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
Sarah Brendlor
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 consultation through to the procedure it self. It really is a life changing operation, definitely the best decision I have ever made. I can’t recommend David Gartry enough nor thank him enough.
Bridget Holmes
Just to say thank you. Its been life changing.
Nan S
The service was brilliant, the staff friendly and approachable and David Gartry immensely reassuring.
J Marks
As a direct result of being referred to Prof. Gartry by one of his esteemed colleagues who specialises in macula holes which was operated on successfully, I was then placed immediately into a pair of incredibly safe and gifted hands. My eyesight had deteriorated rapidly and as a result, my lifestyle had become impeded. Prof. Gartry has literally brought me from the darkness into the light (oh pure joy!) to the extent that my eye sight in both eyes has improved to such a degree that my life is no longer on hold and that it has been returned to normal. The procedures (laser removal of the cataracts and lens replacement) are both utterly pain and discomfort free. Prof. Gartry provides care and confidence in all respects (so too his staff) and I would recommend this form of treatment to anyone who is suffering from these conditions and can assure anyone reading this testimony that it is THE best way to regain their eyesight and continue with their life as they did before. Personally, I can’t thank Prof. Gartry enough for restoring my sight to such a degree that I didn’t realise colours could be so wonderfully bright and clear. I hope this helps any potential patient to quell their doubts and fears
Sally Pearson
our weeks after my surgery I am still finding each new day a revelation. No longer able to tolerate contact lenses, I had been wearing varifocal/complex lens spectacles. Not having to reach for them every morning is a novelty in itself.
I was already fairly committed to the idea of having this surgery and having met Professor Gartry I knew that I wanted him to carry it out. I found him professional and approachable and appreciated the fact that he was realistic about the results he could achieve. From my very poor prescription (around -11 with astigmatism in both eyes and with an incipient cataract in one) he confirmed what I had expected – that while he could greatly reduce my dependence on glasses I would not obtain perfection. Neither Mr Gartry nor any member of his excellent team made any attempt to persuade me into a decision. At this clinic you are simply sent on your way with all the information you need and left to think about it. Nevertheless I left the consultation determined to come back for the surgery as soon as possible.
I was a little nervous about the procedures but I felt throughout that my eyes were in safe hands. Mr Gartry’s calm competence reassured me and I liked the fact that he explained at various stages what he was doing and how long it would take. The whole experience was totally painless and I experienced no discomfort afterwards.
Mr Gartry is justifiably proud of, and enthusiastic about, the technology he uses, although it seems obvious to me that his experience and his skill in the use of that technology are major factors in the wonderful results he achieves. What he has achieved for me has surpassed all my expectations. I now need glasses only for driving and am glasses-free for everything else including close work. My eyesight feels better than it was with glasses or contact lenses. I could not have hoped for a better result. I am recommending Professor Gartry to everyone I meet.”
“Four weeks after my surgery I am still finding each new day a revelation. No longer able to tolerate contact lenses, I had been wearing varifocal/complex lens spectacles. Not having to reach for them every morning is a novelty in itself.
I was already fairly committed to the idea of having this surgery and having met Professor Gartry I knew that I wanted him to carry it out. I found him professional and approachable and appreciated the fact that he was realistic about the results he could achieve. From my very poor prescription (around -11 with astigmatism in both eyes and with an incipient cataract in one) he confirmed what I had expected – that while he could greatly reduce my dependence on glasses I would not obtain perfection. Neither Mr Gartry nor any member of his excellent team made any attempt to persuade me into a decision. At this clinic you are simply sent on your way with all the information you need and left to think about it. Nevertheless I left the consultation determined to come back for the surgery as soon as possible.
I was a little nervous about the procedures but I felt throughout that my eyes were in safe hands. Mr Gartry’s calm competence reassured me and I liked the fact that he explained at various stages what he was doing and how long it would take. The whole experience was totally painless and I experienced no discomfort afterwards.
Mr Gartry is justifiably proud of, and enthusiastic about, the technology he uses, although it seems obvious to me that his experience and his skill in the use of that technology are major factors in the wonderful results he achieves. What he has achieved for me has surpassed all my expectations. I now need glasses only for driving and am glasses-free for everything else including close work. My eyesight feels better than it was with glasses or contact lenses. I could not have hoped for a better result. I am recommending Professor Gartry to everyone I meet.
Gillian Archer
This is an enormous thank you for not only giving me the laser treatment that has given me back my sight, but for doing the treatment immediately, after your clinic hours. It was extremely kind of you to do it on the same day. The result was amazing. When I got home I realised I could see the actual leaves on the trees! I have been driving again (only when you can’t drive do you realise how ones life revolves round the car). I am so grateful for your help.
Jenni
Arrived at Moorfields Eye Hospital in good time for proceedings to begin. The pre-op nurse clearly deduced that I was a tad nervous and offered me valium – to be quite honest I would have opted for a general anaesthetic or an induced coma at this point but accepted the valium with open arms. Thank God she asked me the usual “war and peace” questions before this fabulous drug kicked in as I was reduced to a jabbering smiley person without a care in the world. (Amazon don’t sell this stuff – I’ve looked!). Could even have listened to Bryan banging on about his final “Elgar” music assignment to be honest. Bryan made notes of the aftercare cocktail of drops that needed to be administered – quite a procedure I can tell you with some needing to be put in every 15 minutes post op and others every half hour, progressing to every hour – this was now “his department” which was carefully administered throughout the rest of the day with precision.
I was called into a darkened room, donned with j-cloth hat and blue plastic slippers?? (would have preferred purple but there didn’t seem to be a choice), then asked to lie down between two enormous machines. With head firmly in place Professor Gartry then proceeded to explain everything. I had momentarily slipped off to my favourite place with the help of the valium (Florida of course), but he brought me back down to earth stating that he was going to “clamp” my eyelids open. I felt nothing but could see everything. A large telescopic device then came towards my eye and within seconds everything went black – this was the point that they had removed my cornea. I could see absolutely nothing which was of concern to say the least. On to the next machine which was positioned over the eye (apparently), but this time, I did see a series of blue lights – this was the actual laser treatment – followed by a smell of bbq’d meat, which was a little disconcerting to say the least. Machine removed, masses of solution poured over my eye, running down my face, into my ear and over the hair – was the fire brigade called in to put out the bbq?? Professor Gartry talked to me throughout, and with reassurance and he stated all “went well”.
I was guided (a necessity as my blue feet seemed to be walking ahead of my legs and I was trying to catch them up), (valium again, great stuff!) to another room and Bryan was waiting, looking pensive. A nurse gave post op instructions whilst I slipped back to Florida – Bryan wrote everything down, even though she gave him a sheet of paper with it already typed out. What a rock my husband is!
Half way home on the train I burst into tears, I was completely overwhelmed by the fact that my peripheral vision was back in tact – that in itself is a bonus. Couldn’t wait for it to get dark to test the “halo/sparks” effect I had been suffering for the past 10 months. Around 11.00 p.m. I went outside and looked straight at the solar lamps on the patio – nothing!!! Just a regular light, no sparks, halo’s – whaaaaa, nothing short of a miracle! I can vaguely see the outline of a lens, could be the protective lens put in place to aid healing, but not sure and really don’t care. Prof. Gartry said he may have to do a bit of “fine tuning” at some point in the future so will mention that Monday but……not bothered about it. In the grand scheme of things he has put right everything I was suffering so, job done.
Today, the paperwork states, that I may feel a “foreign body effect”, no kidding Sherlock – a more apt description would be that it feels like “ the Brazil team scurrying around my eyeball trying not to let any more goals in). Red blotches, errr without a doubt – I’ve signed up as an extra in the Twilight Zone. Classic one though is “The two eyes may feel different” – well of course they do, I’ve only had treatment on one! Finally, there’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts which has cheered me up no end. No. 8 states that I can play Rugby in a month’s time which is fabulous as I’ve never played rugby in my life so really looking forward to that!
Final visit to Moorfields tomorrow where I get the protective lens removed and get signed off. All in all, nowhere near the drama of the cataract surgery and thus far, thrilled with the result! Hoorah for Gartry that’s all I can say!
Kerry
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the whole team there. I had my laser eye surgery a couple of months ago and it was hands-down one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’m a bit of a wimp about my eyes, but the whole thing went so smoothly and quickly I’ve been telling all my speccy friends to go for it!
B. Russell
I wish to express my sincere gratitude for the dedication, skill and care which you and your team provided before, during and after my recent cataract surgery. As you have noted I have gone from -21 and -19 to having 20/20 vision, something I can never remember in my life and something I didn’t think was possible. Each morning, on waking, I still reach for my glasses, which of course are no longer there! The outcome was obviously wonderful for me but I also appreciated the way that you explained each step during the surgery, which made it so much less daunting. Thank you again and best wishes.
Nick W
Everything so far seems to be going very well. It is wonderful to be able once more to see every individual leaf on a distant tree, and to enjoy colours which are once more vivid! Many thanks to you and your team.
Preeyesh B
I had a very good experience where the care was excellent. Professor Gartry and his team thoroughly and thoughtfully answered all my questions – to such an extent that my nervous mum felt like having laser eye surgery by the end of the consultation. I was put at ease on surgery day and truly feel it could not have gone any smoother. Would highly recommend to family and friends.
