MD, MSc

Education

Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer , Faculty of Medicine - University of Southampton (2026–present)
Honorary Clinical Teacher, Faculty of Medicine - University of Southampton (2018-2025)
Ophthalmology CCT - University of Athens, 2012
Master’s Degree (MSc) Healthcare Management - Open University Cyprus, 2012
Doctor of Medicine (MD) - University of Patras, School of Medicine, 2002

Ophthalmology training

Senior vitreoretinal fellow at St Thomas' NHS Hospital, London (2017 to 2018)
VR/MR fellow at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (2015 to 2016)
Medical retina clinical research fellow, Moorfields Eye Hospital (City Road) (2012 to 2014)
Senior research associate in visual neuroscience lab - Institute of Ophthalmology, UCL (2012 to 2014)
Honorary vitreoretinal fellow - 2nd ophthalmology department of Attikon University Hospital Athens, Greece (2011)
Senior resident of ophthalmology - 2nd ophthalmology department of Attikon University Hospital Athens, Greece (2010)
Junior resident of ophthalmology - Katerini General Hospital, ophthalmology department (2007 to 2009)
Clinical attachment in ophthalmology department - Hellenic Air Force - compulsory military service - sergeant doctor (2005)

Medical training

Countryside doctor (compulsory GP service) Greece (2003 to 2004)
Registrar in General Hospital of Karditsa, Thessaly, Greece (2003)

Professional memberships

BEAVRS - British & Eire Association of Vitreo-Retinal Surgeons
EURETINA - European Society of Retina Specialists
EVRS - European Vitreoretinal Society
ASRS - American Society of Retina Specialists - international member
ESCRS - European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
RCOPHTH - Royal College of Ophthalmology

Experience

Mr Antonakis is a consultant ophthalmologist with specialist expertise in vitreoretinal surgery, retinal conditions and complex cataract surgery. He is the lead of the vitreoretinal service and clinical lead of the ophthalmology group at University Hospital Southampton. His background includes senior vitreoretinal fellowships at world-renowned centres in London such as St Thomas’ Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital, as well as research experience in visual neuroscience at Institute of Ophthalmology - UCL.

He has extensive surgical experience, having performed more than 2,500 vitreoretinal operations, over 10,000 cataract procedures (including complex cases), and more than 1,000 intravitreal injections and retinal laser treatments. His areas of expertise include retinal detachment repair, macular hole surgery, epiretinal membrane surgery, vitreous haemorrhage, intraocular foreign bodies, and management of diabetic eye disease. His success rates for retinal detachment and macular hole surgery are in line with the highest international standards.

Alongside his clinical work, Mr Antonakis is actively involved in teaching. He is a Visiting Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, supervising medical students' research projects and teaching them during their ophthalmology rotation with lectures and teaching in clinics and theatres. He is also a certified educational and clinical supervisor for ophthalmology trainees and CESR trainees and vitreoretinal fellows in Wessex Deanery. He is also a faculty member of the National introductory Vitrectomy and Buckle Courses for BEAVRS (British & Eire Association of Vitreo-Retinal Surgeons).

Key achievements

Introduced the electronic diary for patients of the vitreoretinal theatre service at UHS.
Introduced the innovative 3D visualization system in vitreoretinal surgery in UHS (first 3D surgery on 3 December 2021) bringing his experience from his St Thomas’ Hospital work.
Introduced the pneumatic retinopexy and pneumatic vitrectomy in UHS as a minimally invasive surgical procedure to repair a retinal detachment bringing his experience from his St Thomas’ Hospital work.
Development of the virtual vitreoretinal clinical pathway for new and follow up patients of the vitreoretinal service.
Development of e-consent for all surgery patients in vitreoretinal service.
Transition to the minimally invasive vitreoretinal (VR) surgical technique with smaller gauge system from 23g to 25g improving patients perioperative care with shorter surgical time, minimal tissue damage and early postoperative recovery.

Awards and prizes

Awards
• "Best poster Award" -12th National Congress of Ocular Inflammation & Infections (2023)
• "BEAVRS National Competition winner" - awarded to represent UK - EuroVeRsion Case Contest, Euretina Congress (2017)
• “Employee of the Year” Runner-up - staff awards - Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (2015)
• “Best Project” award for Live-City e-Health project - Future Internet Assembly-EU (2014)
• "Ophthalmology Photo 1st place Award" - 43rd Greek National Ophthalmology Congress (2010)
• "Τop graduate - highest-achieving student of the year” - 4th General Lyceum of Karditsa (1994)

Nominations
• “Patients First” award nomination - Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (2015)
• Doctors’ awards - senior category nomination - University Hospital Southampton division A awards (2023)

Research

Mr Antonakis's background includes research fellowships and honorary research positions at world-renowned centres such as St Thomas’ Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital and in visual neuroscience at Institute of Ophthalmology - UCL.

He continues to contribute to multi-centre clinical trials and service improvement projects in vitreoretinal and medical retinal disease. These include the EVERLAST, COMBAT, EVIAN, TIGER, VELODROME, ASCENT and DIAGRID studies at University Hospital Southampton, as well as landmark trials such as LEAVO, PRP, CLEOPATRA, TAPAS and STAR during his fellowships.

He has authored and contributed in publications in peer-reviewed journals and has presented widely at national and international ophthalmology conferences including EURETINA, ASRS, BEAVRS, and AAO retina meetings.

Links for research work and papers:

Contact

You can contact Mr Serafeim Antonakis via his secretaries, Miss Melody Islam (email Melody.Islam@uhs.nhs.uk) and Mrs Anne McAlpine (email Anne.McAlpine@uhs.nhs.uk) and by telephone on 023 8120 4761.