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Mr Pillai is the Medical Director at Advance Vision Care (AVC), which he founded back in 2003. Today, he is considered one of UK’s most respected, highly trained and experienced Consultant Refractive Surgeons.
With over 25 years’ experience under his belt, Mr Pillai has personally performed over 30,000 eye surgeries – more than many other ophthalmologists. He is also licenced to practice both in the UK and the USA, after having worked for years with the NHS, and in Indian eye hospitals.
As one of the first eye surgeons in the country to conduct bilateral LASIK (bladeless eye surgery on both eyes), Mr Pillai still performs all laser procedures at AVC.
1. Qualifications
Today, Mr Pillai is a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO), as well as the Royal College of Surgeons, and is registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). Membership of these bodies signals a stamp of approval within the ophthalmology industry.
Mr Pillai’s Formal Qualifications:
- 1990: Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists
- 1989: Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- 1988: Diploma in Ophthalmology, Royal College of Surgeons, Glasgow
- 1982: Diploma in Ophthalmology, Madras University, India
- 1980: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Madras University, India
Mr Pillai’s Professional Affiliations:
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO – UK)
- Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
- British Society of Refractive Surgery (BSRS – UK)
- British Medical Association (BMA)
- American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO – UK)
- Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO – USA)
- American Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS – USA)
- International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS)
- European Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS)
What’s more, Mr Pillai is one of the few eye surgeons in the UK to receive a Fellowship in both Corneal and in Refractive Surgery: one at the University of Texas in the USA; and the other at The Queen Victoria Hospital in the UK.
And – as you would expect from someone who founded his own private practice – he is helping to innovate laser eye surgery technology through collaboration with the Technolas group think tank.
2. Experience
After working as an NHS Consultant for five years, Mr Pillai founded his own private clinic, AVC, in 2003. In addition to performing laser eye surgery himself, Mr Pillai still finds the time to present at international conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and help train other surgeons in the UK.
Quite a few accolades help Mr Pillai stand out. Rare among them is his pioneering of the co-management approach. He gathered a network of clinical partners (all of whom are experienced and accredited optometrists) in England to act as a referral base for initial consultation and aftercare.
As a result, patients are able to receive qualified advice on their eye conditions, from an optometrist close to home. This is part of the AVC’s focus on personalised patient care.
Area of expertise:
- Corneal neovascularization (CNV), or the growth of new blood vessels in the eye
- Amniotic membrane transplantation
- Specular microscopy in uveitis
- Excimer laser surgery (such as LASIK and LASEK)
- Dry eye conditions
3. Mr C. T. Pillai Review: The Verdict
So, is Mr Pillai the right eye surgeon for you? Of course, that all depends on where you live, and what you’re looking for.
If you’re seeking laser eye surgery in London, you’ll be pleased to know Mr Pillai operates largely in the Harley Street AVC Clinic. Plus, Lasik Eyes reviewers comment on his compassionate, personable approach.
But depending on your budget, you may like to shop around. In any case, it’s always worth trying to meet your surgeon at an initial consultation to establish a good connection before the surgery.
☝ 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.
Testimonials
IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR A WHILE AND I DECIDED TO COME TO AVC FOR A CONSULTATION TO SEE IF I WAS SUITABLE.GENERALLY IT WAS A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE. I WAS QUITE NERVIOUS ABOUT POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS BUT MY QUERIES WERE DEALT WITH IN A VERY PROFFESIONAL WAY. THE LEVEL OD SERVICE WAS EXEMPLORY. THE AFTERCARE IS ALSO VERY GOOD.THIS REALLY IS A REMARKABLE AND “LIFE CHANGING” EXPERIENCE TO BE FREED FROM GLASSES AND CONTACT LENSES
I WAS VERY PLEASED AT THE PERSONAL SERVICE I RECEIVED AS AN INDAVIDUAL – NOT A NUMBER ON A PRODUCTION LINE.MR PILLAI WAS ALSO VERY CLEAR AS TO THE RELATIVE RISKS AND HOW THEY WOULD BE MANAGED – WHICH GAVE ME HUGE CONFIDENCE.LASTLY THE DETAILED EXPLANATION OF HOPW THE OPERATION IS CARRIED OUT ENABLED ME TO BE MORE RELAXED AND COMPOSED TGROUGHOUT THE PROCEEDURE – -WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD GHAVE BEEN QUITE WORRYING.I AM DELIGHTED WITH THE RESULT, EVEN AFTER JUST 3 WEEKS AND WOULD NOT HESITATE TO RECOMMEND MR PILLAI.
I researched laser eye surgery for two years before deciding to take the plunge. I was very nervous and had no intention of going to one of the “supermarket” cheaper type places. My friend recommended me to Mr Pillai. My eyes were bad -6 and -5.75. I also had an astigmatism. On the day of the surgery, I was looked after and received first class treatement. The whole process was painless and I was so glad I had it done. In my case however, I had problems with my right eye mainly down to dryness but I was also suffering from ghosting. My Pillai had me back in a few weeks later for re treatment and I haven’t looked back since. I now have checkups locally to where I live and for the first time since I was 13, I can see distance without glasses or contacts, in fact I can see clearer now than I ever did with Contacts. The clinic were great and called me to make sure I was ok. I still have slight dryness but a few drops here and there help with that. I need glasses for real close up work but considering how totally reliant I was on glasses, this is minor. I totally recommend this clinic and would advise anyone to go to the forums first and see what is written about the cheaper options. You will then realise just how could AVC are.
EXELLENT SERVICE AND CARE. VERY CLEAR EXPLANATION AND ALL MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED.THE AFTER CARE WAS GREAT. THEY DON’T PUSH YOU OUT AT THE END OF YOUR TREATMENT. THEY WERE ALSO VERY PROMPT IN ANSWERING MY QURIES AFTER THE TREATMENT.
AS EVERY PATIENT THAT HAS BEEN TO DR PILLAI, I AM EXCEPTIOALLY HAPPY AND SATISFIED WITH THE CARE AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL THROUGHOUT MY TREATMENT AND AFTERCARE.I CAN SIMPLY SUGGEST THAT PATIENTS ENJOY THE CARE AND TREATMENT BY AVC AND INFACT I CAN TRULY SAY, ALTHOUGH HAVING FELT VERY NERVOUS IN THE BEGINNING ABOUT THE OPERATION, I HAD NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AS IT WAS A VERY PLEASANT AND PAINLESS PROCEDURE.THANK YOU DR PILLAI AND TEAM.I AM FOREVER GREATFUL FOR YOUR CARE AND GUIDANCE.