Ophthalmologist

 He entered the Medical School of the University of Athens after achieving top marks at the pan-Hellenic exams. Upon graduation he received the Award of Excellence from the Rector of the University of Athens. He specialized in Ophthalmology at the University Eye Clinic of the General Hospital of Athens.

After the completion of his specialization, he achieved excellent grades in the USMLE exams, and sub-specialized in the field of Pediatric Ophthalmology and the field of Adult and Pediatric Strabismus at Wills Eye Hospital (Philadelphia, USA, ranked as one of the top three hospitals in USA),  holding the position of a Clinical Fellow. Following his return to Greece he has performed thousands of cataract and refractive surgery operations. His medical interest also includes management of complicated glaucoma and vitreoretinal cases. He is the head of the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Department at the Athens Eye Hospital. He is the author of the following peer reviewed publications in international journals.

  1. Apostolopoulos M, Koutsandrea C, Parikakis E, Zafirakis P, Theodossiadis P, Grigoropoulos V, Livir-Rallatos G. Surgical management of acute retinal necrosis syndrome: The role of retinectomy. Invest Ophtalmol Vis Sci 1998;39:S611.
  2. Kokolakis S, Zafirakis P, Livir-Rallatos G, Ladas I, Damanakis A: Aspirin intake and bleeding during cataract surgery. J Cataract Refract Surg 1999;25:301.
  3. Zafirakis P, Rowe S, Kokolakis S, Livir-Rallatos G, Livir-Rallatos C. Which is better anaesthesia for clear corneal phacoemulsification cataract surgery, without sedation? Topical or sub-tenon's? Invest Ophtalmol Vis Sci 1999;40:S287.
  4. Zafirakis P, Livir-Rallatos G, Canakis C, Livir-Rallatos C. The role of cycloplegia in cataract surgery with topical aneshtesia. American Academy o f Ophthalmology, 1999.
  5. Ladas ID, Livir-Rallatos C, Canakis C, Damanakis A, Zafirakis P, Livir- Rallatos G: Presumed congenital ocular toxoplasmosis in two successive siblings. Acta Ophthalmologica, 1999;213:320-322.
  6. Zafirakis P, Livir-Rallatos G, Canakis C, Livir-Rallatos C, Datseris J, Kokolakis S. Sodium hyaluronate aids corneal wound healing during cataract and/or glaucoma surgery. EuroTimes 1999;4:8.
  7. Kokolakis S, Baltatzis S, Zafirakis P, Livir-Rallatos G, Ladas ID. Twelve years continuous wear of the same therapeutic soft contact lens. A case report. Eur J Ophthalmol 1999;9:312-314.
  8. Georgopoulos G, Chalkiadakis I, Livir-Rallatos G, Theodossiadis PG, Theodosssiadis GP. Combined clear cornea phacoemulsification and trabecular aspiration in the treatment of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma associated with cataract. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2000;238:816-21.
  9. Zafirakis P, Baltatzis S, Livir-Rallatos G, Livir-Rallatos C, Canakis C, Vergados I, Theodossiadis GP: Does sodium hyaluronate accelerate corneal healing? Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2000;41:S912.
  10. Zafirakis P, Livir-Rallatos G, Livir-Rallatos C, Canakis C, Stathoulopoulos S, Graikiotis D, Theodossiadis GP: Retrospective study of the hydrogel (Bausch & Lomb, H 60 M, Hydroview) foldable intraocular lens. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2000;41:S486.
  11. Kokolakis S, Zafirakis P, Livir-Rallatos G, Ladas ID, Damanakis A. Endophthalmitis and suture removal. J Cataract Refract Surg 2000;26:632.
  12. Zafirakis P, Rowe S, Kokolakis S, Livir-Rallatos G, Livir-Rallatos C, Baltatzis S, Theodossiadis G. A comparison between topical anaesthesia and sub-tenon's anesthesia without sedation in cataract surgery. J Cataract Refract Surg 2001;27:873-9.
  13. Livir-Rallatos G, Nelson LB: Adjustable sutures: A reappraisal. North American Clinics 2001.
  14. Zafirakis P, Theodossiadis P, Livir-Rallatos G, Vergados I, Baltatzis S. Acute comitant esotropia after cataract surgery. J Catar Refract Surg 2002;28:373-5.
  15. Zafirakis P, Livir-Rallatos G, Livir-Rallatos C, Canakis C, Markomichelakis N. Diclofenac versus prednisolone postphacoemulsification treatment: a randomized clinical trial. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2002.
  16. Zafirakis P, Livir-Rallatos G, Livir-Rallatos C, Canakis C, Markomichelakis N, Baltatzis S. Leukocyte adhesion molecules in ocular rosacea. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2002.
  17. Canakis C, Livir-Rallatos C, Zafirakis P, Livir-Rallatos G, Persidis E, Conway MD, Peyman GA. Ocular photodynamic therapy for serous macular detachment in the diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy variant of idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy. Am J Ophthalmol 2003;136(4):750-2.
  18. Canakis C, Livir-Rallatos C, Zafirakis P, Livir-Rallatos G. Acute endophthalmitis following intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection. Am J Ophthalmol 2004;137(6):1158-1159.
  19. Zafirakis P, Blounas G, Koulios P, Ntantous G, Tsoli D, Petropoulos V, Livir-Rallatos G. A double blind study concerning the preference of the patients for olopatadine versus ketotifen due to drop comfort and efficacy, in an environmental model. Hellenic Ann Ophthalmol. 2004;14:301-08.
  20. Zafirakis P, Kymionis GD, Grentzelos MA , Livir-Rallatos G: Corneal graft detachment without corneal edema after descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty. Cornea 2010;29(4):456-8.