Dr. Hamzah Mustak is an ophthalmologist with a special interest in ocular oncology, oculoplastic and orbital surgery. He is a consultant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town and heads the oncology and oculoplastic service.

Dr. Mustak completed his undergraduate training at the University of Cape Town. His internship years were spent at the Pietermaritzburg Hospital Complex. He then returned to Cape Town in 2010 to complete his community service year at Eerste River Hospital. His interest in ophthalmology grew at Eerste River Hospital where he spent any spare time available helping in the eye clinic.

In 2011 he started working as a medical officer in the Ophthalmology service at Groote Schuur Hospital. He went on to specialise in ophthalmology at Groote Schuur Hospital. His interest in ocular oncology began as a medical officer at Groote Schuur under the mentorship of Dr. Karin Lecuona. It was during his registrar time at he identified a big gap in care of patients with orbital and eyelid tumors. He then teamed up with Professor Darlene Lubbe, an ENT surgeon, and formed part of a team pioneering the field of endoscopic orbital and transorbital surgery.

On completion of his specialisation he was offered a consultant post at Groote Schuur to take over the oncology service from his mentor Dr. Karin Lecuona. It was at this time that he was also offered an opportunity to sub-specialise in oculoplastic and orbital surgery at the Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. He spent a year in fellowship training under world renowned orbital surgeon, Professor Robert Goldberg, gaining exposure to evaluation and management of eyelid tumours, orbital tumours and inflammatory disease, and cosmetic oculoplastic surgery. He returned to resume his consultant post at Groote Schuur Hospital with the objective of building on the service developed by his predecessor by establishing a comprehensive ophthalmic oncology service.

He has an interest in academic research with several publications in peer reviewed journals and is co-author of the Karl-Storz silver book on Transorbital approach to sphenoid wing meningioma. His academic interests are broad and oncology specific interests are education and training for retinoblastoma services in Africa, outcomes of intra-arterial and intravitreal chemotherapy for retinoblastoma, the role of topical hemotherapy for the management of recurrent conjunctival neoplasia and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for orbital invasive squamous cell carcinoma. His other interests are thyroid eye disease, vascular orbital malformations and lacrimal disease.

He is based full-time at Groote Schuur Hospital and does limited private practice, consulting at UCT Private Academic Hospital and Cape Town Mediclinic where he shares rooms with Professor Lubbe.

Outside of work his time is devoted to his family. He is married to Lyn Fortuin, a doctor dedicated to women’s health who currently practices at a breast cancer screening and treatment centre. Their free time is consumed by their 2 children, Kayden and Sofia.