Dr Chameen Samarawickrama

Conjoint Senior Lecturer

BSc(Med) MBBS, PhD, FRANZCO

Medicine & Health

School of Clinical Medicine

Dr Chameen Samarawickrama is a clinician-scientist. As well as being involved in the clinical care of cornea/anterior segment patients and teaching registrars, he is actively involved in both clinical and basic science research involving the cornea.

Dr Samarawickrama is a consultant ophthalmologist at both Westmead and Liverpool Hospitals. His sub-speciality expertise is in the medical and surgical management of corneal diseases, including corneal transplantation. After completing his ophthalmology training at Sydney Eye Hospital, he completed Cornea Fellowships at both the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.

Dr Samarawickrama has over 50 publications in international peer-reviewed journals, received over $350,000 in grant funding and is a reviewer for many ophthalmology journals including Cornea, Ophthalmology, IOVS, BJO and CEO.

E-mail

chameen.sams@sydney.edu.au

Location

Liverpool Hospital

Journal articles | 2023

Daley JR; Lee MK; Wang X; Ly M; Samarawickrama C, 2023, 'Epidemiology and Economic Cost Analysis of Microbial Keratitis from a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Australia', Pathogens, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12030413

Journal articles | 2023

Nanayakkara U; Khan MA; Hargun DK; Sivagnanam S; Samarawickrama C, 2023, 'Ocular streptococcal infections: A clinical and microbiological review.', Surv Ophthalmol, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.02.001

Journal articles | 2022

Abid A; Khan MA; Lee B; White A; Carnt N; Arshad S; Samarawickrama C, 2022, 'Ocular Distribution of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System in the Context of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic', JRAAS - Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, 2022, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9970922

Journal articles | 2022

Lee BWH; Khan MA; Ngo QD; Tumuluri K; Samarawickrama C, 2022, 'Minimally invasive, indirect corneal neurotization using an ipsilateral sural nerve graft for early neurotrophic keratopathy', American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports, 27, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajoc.2022.101585

Journal articles | 2022

Taher A; Chow J; Kwon MS; Hunter D; Lucewicz A; Samarawickrama C, 2022, 'Determining the learning curve for a novel microsurgical procedure using histopathology.', BMC Med Educ, vol. 22, pp. 342, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03407-6

Journal articles | 2021

Lee BWH; Hunter D; Robaei DS; Samarawickrama C, 2021, 'Open globe injuries: Epidemiology, visual and surgical predictive variables, prognostic models, and economic cost analysis', Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 49, pp. 336 - 346, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ceo.13944

Journal articles | 2021

Moore D; Samarawickrama C; Tumuluri K; Ngo Q, 2021, 'Corneal neurotisation for neurotrophic keratopathy with a sural nerve autograft: a case report', Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery, vol. 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.34239/ajops.v4n2.236

Journal articles | 2020

Cabrera-Aguas M; Kerdraon Y; Symes RJ; Mccluskey P; Samarawickrama C; Rawlinson W; Watson SL, 2020, 'Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment Guidelines for Herpes Simplex Keratitis in Sydney, Australia', Cornea, 39, pp. 834 - 840, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0000000000002273

Journal articles | 2020

Ferdi AC; Nguyen V; Samarawickrama C; Hamilton A; Yeung S; Watson SL, 2020, 'The Impact on Work Patterns of Implementing the Save Sight Keratoconus Registry in the Hospital Setting', Cornea, 39, pp. 451 - 456, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0000000000002159

Journal articles | 2020

Fung AT; Tran T; Lim LL; Samarawickrama C; Arnold J; Gillies M; Catt C; Mitchell L; Symons A; Buttery R; Cottee L; Tumuluri K; Beaumont P, 2020, 'Local delivery of corticosteroids in clinical ophthalmology: A review', Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 48, pp. 366 - 401, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ceo.13702

Journal articles | 2020

McTiernan CD; Simpson FC; Haagdorens M; Samarawickrama C; Hunter D; Buznyk O; Fagerholm P; Ljunggren MK; Lewis P; Pintelon I; Olsen D; Edin E; Groleau M; Allan BD; Griffith M, 2020, 'LiQD Cornea: Pro-regeneration collagen mimetics as patches and alternatives to corneal transplantation.', Sci Adv, 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aba2187

Journal articles | 2019

Garbutcheon-Singh KB; Carnt N; Pattamatta U; Samarawickrama C; White A; Calder V, 2019, 'A Review of the Cytokine IL-17 in Ocular Surface and Corneal Disease', Current Eye Research, 44, pp. 1 - 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02713683.2018.1519834

Journal articles | 2018

Kwon MS; Carnt NA; Truong NR; Pattamatta U; White AJ; Samarawickrama C; Cunningham AL, 2018, 'Dendritic cells in the cornea during Herpes simplex viral infection and inflammation', Survey of Ophthalmology, 63, pp. 565 - 578, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2017.11.001

Journal articles | 2018

Parker RT; McCall DP; Samarawickrama C, 2018, 'Eye injury from toxic chemical mistaken for eye drops.', Med J Aust, vol. 208, pp. 369, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja17.00979

Journal articles | 2018

Parker RT; Ovens CA; Fraser CL; Samarawickrama C, 2018, 'Optic nerve sheath meningiomas: Prevalence, impact, and management strategies', Eye and Brain, vol. 10, pp. 85 - 99, http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/EB.S144345

Journal articles | 2018

Samarawickrama C; Samanta A; Liszka A; Fagerholm P; Buznyk O; Griffith M; Allan B, 2018, 'Collagen-Based Fillers as Alternatives to Cyanoacrylate Glue for the Sealing of Large Corneal Perforations.', Cornea, vol. 37, pp. 609 - 616, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0000000000001459

Journal articles | 2018

Samarawickrama C; Strouthidis N; Wilkins MR, 2018, 'Boston keratoprosthesis type 1: outcomes of the first 38 cases performed at Moorfields Eye Hospital.', Eye (Lond), vol. 32, pp. 1087 - 1092, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41433-018-0016-4

Journal articles | 2018

Sherwin JC; Samarawickrama C, 2018, 'Conjunctival xerosis caused by vitamin A deficiency.', Arch Dis Child, vol. 103, pp. 890, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2017-313618

Journal articles | 2017

Carnt N; Samarawickrama C; White A; Stapleton F, 2017, 'The diagnosis and management of contact lens-related microbial keratitis', Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 100, pp. 482 - 493, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cxo.12581

Journal articles | 2017

Samarawickrama C; Li Y; Carnt N; Willcox M; Dutta D; Watson S, 2017, 'Reducing oral contamination during corneal scrapes.', Bmj open ophthalmology, 1, pp. e000044 - e000044, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjophth-2016-000044

Journal articles | 2016

Samarawickrama C; Li YC; Kanapathipillai N; Grigg JR, 2016, 'Changing refractive outcomes with increasing astigmatism at longer-term follow-up for infant cataract surgery', Eye (Basingstoke), 30, pp. 1195 - 1198, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/eye.2016.147

Journal articles | 2016

Samarawickrama C; Beltz J; Chan E, 2016, 'Descemet's membrane detachments post cataract surgery: a management paradigm', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, vol. 9, pp. 1839 - 1842, http://dx.doi.org/10.18240/ijo.2016.12.23

Journal articles | 2016

Samarawickrama C; Chan E; Loughnan M; Snibson GR, 2016, 'Importance of corneal saturation time with riboflavin prior to collagen cross-linking', Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, vol. 44, pp. 196 - 197, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ceo.12665

Journal articles | 2016

Samarawickrama C; Frydenberg E; Wells M; Steel T; Ghabrial R, 2016, 'An unusual radiological presentation of optic nerve sheath meningioma', Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 30, pp. 137 - 139, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sjopt.2016.01.002

Journal articles | 2015

Samarawickrama C; Cherepanoff S; Di Girolamo N; Benger R; Watson S, 2015, 'Unusual limbal lesion in neurofibromatosis type 1', Cornea, 34, pp. 347 - 349, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0000000000000353

Journal articles | 2015

Samarawickrama C; Chew S; Watson S, 2015, 'Retinoic acid and the ocular surface', Survey of Ophthalmology, 60, pp. 183 - 195, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2014.10.001

Journal articles | 2015

Samarawickrama C; Beltz J; Chan E, 2015, 'Spontaneously resolving descemet's membrane detachment caused by an ophthalmic viscosurgical device during cataract surgery', Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 29, pp. 301 - 302, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sjopt.2015.07.003

Journal articles | 2015

Samarawickrama C; Chan E; Daniell M, 2015, 'Rising fluoroquinolone resistance rates in corneal isolates: Implications for the wider use of antibiotics within the community', Healthcare Infection, vol. 20, pp. 128 - 133, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/HI15014

Journal articles | 2015

Samarawickrama C; Goh R; Vajpayee RB, 2015, '"Copy and Fix": A New Technique of Harvesting Freehand and Horseshoe Tectonic Grafts.', Cornea, vol. 34, pp. 1519 - 1522, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0000000000000599

Journal articles | 2014

Hong T; Mitchell P; Burlutsky G; Samarawickrama C; Wang JJ, 2014, 'Visual impairment and the incidence of falls and fractures among older people: Longitudinal findings from the blue mountains eye study', Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 55, pp. 7589 - 7593, http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.14-14262

Journal articles | 2014

Lau OCF; Samarawickrama C; Skalicky SE, 2014, 'P2Y2 receptor agonists for the treatment of dry eye disease: a review.', Clin Ophthalmol, 8, pp. 327 - 334, http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S39699

Journal articles | 2014

Tran T; Samarawickrama C; Petsoglou C; Watson S, 2014, 'Recent cluster of childhood microbial keratitis due to orthokeratology', Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ceo.12302

Journal articles | 2014

Reis GM; Lau OC; Samarawickrama C; Heydon P; Goldberg I, 2014, 'Utility of ultrasound biomicroscopy in the diagnosis of topiramate-associated ciliochoroidal effusions causing bilateral acute angle closure.', Clin Exp Ophthalmol, vol. 42, pp. 500 - 501, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ceo.12336

Journal articles | 2014

Samarawickrama C; Ioannidis AS; Wechsler AW; Watson SL, 2014, 'Bilateral corneal infections associated with topical steroid therapy prophylaxis for cytarabine arabinoside-induced keratoconjunctivitis', Leukemia, vol. 28, pp. 220 - 222, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/leu.2013.237

Journal articles | 2014

Samarawickrama C; Leaney J; Watson S, 2014, 'Severe alkali burns from beer line cleaners warrant mandatory safety guidelines', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 201, pp. 90, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja13.00064

Journal articles | 2012

Samarawickrama C; Pai A; Tariq Y; Healey PR; Wong TY; Mitchell P, 2012, 'Characteristics and appearance of the normal optic nerve head in 6-year-old children', British Journal of Ophthalmology, 96, pp. 68 - 72, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjo.2010.197426

Journal articles | 2012

Pai AS-I; Rose KA; Samarawickrama C; Fotedar R; Burlutsky G; Varma R; Mitchell P, 2012, 'Testability of refraction, stereopsis, and other ocular measures in preschool children: the Sydney Paediatric Eye Disease Study.', J AAPOS, vol. 16, pp. 185 - 192, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaapos.2011.09.017

Journal articles | 2012

Samarawickrama C; Hong T; Jonas JB; Mitchell P, 2012, 'Measurement of normal optic nerve head parameters.', Surv Ophthalmol, vol. 57, pp. 317 - 336, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2011.12.001

Journal articles | 2011

Pai ASI; Wang JJ; Samarawickrama C; Burlutsky G; Rose KA; Varma R; Wong TY; Mitchell P, 2011, 'Prevalence and risk factors for visual impairment in preschool children: The sydney paediatric eye disease study', Ophthalmology, 118, pp. 1495 - 1500, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2011.01.027

Journal articles | 2011

Samarawickrama C; Mitchell P; Tong L; Gazzard G; Lim L; Wong TY; Saw SM, 2011, 'Myopia-related optic disc and retinal changes in adolescent children from Singapore', Ophthalmology, 118, pp. 2050 - 2057, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2011.02.040

Journal articles | 2010

Samarawickrama C; Pai A; Huynh SC; Burlutsky G; Wong TY; Mitchell P, 2010, 'Influence of OCT signal strength on macular, optic nerve head, and retinal nerve fiber layer parameters', Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 51, pp. 4471 - 4475, http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.09-3892

Journal articles | 2010

Samarawickrama C; Wang JJ; Huynh SC; Pai A; Burlutsky G; Rose KA; Mitchell P, 2010, 'Ethnic differences in optic nerve head and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness parameters in children', British Journal of Ophthalmology, 94, pp. 871 - 876, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjo.2009.158279

Journal articles | 2010

Liu Y; Samarawickrama C; Pai A; Tariq Y; Mitchell P, 2010, 'Stratus OCT signal strength and reliability of retinal nerve fiber layer measurements.', Am J Ophthalmol, vol. 149, pp. 528 - 529, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2009.10.020

Journal articles | 2010

Pai A; Samarawickrama C; Burlutsky G; Leone J; Mitchell P, 2010, 'Testability of vision and refraction in preschoolers.', Am J Ophthalmol, vol. 149, pp. 523, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2009.10.004

Journal articles | 2010

Pai A; Samarawickrama C; Burlutsky G; Mitchell P, 2010, 'Refractive error in preschool children.', Ophthalmology, vol. 117, pp. 1278 - 1279, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2010.01.014

Journal articles | 2010

Tariq YM; Samarawickrama C; Li H; Huynh SC; Burlutsky G; Mitchell P, 2010, 'Retinal thickness in the offspring of diabetic pregnancies', American Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 150, pp. 883 - 887, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2010.06.036

Journal articles | 2010

Tariq YM; Samarawickrama C; Pai A; Burlutsky G; Mitchell P, 2010, 'Impact of ethnicity on the correlation of retinal parameters with axial length.', Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, vol. 51, pp. 4977 - 4982, http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.10-5226

Journal articles | 2009

Huynh SC; Samarawickrama C; Wang X; Rochtchina E; Wong T; Gole G; Rose KA; Mitchell P, 2009, 'Macular and Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Amblyopia. The Sydney Childhood Eye Study', Ophthalmology, 116, pp. 1604 - 1609

Journal articles | 2009

Samarawickrama C; Huynh SC; Wang JJ; Pai A; Joachim N; Burlutsky G; Wong TY; Mitchell P, 2009, 'Relationship between retinal structures and retinal vessel caliber in normal adolescents', Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 50, pp. 5619 - 5624, http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.09-3878

Journal articles | 2009

Pai A; Samarawickrama C; Tariq Y; Mitchell P, 2009, 'Low vision among preschool children in the Beijing Study of Visual Impairment.', Am J Ophthalmol, vol. 148, pp. 953 - 954, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2009.07.031

Journal articles | 2009

Samarawickrama C; Fotedar R; Mitchell P; Rose K, 2009, 'Refractive error, strabismus, and amblyopia.', Ophthalmology, vol. 116, pp. 364 - 365, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2008.09.028

Journal articles | 2009

Samarawickrama C; Huynh SC; Liew G; Burlutsky G; Mitchell P, 2009, 'Birth weight and optic nerve head parameters.', Ophthalmology, vol. 116, pp. 1112 - 1118, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2008.12.061

Journal articles | 2009

Samarawickrama C; Huynh SC; Mitchell P, 2009, 'Retinal structure in amplyopia.', Ophthalmology, vol. 116, pp. 2041, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.07.038

Journal articles | 2009

Samarawickrama C; Huynh SC; Mitchell P, 2009, 'Thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer in amblyopia.', Am J Ophthalmol, vol. 148, pp. 951, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2009.07.028

Journal articles | 2009

Samarawickrama C; Huynh SC; Wang X; Burlutsky G; Stapleton FJ; Mitchell P, 2009, 'Macular thickness, retinal thickness, and optic disk parameters in dominant compared with nondominant eyes', Journal of Aapos, vol. 13, pp. 142 - 147, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaapos.2008.11.004

Journal articles | 2009

Samarawickrama C; Mitchell P, 2009, 'Influence of signal strength on OCT measurements.', J Glaucoma, vol. 18, pp. 499 - 500, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/IJG.0b013e3181ab8a39

Journal articles | 2009

Samarawickrama C; Pai A; Huynh SC; Burlutsky G; Jonas JB; Mitchell P, 2009, 'Measurement of optic nerve head parameters: Comparison of optical coherence tomography with digital planimetry', Journal of Glaucoma, vol. 18, pp. 571 - 575, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/IJG.0b013e3181996da6

Journal articles | 2009

Samarawickrama C; Wang JJ; Mitchell P, 2009, 'Association between ocular dominance and refraction--uncertain dominance.', J Refract Surg, vol. 25, pp. 249, http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/1081597X-20090301-01

Journal articles | 2007

Samarawickrama C; Wang JJ; Burlutsky G; Tan AG; Mitchell P, 2007, 'Nuclear cataract and myopic shift in refraction.', Am J Ophthalmol, 144, pp. 457 - 459, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2007.05.003

Journal articles | 2007

Samarawickrama C; Wang XW; Huynh S; Burlutsky G; Stapleton FJ; Mitchell P, 2007, 'Effects of refraction and axial length on childhood optic disk parameters measured by optical coherence tomography', American Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 144, pp. 459 - 461, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2007.05.010
Preprints | 2022

McCall D; Samarawickrama C, 2022, Clinical Outcomes of instituting a Toric Pathway for cataract surgery at a tertiary referral teaching hospital, http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1727215/v1

2018 Westmead Charitable Trust Early Career Clinical Researcher Grant: Corneal Collagen Glue: Inducing corneal regeneration in the treatment of acute corneal perforations ($240,000)

2018 Westmead Engineering and Design Collaboration Scheme: Novel protein therapeutics for the treatment of corneal Herpes Simplex Virus infection ($15,000)

2017 SMS-FEIT Biomedical Engineering Research Collaboration Scheme: Early Detection of Keratoconus: Novel use of photonic density sensors to diagnose disease prior to vision loss ($15,000)

2015 Sydney University Kick Start Grant: Corneal Glue for Corneal Perforations ($30,000)

2009 NHMRC (512068): Childhood Retinal Characteristics: Optical Coherence Tomography and Clinical Comparisons ($64,631)

Basic Science Research

- Corneal collagen glues

- Alternative treatments for Herpes Simplex keratitis

- Early detection of keratoconus using photonic density sensors

Clinical Research

- Microbial keratitis

- Collagen Cross-Linking

- Cataract outcomes

- Corneal trauma outcomes

My Teaching

Corneal and Anterior Segment Diseases

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Dr Chameen Samarawickrama