery, oculoplastic surgery and lacrimal problems.
Outside work, Mr Roberts enjoys flyfishing and loves being on the River Usk in free time with his three young children.
Miss Ebube Obi
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Miss Obi trained at the Royal Free Hospital and University College School of Medicine, University College London, qualifying in 2001, achieving distinctions in both her Medical degree and a degree in Anatomy and Developmental Biology.
Specialist Training in ophthalmology commenced in 2004. She gained extensive training and a wealth of experience for each of the sub-divisions within ophthalmology in England, Wales & Scotland. During training, she passed both her MRCSEd & MRCOphth exams (Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh & Royal College of Ophthalmologists London). At the end of her specialist training, she passed her FRCOphth exam and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologist, London, in 2013. She received her Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training in 2014.
Miss Obi has undertaken two advanced higher specialist training fellowship programs in oculoplastic, lacrimal and orbital surgery at both University of Leicester Hospitals, Royal Berkshire Hospital and Prince Charles Eye Unit, Windsor.
She is an Honorary Lecturer at Cardiff University, is actively involved in teaching undergraduates and was nominated & recognized for her innovative work by The Centre for Medical Education Recognition, Cardiff University School of Medicine in 2024.
She is involved in clinical research and is the Ophthalmology Departmental Lead for Research at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. She is a Bevan Exemplar, has published Books as well as many peer reviewed Research Papers.
She has been awarded multiple prizes & awards (Distinctions, Merits, Best Presenter, Recognition, and more) The latest being in 2024, by Cardiff University School of Medicine. Her areas of expertise include Cataract surgery, Oculoplastic, Lacrimal, Orbital surgery as well as General Ophthalmology and Tele-Ophthalmology. In her free time she enjoys the company of her Husband & family, Christian activities, as well as taking in the beautiful nature we have been blessed with in Wales!
Mr Ryan Davies
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Mr Ryan Davies is a Consultant Ophthalmologist, with a specialist interest in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. He graduated from the University of Wales college of Medicine with honours in 2008. During that time he also was awarded an intercalated degree in Anatomical sciences. He completed his post graduate foundation training in Cardiff prior to working as a Registrar in emergency medicine in Sydney, Australia. He then returned to Wales to complete specialist training in Ophthalmology and is now a Fellow of the Royal College. Following completion of training he carried out a fellowship at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. Here he gained experience in all areas of paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, including intra-ocular surgery in children with congenital cataracts and glaucoma, complex strabismus, genetics, uveitis and retinopathy of prematurity. In 2019 he was appointed as a substantive consultant at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport. Mr Davies has published a number of research projects, including being awarded a research grant for a national project on the management of congenital dacryocystocoele, in conjunction with the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU). He has also published various book chapters on topics within Ophthalmology. Mr Davies has a keen interest in medical education and has recently been appointed an examiner of the Royal College of Ophthalmology.
Ms Rhianon Reynolds
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Rhianon Perrott-Reynolds qualified as an Optometrist with a degree from Cardiff University in 1997. Following a pre-registration year in Community optometry she undertook a full time PhD at Cardiff investigating ocular blood flow in patients with type 2 Diabetes. During this time she decided to start a medical career and graduated with honours from Cardiff University medical school. Her training in Ophthalmology started in the Wales Deanery in 2010 and after completion of training and a fellowship in Medical Retina and Uveitis at Bristol eye hospital Rhianon took up a consultant post with Aneurin Bevan at the start of 2020. Her main clinical interest is Medical retina and Retinal imaging, Uveitis and cataract surgery.
Rhianon also holds a senior lecturer post at Cardiff University School of Vision science where she supervises PhD students in the Translational Macular Research Group and works with the Vision Services Research Network which is a collaborative across Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor universities as well as the University of South Wales.
Rhianon is the Clinical lead of the department and is also the current National clinical lead for Ophthalmology in Wales and Llywydd of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in Wales, working closely with the NHS Executive and partners in Wales government and other national agencies on shaping eyecare policy for Wales.
Mrs Bushra Thajudeen
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Ms Bushra Thajudeen graduated from Trivandurm Medical College, India in 2002 following which she undertook post graduate training in Ophthalmology (MS) there before coming to the UK for further training. She completed specialist training in Ophthalmology in Wales deanery and did a fellowship in Glaucoma in Bristol eye hospital. She did further fellowship in cornea and anterior segment in Queen's medical centre, Nottingham before being appointed in Royal Gwent Hospital as consultant ophthalmologist with special interest in cornea and glaucoma. Her work includes managing complex corneal conditions, keratoconus, ocular surface pathologies like Steven Johnsons syndrome, oculocicatricial pemphigoid and various types of corneal transplants. She is competent in managing complex glaucoma, performing trabeculectomy and glaucoma drainage device implantation. She is interested in teaching and is an honorary lecturer in school of optometry and vision sciences, Cardiff University. Outside work, she is a keen artist and spends her free time enjoying oil painting and gardening. She has also done illustrations in a few ophthalmology books.
Miss Tina Parmar
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Miss Parmar qualified with a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Birmingham in 2008. She went on to do anatomy demonstrating at the University and began her career in Ophthalmology as a junior glaucoma fellow at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre. She completed her Registrar training within the Wales Deanery where she attained her Fellowship of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. She has now returned as our most recently appointed Consultant in the Aneurin Bevan Health Board following fellowship subspeciality training in lids, lacrimal and orbital surgery at both Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, and the Leicester Royal Infirmary.
During her training, Miss Parmar also achieved a MSc in Functional and Clinical Anatomy from the University of Birmingham as well a certificate for teaching in higher education. She has a passion for teaching and is also the examinations lead for Wales. She has also published journal articles and book chapters and presented at international meetings.
Outside of work she is an avid gym goer to balance out her love of food and loves to travel. She also dabbles in a bit of crafting.
Mr Jonathan Kirk
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Mr Jonathan Kirk is a consultant ophthalmologist and clinical lead for the glaucoma service at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
Since appointment as consultant in 2022, Mr Kirk has introduced a range of new glaucoma procedures at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, including minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedures, and the latest glaucoma shunt devices, with a focus on tailored glaucoma care. He has overseen introduction of the Glaucoma Virtual Hub, widening access to glaucoma surveillance and reducing clinic waiting times, and has promoted optometrist roles within the hospital glaucoma service including laser treatment.
Mr Kirk graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2010 and undertook training in Ophthalmology in the South West region including Bristol and Cheltenham. He carried out further sub-specialist training in glaucoma surgery, at both Bristol Eye Hospital and through the glaucoma clinical fellowship programme at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.
Mr Kirk’s areas of interest include the surgical management of glaucoma including trabeculectomy, glaucoma laser procedures including selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), and surgical teaching. He is a trainer on the Surgical Skills Faculty of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
When not at work, Mr Kirk enjoys singing in a choir, outdoor swimming, and helping to lead a youth group.
Languages spoken: English, Portuguese, Italian.
Bhavana Sharma
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Ms Bhavana Sharma is a consultant Ophthalmologist with special interest in Medical Retina. She graduated from Banaras Hindu University following which she did her post graduate training in Ophthalmology (M.S) from BHU (India). She came to UK and completed her specialist training in Ophthalmology in Wales deanery in 2022 following which she did a fellowship in Medical Retina from the prestigious Moorfields eye hospital, London where she trained in all aspects of medical retina including Age related macular degeneration, retinal vascular diseases and diabetic retinopathy. She took up a consultant post with Aneurin Bevan in 2023.
Her main interest is Medical Retina, retinal imaging and cataract surgery. She has published journal articles, book chapter and presented in various meetings.
Outside work she likes spending time with her family, gardening and painting.
Associate Specialists
Mrs Anita Prasad
Associate Specialist in Ophthalmology
Mrs Prasad is an Associate Specialist in the Ophthalmology Department at the Royal Gwent Hospital.
Mrs Prasad’s areas of interest are Medical Retina, Laser treatment, Oculoplastics. She is the laser treatment lead in the department, who provides laser training to Ophthalmology Registrars. Mrs Prasad was involved in the planning and delivery of Intra vitreal Anti- VEGF at the Austin Friar Treatment Centre- for AMD, DMO and RVO. Following this work, Mrs Prasad was nominated for an Award for Improving Patient Experience at the Austin Friar treatment Centre.