Calgary Retina Consultants

What Calgary Retina Consultants does

Calgary Retina Consultants is a Calgary-based ophthalmology subspecialty practice focused on vitreoretinal medicine and surgery, founded in 2000. The practice operates from the Southern Alberta Eye Centre and comprises 12 or more ophthalmologists—including four retina specialists—treating approximately 50,000 patients annually across Southern Alberta. Clinical offerings span diagnostic imaging, vitreoretinal surgical procedures (vitrectomy, scleral buckling, pneumatic retinopexy), pharmacotherapy including intravitreal anti-VEGF injections, and pediatric retinal services delivered through Alberta Children's Hospital. The co-located SAEC facility consolidates clinical, surgical, and educational functions, and nine vitreoretinal surgeons have graduated from the practice's fellowship program to date.\n\nThe business is structured around fee-for-service billing under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP), supplemented by uninsured private patient fees and industry-sponsored multicenter clinical trial revenue. Its academic and research infrastructure includes a vitreoretinal surgery fellowship program launched in conjunction with the University of Calgary ophthalmology residency program in 2003, a research department operating for over 22 years, and the Western Canada Retina Retreat (founded 2010) functioning as a regional continuing medical education platform. Industry-sponsored trials contribute revenue and reinforce the practice's standing as a recognized clinical research site with Advarra Institutional Biosafety Committee oversight compliance.\n\nThe practice is anchored by long-standing institutional ties to the University of Calgary (Department of Surgery), Alberta Health Services, and pharmaceutical and device sponsors. With over six decades of collective subspecialty experience across its physician group, the competitive position is built on clinical depth, regional referral density, and academic affiliation rather than technology or brand differentiation. Revenue mechanics are characteristic of a publicly funded fee-for-service specialty practice: AHCIP-billed clinical encounters as the core, supplemented by private fees, sponsor trial revenue, and academic-related income streams.

Name

Calgary Retina Consultants

Legal name

Calgary Retina Consultants

Website

https://calgaryretina.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Calgary Retina Consultants is a Calgary-based vitreoretinal subspecialty practice founded in 2000, operating from the Southern Alberta Eye Centre with 12+ ophthalmologists treating 50,000+ patients annually across Southern Alberta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Ophthalmology / Vitreoretinal Care

NAICS

Diagnostic Imaging Centers (621512)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Retina & Vitreous Specialists (HLAKAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care) (HLAKAKAC), Ocular Imaging & Diagnostic Testing Centers (HLAKAKAN), Glaucoma Specialists (HLAKAKAG)

Keywords

• Retinal care services
• Vitreoretinal surgery
• Ophthalmology practice
• Retinal diagnostics
• Anti-VEGF therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Medical Services Revenue: Revenue is generated through billing for medical consultations, diagnostic procedures, and surgical treatments covered under provincial healthcare plans (Alberta Health Services). The practice treats over 50,000 patients annually across a comprehensive range of retinal conditions and treatments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Calgary Retina Consultants is a specialized ophthalmology practice providing vitreoretinal surgery, pharmacological treatments (anti-VEGF and steroid injections), and advanced diagnostic imaging for retinal diseases including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, and uveitis. The practice treats more than 50,000 patients annually and supplements clinical care with a multicenter clinical research program and a two-year vitreoretinal fellowship training program.

Product overview

Calgary Retina Consultants operates as a comprehensive vitreoretinal medical practice providing a unified suite of retinal care services rather than a software platform. The core offering consists of surgical procedures (vitrectomy, scleral buckling, pneumatic retinopexy, epiretinal membrane peel, cryotherapy) and pharmacological treatments (anti-VEGF injections including Avastin, Lucentis, Eylea, Jetrea, and steroid injections) for retinal conditions. These clinical treatments are supported by advanced diagnostic services including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography, ICG angiography, visual fields testing, and ultrasound examinations (A-scan, B-scan, UBM). The practice also operates an education division (Calgary Retina Fellowship Program) offering two-year vitreoretinal training, and maintains an active clinical research department conducting multicenter studies. The Southern Alberta Eye Center houses the practice and provides state-of-the-art surgical and diagnostic facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vitrectomy Surgical procedure removing the vitreous gel from the middle of the eye to treat retinal detachment, retinal tears, macular holes, vitreomacular traction, and epiretinal membranes.
• Epiretinal Membrane Peel Advanced surgical procedure to remove scar tissue over the macula in cases of epiretinal membrane, macular holes, and retinal detachment, performed in conjunction with vitrectomy.
• Scleral Buckling Surgery Surgical procedure using a silicone band or sponge placed on the outside of the eye to repair tears, holes, or breaks caused by retinal detachment.
• Pneumatic Retinopexy Procedure for retinal detachment and retinal tears involving injection of a small gas bubble into the vitreal space to reposition and hold the retina in place.
• Avastin and Lucentis Injections Anti-VEGF intravitreal injections used to prevent growth of abnormal blood vessels in wet age-related macular degeneration, macular edema, branch and central retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic retinopathy.
• Eylea Injections Anti-VEGF intravitreal injection used to prevent growth of abnormal blood vessels in wet age-related macular degeneration, with a less frequent dosing schedule.
• Jetrea Injections Pharmacologic treatment for vitreomacular traction that causes dissolution of proteins responsible for traction on the macula.
• Periocular and Intravitreal Steroid Injections Corticosteroid (Kenalog) injections used to treat macular edema and uveitis by reducing swelling and tightening blood vessels.
• Cryotherapy Non-invasive surgical treatment that freezes the retina back into correct position to repair retinal detachments and retinal tears, creating an adhesive scar.
• Photodynamic Therapy Specialized treatment for wet AMD and central serous chorioretinopathy using a light-sensitive drug activated by laser to close abnormal blood vessels.
• Focal Macular Laser Treatment Laser treatment for reducing abnormal blood vessels in the retina caused by retinal vein occlusion and diabetic retinopathy.
• YAG Laser Capsulotomy Laser treatment to remove hazy posterior capsules (secondary cataracts) that form after cataract surgery.
• Laser Iridotomy Treatment Laser treatment for acute closed-angle glaucoma that creates an opening in the peripheral rim of the iris to improve fluid drainage.
• Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) Laser treatment for open-angle glaucoma that improves drainage and reduces intraocular pressure.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Painless diagnostic imaging test providing detailed cross-sectional images of the eye's internal structure to evaluate disorders of the macula or optic nerve.
• Fluorescein Angiography Diagnostic procedure using fluorescein dye to take photographs of the retina and evaluate blood flow through vessels in the back of the eye.
• Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICG) Diagnostic test using infrared-sensitive dye to take images of blood vessels in the choroidal layer of the eye.
• Visual Fields Test Examination measuring a patient's range of vision and peripheral fields, used for glaucoma, neurological conditions, and retinal conditions.
• A-Scan / B-Scan Ultrasounds Non-invasive ultrasound examinations used to measure size and structures of the eye, allowing ophthalmologists to view the inside or behind the eye.
• Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biomicroscope (UBM) High-frequency ultrasound imaging used to view the anterior segment of the eye including the cornea, iris, and ciliary body.
• Calgary Retina Fellowship Program Two-year comprehensive vitreoretinal fellowship training program balanced between hospital and community-based practice, training fellows across the spectrum of retinal conditions; nine surgeons have graduated to date.
• Clinical Research Services Multicenter clinical trials and research studies sponsored by industry, focused on bringing clinical and leading-edge technology research to patients; conducted under Advarra IBC oversight for over 22 years.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50,000 patients treated annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of CalgarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary Retina Consultants physicians hold University of Calgary appointments and operate the Retina Fellowship Program and Residency Training Program. The practice collaborates on education and mentorship of medical students, residents, and fellows. Dr. Kherani developed the Residency Training Program at the University of Calgary in 2003 and serves as Residency Director.
• Alberta Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary Retina Consultants collaborates with Alberta Health Services within the hospital centred program supporting retina clinics and operating rooms, primarily based at Rockyview General Hospital and the pediatric retina service within the Calgary neonatal intensive care units and Alberta Children's Hospital.
• Southern Alberta Eye Centre (SAEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded in 2010 by Dr. Kherani and Dr. Williams, the Southern Alberta Eye Centre is a state-of-the-art facility housing Calgary Retina Consultants, advanced diagnostic services, surgical facilities, and an educational wing. It is considered the most advanced ophthalmic surgical facility in Canada.
• International Agency for the Prevention of BlindnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Anna Ells serves as Co-chair of the Childhood Blindness Subcommittee of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness in Latin America.
• Women In OphthalmologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Femida Kherani is the founder of the Western Canada Chapter for Women In Ophthalmology (WIO) and serves as Board Member for Women In Ophthalmology USA.
• Industry Sponsors (Clinical Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary Retina Consultants Research Department participates in multicenter studies sponsored by industry over the past 22 years, bringing clinical and industry sponsored retina research to Calgary.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Wills Eye Hospital: Specialty ophthalmology hospital in Philadelphia with comprehensive medical and surgical retina services plus teaching and research. Comparable as a leading retina and ophthalmology referral center with fellowship training and clinical trials infrastructure.
• University of Calgary - Department of Ophthalmology: Academic ophthalmology department hosting the practice's physicians and operating the residency and fellowship programs. Comparable as a broader ophthalmology platform (medical and surgical) within the same Alberta ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Southeast Retina Center: Multi-physician retina specialty practice in the southeastern US offering comprehensive vitreoretinal care. Comparable in subspecialty depth, diagnostic capability, and surgical volume.
• New England Retina Associates: Multi-physician retina specialty practice serving the New England region with on-site diagnostic imaging and vitreoretinal surgery. Comparable as a high-volume subspecialty group anchored by fellowship-trained retina specialists.
• Vitreoretinal Surgery, PA: Minnesota-based vitreoretinal specialty practice group providing medical and surgical retinal care across multiple sites. Comparable in subspecialty focus, fellowship-trained physician model, and clinical research activity.
• Retina Consultants of Texas: Large multi-location retina specialty practice in the southern US focused exclusively on vitreoretinal care, including medical retina and vitreoretinal surgery. Highly comparable in operating model, patient volume, subspecialty focus, and physician-referral acquisition to Calgary Retina Consultants.
• Retinal Consultants of Arizona: Large retina specialty group with multiple Arizona locations providing medical retina, vitreoretinal surgery, and clinical research. Comparable in subspecialty focus, multi-physician scale, and industry-sponsored trial activity.
• Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group: Large multi-physician ophthalmology group specializing in retinal diseases and vitreoretinal surgery in Southern California. Comparable as a high-volume, fellowship-trained retina specialty practice delivering diagnostics, injections, and vitreoretinal surgery through a single integrated group.
• Atlanta Retina Institute: Single-specialty retina practice in Atlanta offering comprehensive vitreoretinal care with a similar model of fellowship-trained specialists and on-site diagnostics. Comparable in clinical scope and physician-referral acquisition approach.

Regional players

• Alberta Health Services - Ophthalmology: Provincial health authority that operates hospital-based eye clinics and ORs in partnership with the practice (Rockyview, Alberta Children's Hospital). Comparable as the public-sector counterpart for ophthalmology service delivery in the same Alberta geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/calgary_retina
• Facebookfacebook.com/calgaryretinaconsultants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calgary-retina-consultants

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Calgary Retina Consultants