Prof. Ratimir Lazić, MD, PhD

Professor Ratimir Lazić, MD, PhD, graduated from the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, completed his ophthalmology specialization under the mentorship of Prof. Nikica Gabrić, MD, PhD and his subspecialization in posterior segment eye diseases at Special Hospital for Ophthalmology Svjetlost.

Professor Ratimir Lazić, MD, PhD, completed his vitreoretinal surgery fellowship under the mentorship of doctor Zoran Tomić, and further surgical training with doctors Lyndon da Cruz and Carl Claes.

In his scientific education, Professor Lazić completed postgraduate studies in molecular biology at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, where he also earned his master’s degree.

He defended his doctoral thesis on the treatment of age-related macular degeneration at the University of Rijeka School of Medicine, where he was elected and re-elected to the position of Associate Professor and Senior Research Associate. He lectures on undergraduate and postgraduate ophthalmology programs at the medical faculties in Zagreb and Rijeka.

• Head of the Retina Department at Special Hospital for Ophthalmology Svjetlost
• Subspecialist in Posterior Segment Eye Diseases

Professor Lazić specializes in vitreoretinal surgery.

He employs a minimally invasive vitrectomy approach through 25-gauge ports, with gas and silicone oil tamponade. He operates on urgent retinal detachments, complex retinal detachments with proliferative retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and tractional diabetic retinal detachments, macular pathology (macular holes, cellophane maculopathy, and vitreomacular traction syndrome), eye injuries with removal of intraocular foreign bodies from the deep eye, inflammatory eye diseases (uveitis and endophthalmitis), and vitreous hemorrhages and opacities.

For patients with cataracts, he applies a combined approach of ultrasonic cataract surgery and vitrectomy.

Professor Lazić also performs cataract surgery using the ultrasonic method with implantation of standard, multifocal, toric, and iris-claw lenses. He also implants phakic ICL intraocular lenses and scleral-fixed lenses using the Yamane technique.

To date, he has performed over 3,000 vitrectomies and over 10,000 cataract surgeries.

Prof. Lazić, MD, PhD, was among the first to apply photodynamic therapy in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (2004). He was the first in the region and among the first in the world to apply anti-VEGF treatment for age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy (Avastin 2005, Lucentis 2007, Ozurdex 2008, Eylea 2011, Fovista 2014, and Vabysmo 2020). Since 2015, he has been using Pascal laser and micropulse laser in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and retinal ruptures.

In Croatia, he was among the first to start applying minimally invasive vitrectomy through small 25-gauge ports, using chandelier illumination and vital dyes (Dual Blue and Brilliant Peel), as well as a high-frequency vitrectomies with 14,000 cuts per minute.

Since 2020, he has performed all retinal and cataract surgeries using 3D technique on a heads-up HD display. Since 2022, he has performed complex retinal detachment surgeries using a combined method of buckling and vitrectomy, and from 2025 he has been using intravitreal methotrexate in the prevention and treatment of PVR.

He has published 22/25 peer-reviewed papers indexed in WoSCC/Scopus, cited 527  in Scopus and 448 times in Web of Science, with an H-index of 10 and 9 respectively. Among the most significant are pioneering works in the field of treating age-related macular degeneration with Avastin and photodynamic therapy (Graefe’s Archive 2006, Ophthalmology 2007, Retina 2013), as well as papers on surgical approaches to treating macular diseases and PVR in retinal detachment.

He is the lead clinical investigator at Svjetlost Eye Clinic for international multicenter studies of new drugs for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, including anti-VEGF drugs and viral vector gene therapies.

He has been a regular member of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) since 2005 and regularly attends annual meetings since 2006 (Palm Springs, Hawaii, Vancouver, New York, Boston, Toronto, San Diego, Vienna, San Francisco). He is also a regular member of the European Vitreoretinal Society (EVRS).

• Invited lecture at the vitreoretinal surgical panel RETINAWS, Cancun 2025.
• Lecture on PVR at the European Vitreoretinal Society Meeting, Cancun 2025.
• Invited lectures and panelist on “Retinal Detachment and PVR Management”, FLOretina Florence 2025.
• Invited lecture “Retinal Detachment Management in Choroidal Coloboma Patients”, FLOretina Florence 2024.
• Visiting Professor at the 22nd Duke Advanced Vitreous Surgery Course at Duke University and the 9th Fellows Duke Advanced Vitreous Surgery Course held at Duke Eye Center in 2023.
• Invited lecture at the vitreoretinal surgical panel Duke Surgical Rounds Vancouver 2018.
• Invited lecture at the vitreoretinal surgical panel RETINAWS Boston 2016.

• Lazić R. Removing Epiciliary Membranes to Prevent Phthisis. Retina Today. 2023; July/August issue: 48–50. Q4, Scopus
• Sharma, A., Wu, L., Bloom, S. Wu, L., Lazic, R., Rezaei, K.A., RWC Update: Segmental Scleral Buckling; Complement Inhibition in Geographic Atrophy; Tattoo-Induced Uveitis. Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers Imaging Retina. 2023; 54(7), 380–383
• Autologous Neurosensory Retinal Free Flap Treatment for a Large Macular Hole. LAZIC R, Draca N, Cerovic V, Katic D, Mladenovski S, Gabric N. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018 Sep 1;49(9).
• Treatment of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor-resistant diabetic macular edema with dexamethasone intravitreal implant; LAZIC R, Lukic M., Boras I., Draca N.,Vlasic M., Gabric N., Tomic Z. ; Retina 2013, Aug 22.
• Potential beneficial role of sevelamer hydrochloride in diabetic retinopathy;Draca N., LAZIC R, Simic P., Dumic-Cule I., Luetic AT,Gabric N.; Med Hypotheses2013 Apr;80(4):431-5.
• Verteporfin therapy and intravitreal bevacizumab combined and alone in choroidal neovascularization due to age -related macular degeneration; LAZIC R, Gabric N.;Ophthalmology.114(6):1179-1185, 2007 Jun.
• Intravitreally administered bevacizumab (Avastin) in a minimally classic and occult choroidal neovascularization secondary to age related macular degeneration; LAZIC R,Gabric N.; Graefes Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 245(Suppl1):68-73, 2007 Jan.
• Influence of interleukin-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor – alpha production on corneal graft survival; Bosnar D., Dekaris I. Gabric N., Markotic A., LAZIC R.,Spoljaric N.; Croatian Medical Journal 47( Suppl 1): 59-66, 2006 Feb.