Cataract, MiGs and Anterior Segment surgeon
Dr Semerli is the founding surgeon at Specialist Eye Surgeons in Moonee Ponds and regards it as a privilege to be of service to his patients.
He is an expert in Cataract surgery, having performed thousands of operations using the latest painless & gentle surgical techniques. He is passionate about innovation in eye surgery, constantly adapting his skills to optimise vision potential whilst remaining personally involved at every step of your surgical journey. Operations are undertaken in a day hospital with comforting sedation (‘twilight anaesthesia ‘) provided by his experienced anaesthetic doctor. With Dr Semerli’s methods, there is no requirement for needles around the eye and no bruising or compressing eye patches afterwards. Patients are often asleep during their 10-20 minute surgical procedure and are usually able to leave hospital within a few hours of their arrival with only a clear shield over their eye.
In addition to cataract surgery, he is also well established in managing eye conditions including glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. He regularly performs eye injections to treat these conditions, using techniques that numb the eye adequately so that you don’t have any discomfort. Other surgeries he commonly performs are for pterygium, eyelid lumps, and removing excess baggy skin of the eyelids. Those with glaucoma may benefit from his added training in inserting glaucoma drainage devices into the eye, which may reduce or even eliminate the need for eye drops in some patients. For the aviation enthusiast, Dr Semerli is also a Civil Aviation CASA accredited Designated Aviation Ophthalmologist (DAO) for aviation eye examinations
On a more personal note, Dr Semerli grew up in Melbourne, where he then completed his Medical degree graduating in 1998 with honours distinction. He spent his early doctoring years at the renowned Alfred Hospital in Melbourne before undertaking the highly sought privilege of specialist ophthalmic training at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. In 2010, he undertook a year of remote regional outback work in the Northern Territory which he continued to do on a periodic basis for several years, helping restore sight in the under-serviced indigenous population. This was often characterised by complex cataract and anterior segment surgery, which greatly benefitted the local communities whilst also enhancing his surgical abilities in the most difficult of cataract operations.
In 2011 he returned home to Melbourne and served as staff ophthalmologist and later as acting head of eye services at Northern Health. He also continued his interest of teaching medical students at the Royal Melbourne Hospital as an honorary tutor with the University of Melbourne. It was around this time that he set up Specialist Eye Surgeons with a view to provide quality local eye care to the community, where he also resides himself. Dr Semerli remains on the forefront of new developments by attending conferences, workshops, completing regular peer reviews and following recent publications. He continues his public contribution as a senior staff specialist at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, involved in supervising & training the next generation of eye surgeons.
Dr Semerli is well travelled, and enjoys working within a culturally diverse population. When he’s not busy treating patients, he enjoys regular exercise at the gym, yoga, travelling, boating and is a certified advanced recreational and rescue scuba diver. Admittedly, he prefers diving in tropical warmer waters though!
