Dr. Mathijs van de Put

Enterprising ophthalmologist

As a fourth-year medical student, Mathijs van de Put could not imagine ophthalmology. “After one day in the hospital in Leiderdorp, I was sold. I had a very good supervisor who made the profession sparkle. The dynamics, the speed, the fun, the improvement of the quality of life of patients; it all appealed to me immediately. Professionally and technically, ophthalmology is very interesting.”

Beautiful combination

Mathijs has been an ophthalmologist since 2015. He worked at the hospital in Venlo for seven years. After that, he started his own clinic for general ophthalmology and started working at FYEO. Mathijs: “The combination of my own practice and working at FYEO is really great. One day I can completely lose myself in something professional and on another day I can mainly focus on entrepreneurship and organization.”

During his training, Mathijs also did a PhD research: “That combination was fun and ensured cross-pollination. My national research into the demographic characteristics of people with retinal detachments made me even more curious about the profession of ophthalmology. As a researcher, I was allowed to look behind the scenes in many clinics. I spent a day shadowing, was an observer in the operating room and was allowed to view files. I learned a great deal from that.”

Top players from the Netherlands

After his PhD, Mathijs was invited to FYEO: “I immediately thought ‘this is going well’ and then my arrival was quickly sealed. In the field of refractive surgery, FYEO employs the top players in the Netherlands and perhaps even abroad. In terms of volume, new techniques and investments, FYEO is a leader. All ophthalmologists are very motivated. I think that the working conditions are nowhere better. Everyone who works at FYEO also does something in a clinic or hospital and that is a good thing.”

“A good ophthalmologist is always curious.”

As an ophthalmologist, according to Mathijs, you should be interested in the person sitting opposite you. Mathijs:
“You really have to want to do something for the client. You want to help them one way or another with the best solution. So you always ask yourself what best suits someone’s complaints and someone’s life. A good ophthalmologist must be curious about new techniques and always do his best. You have to practice your profession with passion.”