Mr C.T. Pillai

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.