Dr. El Rayes is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Institute of Ophthalmology in Cairo. He received his medical degree with honors from Ein Shams University and completed his Ophthalmology training and residency at Cairo University Hospital. Dr. El Rayes earned his Master’s degree in Ophthalmology from Cairo University before joining the Associated Retinal Consultants in Royal Oak, Michigan for his vitreoretinal fellowship in 1993. He also completed a year of research fellowship at the Research Eye Institute, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA in 1994. He received his Ph.D. degree in 1997.

Dr. El Rayes serves on the faculty of the Institute of Ophthalmology in Cairo, participating as primary investigator in national and international clinical trials, with a special interest in diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and pediatric retinal surgery. He is a vitreoretinal surgeon at the International Eye Hospital, an innovator of the 23g fragmatome and the suprachoroidal surgical techniques and product line.

He is a founder of the Arab African Society of Retina Specialists (AASRS), and a member of the AAO, ARVO, EVRS, ASRS, the Egyptian Ophthalmological Society, Club Vit, and the Pan Arab African Ophthalmological Council. He is a board member of the International Affairs Committee of the American Society of Retina Specialists and serves as the liaison leader for Africa and the Middle East.

His honors include the Amin El Maghraby Award (2001), the AAO International Education Award (2010), the AAO International Scholar Award, the ASRS Honor Award (2011) and Senior Honor Award (2014), the AAO Achievement Award (2015), and Fellow of the American Society of Retina Specialists (2021).