Public Health Ophthalmology 

Global Eye Health 

Eye Health Policy 

Evidence Synthesis 

Dr. Mapa Prabhath Piyasena is a Public Health Ophthalmologist from Sri Lanka. He graduated his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS - 2nd Class Honours) from University of Peradeniya in the year 2004 and a Diploma in Science under the Post Graduate Institute of Science Sri Lanka in the year 2008.

Dr. Piyasena entered into the Postgraduate In-service Training in Clinical Ophthalmology under the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine Sri Lanka in the year 2009, passing through a competitive post-graduate examination. He was trained in General Clinical Ophthalmology and Vitreo-Retina and worked as a Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon (Senior House Officer) under eminent Trainers at National Eye Hospital. He conducted the first situational analysis of vitreo-retinal diseases and he was a key contributor in establishing the first dedicated Vitreo-Retinal Department at the National Eye Hospital of Sri Lanka. 

Dr. Piyasena pursuaded a research and academic career pathway in Public Health Ophthalmology and completed a Master's (2014) and a Doctorate (2019) at the International Centre for Eye health - London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - United Kingdom, funded by the prestigious "Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust". He conducted the first situational analysis and feasibility study of implementing diabetic retinopathy screening using digital retinal imaging, and developed and submitted the first National Level Policy Brief on Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Sri Lanka. 

Dr. Piyasena has contributed to many activities under the VISION2020 Country Programme and National Blindness Prevention Programme in Sri Lanka. He worked as a National Level Policy Reviewer under the Directorate of Policy Analysis and Development Sri Lanka and contributed for enactment of impactful health sector policies. Currently he works as a Research Fellow in Global Eye Health and an Appointed Fellow under Evidence Synthesis Ireland (ESI).