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Professor David S Gartry

165 Reviews

I've been short sighted since I was young and now developed early onset of cataracts. My eyesight was depressing me. After much research I found David Gartry. David and his team made me feel relaxed and reassured from my first con ...Read more

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 ProcedurePrice (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 lensFrom £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

RatingDate

Wendy Watson

11 Nov 2016

Very happy with outcome to date

20 Mar 2017

I experienced excellent service and support from Professor Gartry and all his staff – both clinicians and his office team. The nursing staff at Moorfields were also very good. My only constructive piece of criticism is that I felt a bit ‘abandoned’ in the waiting room at Moorfields before I went through for surgery. There was quite a gap between my arrival and being seen – nearly an hour I think. I’m sure this is normal but it would have been helpful if one of the nurses or the receptionist had told me on arrival roughly how long I would be waiting. This would have managed my expectations and made me feel more relaxed, as it’s quite an anxious time and I felt I had to chase staff to find out what was happening. However, this is a small point and my general experience has been hugely positive – and I’ve had an amazing result from the surgery. Thank you!

20 Mar 2017

Wonderful! Off to pilot school now!

15 Mar 2017

Excellent service from start to finish. I was nervous about the operation and had been deferring it for years but felt totally at ease with Mr. Gartry. The results have exceeded expectations. Wouldn’t change a thing.

10 Mar 2017

Arrived to get both eyes corrected for short distance, however Prof Gartry advised only getting one eye corrected (dominant) and the other can therefore continue coping with reading. I now have airforce vision (2 better than 20:20) and am pleased to be wearing normal sunglasses! Whole experience has been fantastic and I’m delighted!

10 Mar 2017

Delighted with the results of LASEK eye surgery and I now have perfect vision without the hassle of glasses or contact lenses. Professor Gartry offered an excellent service and was available to answer my questions and address my concerns before, during and after the procedure. First rate care and I would highly recommend to others considering this alternative to LASIK.

06 Mar 2017

I am totally thrilled with my new eyesight, it’s truly a revelation and I cannot thank Professor Gartry enough. It had long been a dream of mine to wake up in the morning and be able to see properly but being so long sighted I wasn’t sure anything could be done for me. However, now my wish has been granted and the results are life changing – I no longer need glasses for anything! I will be eternally grateful to Professor Gartry and his team.

05 Mar 2017

Treatment was thorough and professional and the results are fantastic

27 Feb 2017

Great result. Great pre and post operative care and reassurance. I was technically blind without glasses pre LASEK surgery and now my eyesight is effectively 20:20.

27 Feb 2017

Great personal treatment. Very much treated you as an individual, can’t fault at all and would highly recommend. Applies to everyone I came across.

27 Feb 2017

Really pleased with surgery and all related appointments follow up etc Would definitely recommend.

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