Professor Robert Scott

Professor Robert Scott is an ophthalmologist with a rich background in eye care, advanced cataract, and retinal surgery. After qualifying from St Thomas’ Hospital in London in 1987, he pursued specialist training at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, followed by advanced training in retinal and cataract surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. In 1993, he earned Fellowships from both the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He was appointed as a consultant ophthalmologist in 1998 and later achieved a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Nottingham for his research into eye immunology and wound healing.

Professor Scott served as a Royal Air Force consultant at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC) and the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for 15 years, where he specialised in eye trauma, advanced cataract, and vitreoretinal surgery. For a decade, he also held the role of Royal Air Force and Defence Medical Services Consultant Advisor for Ophthalmology. His contributions to the field were recognised in 2011 when he was named one of the 'Times UK's top 50 surgeons'. He was later appointed as the Defence Medical Services and Royal College of Ophthalmologists Professor of Ophthalmology in 2012, and as an Honorary Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Birmingham in 2015.

Throughout his career, Professor Scott has mentored many PhD students, both military and civilian, and has been recognised for his research efforts. He was awarded the RCOphth John Lee MRC Fellowship for his work on neuroregeneration and received two Wellcome Trust grants for developing anti-scarring agents for skin and ocular applications. He is known for pioneering artificial vision for totally blind patients, enabling them to interpret video images through tongue stimulation—a breakthrough featured in the BBC documentary Frontline Medicine. He also served as the clinical ophthalmic lead for the National Institute of Health Research in the West Midlands.

An accomplished medical educator, Professor Scott has trained numerous consultants across the UK and internationally. He was elected President of the Midland Ophthalmological Society in 2009 and received the Lady Cade Medal from the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2015 for his meritorious research contributions.

After retiring from the RAF in 2015, Professor Scott took on the role of Medical Director at Moorfields Eye Hospital in Dubai for two years. He later returned to the UK to serve as Medical Director for SpaMedica, where he played a key role in establishing six new eye hospitals. In 2018, he founded ScottHealth Ltd, through which he now operates his private practice, continuing to provide exceptional care and innovative solutions in ophthalmology.