Meet the Consultant: Mr Aamir Ismailjee

With nearly two decades of experience in eye healthcare, Mr Aamir Ismailjee has built his career on helping patients protect and improve their vision. As part of our Meet the Consultant series, he shares why he joined Optegra, his favourite advances in technology, and the lifestyle tips he gives patients every day. 

A Career Dedicated to Sight

For Mr Ismailjee, the decision to specialise in eye health came from a passion for preserving what many consider our most precious sense. “I have worked in eye healthcare for nearly 20 years, and it has been an incredibly fulfilling career. Vision is often considered our most vital sense, and being able to help patients protect or improve it is truly rewarding.”

He explains that joining Optegra was an easy choice because of its reputation for excellence and patient-first values. “Optegra is highly regarded within the optical community as a leading healthcare provider, known for delivering premium care with a strong patient-first ethos. I knew I wanted to be part of an organisation that shared these values, and I was delighted to find my place here.”

Harnessing the Latest Technology

Working in modern ophthalmology means having access to world-class tools. Mr Ismailjee says technology has transformed patient care, and Optegra’s partnerships with leading providers ensure patients benefit from the latest advances.

“A great example is our integrated workflow system, which connects all patient tests and scans to ensure we can select the most appropriate lens with precision. We also use the latest state of the art femtosecond laser machines, offering the highest levels of accuracy and results for our laser eye surgery patients.”

Why Eye Checks Should Start Early

When asked about the best age to start regular eye tests, Mr Ismailjee emphasises the importance of early detection. Childhood, he explains, is a critical window for development.

“The earlier, the better – ideally starting in childhood. If significant vision problems are not detected early enough, a child may be left with permanently reduced vision in one eye, known as a ‘lazy eye’. The best outcomes are achieved when issues are treated before the age of seven.”

But he is equally clear that checks should continue throughout life, especially for patients at higher risk.

“Regular checks remain important in adulthood, especially for people with a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration. Glaucoma, for example, has no symptoms until it is advanced enough to cause severe, irreversible sightloss, and can only be picked up in an eye test.”

Nutrition and Lifestyle for Healthy Eyes

Mr Ismailjee is keen to highlight the role of lifestyle choices. Just as exercise and diet benefit the heart, they also influence eye health.

“Much like the rest of the body, maintaining overall good health through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding harmful substances such as smoking has a positive impact on eye health. As long as people eat a varied and balanced diet, there’s no need to focus on specific foods.”

Protecting your eyes from the sun is just as important as protecting your skin. Mr Ismailjee highlights the value of good-quality sunglasses, explaining: 

“One important lifestyle recommendation is wearing sunglasses in bright sunlight. Protecting the eyes from UV exposure helps reduce the risk of developing cataracts at an earlier age.”

Choosing sunglasses with 100% UV or UV400 protection ensures your eyes are shielded from harmful rays, helping to maintain long-term eye health and comfort. You can read more practical advice in our guide on simple steps to protect your vision from harmful UV rays.

And as for the old myth about carrots improving vision? Mr Ismailjee is quick to set the record straight.

“While carrots do contain Vitamin A – and severe deficiency can lead to problems like poor night vision – this is not an issue we typically face in the UK.”

The Truth About Supplements and Exercises

With so many myths online about eye exercises and supplements, Mr Ismailjee offers clear guidance.

“Both diabetes and high blood pressure affect blood flow in delicate vessels, and the eyes are especially vulnerable. Poorly managed conditions can cause blockages or leakage in the retina, leading to sight loss. That’s why it’s so important for GPs, ophthalmologists, and patients to work closely together. By managing the overall condition and, where necessary, providing targeted treatment to the eyes, we can help protect vision.”

Exciting Advances in Eye Care

Ophthalmology is one of the fastest-moving areas of medicine, and Mr Ismailjee is enthusiastic about the new possibilities on the horizon.

“Eye care is one of the fastest-advancing fields in medicine. The tools and treatments available today are vastly different from those we had even 10-15 years ago. At Optegra, we can now offer light therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration, where no treatment existed before, and high-quality multifocal lens implants that can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses. 

I am particularly excited about the potential of stem cell and gene therapies. These treatments may one day allow us to reverse vision loss caused by conditions such as glaucoma or geographic atrophy, which could be truly life-changing for patients living with severe visual impairment.”

Protecting Eyes from Screen Strain

In today’s digital world, screen use is unavoidable. Mr Ismailjee offers simple, evidence-based advice for both adults and children.

“For adults, screen use does not damage the eyes, but it can cause symptoms such as eyestrain or dryness. I recommend following the 20:20:20 rule: every 20 minutes, look away from the screen at something around 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds. This gives the eyes a chance to relax and refocus.

For children, it’s best to avoid prolonged use of close-up screens where possible. While the exact causes of short-sightedness are not fully understood, we suspect that extended near work, including screen time, may contribute to its development.

Finally, a note on blue-light filters: despite heavy marketing, there is no scientific evidence that they improve eye health or prevent strain. I do not recommend that patients spend money on them.”

Learn More from Our Consultants

Mr Ismailjee’s expertise reflects the high standard of care delivered across Optegra’s dedicated eye hospitals. To discover more from our team, explore our Meet the Consultant series, or learn more about cataract surgery and laser eye surgery at Optegra. You can find Mr Aamir Ismailjee in our London Eye hospital, Colchester and Maidstone locations.