Professor David Gartry is Consultant Ophthalmologist to Moorfields Eye Hospital, and Visiting Professor to the faculty of Visual Sciences at City University, London. Today, his patients include royalty, A-listers, famous musicians, celebrity chefs, as well as high-flying business men and women.
He was one of the first surgeons in the world to perform laser eye surgery, way back in November 1989. That gives him the longest experience in this field of any eye surgeon in the UK. He has performed over 20,000 treatments to date, which is more than some clinics.
What makes him different? As the person we might consider the father of laser eye surgery in the UK, Professor Gartry tops the list of the 10 best laser eye surgeons in the UK, based on thousands of patient reviews since 2002.
What else should I know? Professor Gartry underwent laser eye surgery (LASIK) himself in October 2000, so he fully understands the process from both the doctor’s and the patient’s perspective. He recently founded the Wimpole Eye Clinic to help more people enjoy freedom from glasses.
☝ So is he the one? You’re the only one that can answer that. If you would like a second opinion, you can find the top-rated eye surgery clinic near you using our simple tool here, and book a free consultation with an eye expert to discuss your options.
1. Training and Prizes
Graduating in 1978 with a first class honours degree in Optometry from Glasgow Caledonian University, David then completed his pre-registration year at Moorfields Eye Hospital in 1979. With the first place in the UK professional qualifying examinations under his belt, he was awarded the Colebrook and Porter prizes of The British College of Optometrists, the Master’s Prize of The Spectacle Makers Company (SMC) and the J Stephen Dawson Memorial award of The Institute of Optometry.
He then read Medicine at University College London, where he won several academic awards including the annual national Sir Stewart Duke-Elder prize in Ophthalmology. He became a Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons and The Royal College of Ophthalmologists in 1988. And that same year, while at St Thomas’ Hospital, he became involved in the first research work evaluating the then new excimer laser to treat corneal surface disease.
From 1989 to 1992, Professor Gartry held a full-time Iris Fund Research Fellowship, investigating the potential clinical applications of the laser and in November 1989, and became the first surgeon in The United Kingdom to perform laser eye surgery (photorefractive keratectomy or PRK).
He was responsible for the selection and monitoring of all patients in the original St Thomas’ Hospital research trials. And this culminated in the a thesis entitled ‘The Development of Excimer Laser Corneal Surgery in the UK’, which earned him the higher degree of Doctor of Medicine from The University of London.
2. Qualifications
Progessor Gartry moved to Moorfields Eye Hospital in 1992, and from January 1998 onwards he was responsible for the first LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis) research protocols there. He has published over 50 scientific papers relating to laser corneal surgery, and has spoken at numerous scientific meetings around the world.
In 1991, he was awarded The Storz Medal and in 1993 The Iris Fund Triennial Award. He has written several book chapters and co-edited 3 textbooks: ‘Excimer Lasers in Ophthalmology – Principles and Practice’ (1997, Martin Dunitz), ‘Cataract Surgery’ (2003, BMA publishing) and ‘Corneal Surgery’ (2013, Springer Verlag).
In February 1995 he delivered one of the prestigious discourse lectures to The Royal Institution of Great Britain, a leading scientific society, and following this was made a member of The Royal Institution. In 2006 he was appointed Visiting Professor to City University and was Refractive Service Director at Moorfields from 2006 to 2013.
He holds The Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ Certificate in Laser Refractive Surgery (2007), and was entered into the 2007 edition of ‘Who’s Who’. In 2010, he was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree (DSc) by Glasgow Caledonian University. And in 2013, he received a lifetime fellowship of the College of Optometrists in recognition of his contributions to the field of ophthalmic surgery.
3. Prices
Laser eye surgery costs and lens replacement surgery costs are fixed and easy to digest at the Wimpole Eye Clinic. These are the latest prices (for both eyes) for laser eye surgery at this clinic with surgery by David Gartry:
| Eye Surgery Procedure | Price (both eyes) |
|---|---|
| Initial Consultation | £195 |
| IntraLASIK / LASEK with Wavefront | £4,480 |
| IntraLASIK/ LASEK with Wavefront (Higher Prescriptions) | £4,980 |
| Surgery package for standard treatment with a premium monofocal lens | £3,517 |
| Surgery package for laser assisted treatment with a premium monofocal lens | £4,138 |
| Special order/custom made lens | From £575 |
So how do these prices compare? Unlike with high street clinics such as Optical Express or Ultralase, the initial consultation with Professor Gartry is not free. Plus, any follow-up consultations will slap another £150 on top.
The surgery costs are also higher than at some other eye clinics. Yes, all procedures comes with Wavefront technology as standard, which is a high-precision AI-enhanced laser. But remember other treatment centres will sometimes give their own name to their advanced laser technology – at Optical Express, it’s called iDesign, at Optegra it’s Clairvu.
Are there any hidden costs? Yes and no. These prices include extensive eye tests before treatment, and any aftercare visits will be free for the first two years following surgery.
But patients will usually need two to three follow-up consultations, which are £150 a pop. If you suffer from very high prescriptions or astigmatism, your cost of surgery may even be higher than the prices above.
If these prices are more than you would feel comfortable paying, you might like to consider a leading high street clinic, as most will offer monthly payment options for as little as £30 a month for two years.
4. Professor Gartry Review: The Verdict
David Gartry continues to be at at the forefront of technological innovation in laser eye surgery. But he actually specialises in cataract surgery, and was one of the first UK surgeons to evaluate and adopt the latest femtosecond laser.
So, is Professor Gartry the right eye surgeon for you? Of course, that all depends on where you live, and what you’re looking for.
To find out, you might like to book a consultation with Professor Gartry to meet him, and discuss your eye care in detail. This will cost £195. Or, you can talk to an eye expert commitment-free by finding a well-reviewed eye surgery clinic that offers full eye tests and a surgery consultation at no cost at all.
☝ To find a top-rated laser eye surgery clinic near you, just click here to use our simple quote tool, and receive a tailored match and quote from a clinic you can trust.
Professor David S Gartry Reviews
Kiera Farrelly
LASEK: From -7 And -7.50 → Better than 20/20 Vision!
Having worn glasses from the age of 7, short sightedness had been a lifelong problem. Throughout my teenage years, my prescription kept increasing (as did the thickness of the lenses on my glasses!) and my eyes became increasingly sore from wearing contact lenses for the majority of the time. It was then that I decided to proceed with laser eye surgery. I decided that even if I could not achieve perfect vision, anything would be better than the very blurry world that I was currently experiencing.
At the age of 21 my eyes had stabilized enough for laser eye surgery. I mentioned to my local optician that I would like to have laser eye surgery and without hesitation he recommended Professor David Gartry at Moorfields Eye Hospital. I swiftly booked a consultation and haven’t looked back since!
On arrival at the consultation they conduct many different optical tests to determine whether you are suitable for laser eye surgery (some of which were rather new and exciting!) before Professor Gartry then looks at the results and makes a decision. I was initially disappointed to be told that due to my age and high prescription (-7 and -7.50), LASIK (the most common and quicker healing procedure) was not suitable. Instead Professor Gartry recommended LASEK and explained the procedure and recovery time. After some thought, I decided to proceed with LASEK.
5 weeks later in August 2014 and I was back at Moorfields Eye Hospital for my surgery. It was a strange mix of emotions– excited but apprehensive all at the same time. However I was quickly greeted and reassured by the nurses. I was then taken into the room for the surgery. What happened next was probably one of the most memorable experiences of my surgery. Before the surgery, Professor Gartry told me to look at the clock on the wall without my glasses on. It has to be said that I couldn’t even see the clock on the wall, just a blob of white!
The surgery itself flew past in a bit of a blur. It was completely painless and I was in the operating room for only 15 minutes. On completion, Professor Gartry then asked me to look at the clock and tell him what time it was. WOW! It was crystal clear and I could tell the time for the first time in my life without wearing glasses!
I was then taken into a side room and administered with a rather large bag of eyedrops to use for the next 4 weeks to help with the healing process. The first day involved putting in lubricating eye drops every 15 minutes to cope with the dryness. However this was extended to every hour from the second day onwards. I had prepared myself for the worst after reading many blogs and reviews prior to surgery. However the healing process was nowhere near as bad as I had anticipated! My eyes were a little heavy for the first few days but I had very little pain. My vision was incredibly blurry but that was to be expected. I had numerous eye drops administered and had to sleep with a pair of goggles on my face to stop me from accidentally poking my eyes whilst asleep.
On Day 5 I headed back to Moorfields for my first check-up. The bandage contact lenses were removed and my eyes were tested. I was initially a little disappointed that the eyesight chart was still rather blurry but I was reassured that this was completely normal and that my eyes were healing well. 2-3 weeks after surgery and I started to notice that my eyesight was beginning to improve. I could read road signs as a passenger in a car and the blurriness was beginning to subside.
I went back to Moorfields for a check-up 1 month after surgery. This was an optional check up but I thought it best to attend as I was concerned that my eyesight was fluctuating throughout the day. However I was informed that this was normal and that my eyes were now driving standard which reassured me a lot! From there my eyes kept improving and I noticed that they were getting better by the day – it was incredibly exciting to open my eyes in the morning and see every detail or just to see what shampoo I was using in the shower! I continued to use lubricating eye drops (Carmellose Sodium) for 3 months post-surgery as I found that my eyes would often get quite sore when removing eye make up. By Christmas, this had decreased and I rarely had to use the eye drops.
In March 2015, I went back for my final check-up at Moorfields. Usually most people have this at 3 months post-surgery but due to other circumstances, I could not attend before then. I knew that I had good eyesight, but I was completely thrilled to find out that I now had better than 20/20 vision! Especially after being told by Professor Gartry that it can be unusual to have a perfect prescription after LASEK.
It is safe to say that I am absolutely thrilled with the results from my LASEK surgery. I would not hesitate to recommend Professor Gartry and Moorfields to anyone interested in undergoing laser eye surgery. Although it took some time for my eyes to settle after surgery, the end result has definitely been worth it! I now have (hopefully!) many years to enjoy my new eyesight. I have been informed that I may need reading glasses in many years time like most people do. However for now I will make the most of waking up every morning with crystal clear vision, rather than rummaging around for the pair of thick glasses next to my bed!
Leanne
Words cannot describe just how highly I would recommend Professor Gartry for laser-eye surgery. The fact that I travelled all the way to London from Devon just to have him be my surgeon hopefully speaks volumes of his acclaim and my high praise of this wonderful man!I myself was very short-sighted, with a -10.00 and -9.50 prescription (on top of astigmatisms in both eyes). The good professor recommended me LASEK treatment over LASIK due to my prescription, and I am glad to say that, thus far, it has worked wonders! I had some concerns a few days after (on a Sunday), and Professor Gartry personally called me back on the Sunday to ensure it was nothing bad.I had the surgery just over a week ago and, while I am still recovering (thus my vision is not up to its optimum as yet), I know that I made the best choice. It may cost a bit more, and you may have to travel, but Professor Gartry truly is the only man for the job. If I could give him more than five stars, I would!
Keeley Wiggett
Thank you so much for fulfilling my dream, already my life has changed. Without your help this would never have been possible. I wrote this without glasses or contact lenses :-
Zahra Wahab
I had been considering eye surgery for many years but lacked the courage, I couldn’t even contemplate putting contact lenses in. I consulted 3 opticians as regards who they thought was the best in the industry for lens replacement surgery and Prof. Gartry was the name all 3 gave me.
I trusted Prof. Gartry implicitly from the first consultation when he advised me that I he could operate but I would still require reading glasses. From the start I felt confident that I was in capable hands. The whole team were very helpful and supportive.
Despite absolute fear on the day of the first surgery I felt no pain or discomfort at all. I left the theatre after the first eye and couldn’t wait to get the 2nd lens replaced. My distance vision was unbelievable, colours were so vibrant and bright. Now, almost 4 weeks on from the first lens replacement I wished I had had the courage many years ago.
I haven’t suffered so much as a headache and would advise anybody contemplating this procedure to definately proceed- they won’t regret it. I am confident that the ease I felt with Prof. Gartry’s team was well worth the money – I was in good hands.
Simon Tilley
Had Lasik treatment in July 2014. Went back for a retreatment on my right eye in February 2015 to correct minor defective vision. Successful outcome, vision is better than 20/20. Would happily recommend David Gartry / Moorfields to anyone considering laser eye surgery.
Charlotte Monk
I had both my eyes lasered in February 2015, it’s now August ’15 & I cannot fault the service and results from Professor Gartry and his team. Efficient, pleasant and fast the whole experience was great and my vision which was a bad astigmatism in both eyes (-2.5) is now 20:20. It really changes your life! I went here from a friends recommendation and would definitely recommend Mr Gartry and his team to anyone thinking of having this done. Knowing that he was one of the first people to use this technique, and has been successfully doing it for so many years really put my mind at rest. If you’re going to have someone alter your eyesight, make sure it’s one of the best people & latest machines you put your trust in.
N Reip
From initial appointment, through the operation and finally with the aftercare, the experience and quality of service has been superb. Have already recommended the clinic to friends, and will continue to do so in future.
Simon Acland
My right eye has always been short-sighted and my left eye longsighted, so that I use my right eye for reading and my left eye for other things. In recent years the sight in my left eye had got worse (I am now 57), so that I needed to wear glasses to watch television, for concerts, sport matches etc if I want to see details or fast-moving objects. I have also had to wear glasses for ten years or so to play music (just a bit out of range for my short-sighted right eye). I have never found wearing glasses comfortable and they have tended to make me feel disoriented if I wear them and move around. I also never seemed to have them with me when I wanted them!
So it came down to a choice between contact lenses and laser surgery. I could not be bothered to fiddle about with contact lenses so decide to go with the surgery which I had three days ago. I confess I was a bit apprehensive about the procedure and its aftermath. However, the operation itself was completely painless if a little uncomfortable, and I have had no pain at all subsequently. My vision was already clearer the day after surgery and has been getting steadily better ever since. It is exciting to wake up in the morning and look out on a world which is clearer and crisper than before.
David Gartry and his team have great experience and inspired confidence throughout. Overall I would highly recommend this process as a means of greatly enhancing quality of life in return for a short period of minor discomfort.
Nicola
This is the well known Top UK Surgeon for LASIK, practicing at Moorfields (where else ?). Use anyone else and you are compromising your eyesight. Yes, I did go under his knife...First Class.
Simon
Mr Gartry is probably the best of the lot, and my experiences with him reflect that. His knowledge of the process, and his easy-going calm manner make the whole thing a lot easier to deal with, as any eye surgery can be quite daunting. Definately worth the investment.
April
David used Lasik on my eyes and my vision is perfect. He did a great job and I would recommend him to anyone needing a first rate eye doctor.
