Professor Gartry performed laser surgery on me some 20 years ago. It was life changing. Eventually the benefit from the laser surgery diminished and I began wearing glasses again – something I hate! Recently he performed lens replacement surgery and, again, it is life changing. Rarely does an individual have two such ‘life changing’ impacts on you….and for it I will always be very grateful. His skill, experience and professionalism are evident through the entire process, not just on the days of the procedures themselves (there are 2, one on each eye), but the preparation, consultation and communication that are such a central part of feeling secure through the entire process. Since completing the procedure, I have bored people rigid encouraging theme to consider it for themselves. The questions everyone asks are these…’Does it hurt?’ (A) No…although conscious and with local anesthetic, you feel nothing. That should read NOTHING. Does it take long? (A) On the day of the procedures, you might be in the hospital for a few hours to prep and assess afterwards, but the actual procedure is, maybe, 20 minutes long. Can you see better straight away? (A) In my case yes. The day after (when I was allowed to remove the eye bandage) I could see better with just the one lens-replaced eye, than I could with the two ‘pre-surgery’ eyes. What are the after effects? (A) In my case none. You do have to maintain eye drops for the first few weeks but that is simple and passes quickly. The ONLY thing I noticed (and I was pre-warned that I would) is that sometimes it might feel like I have a bit of dust in my eye. But don’t confuse this with pain, or a permanent irritant, it quickly passes. Professor Gartry’s team are excellent too…as are the staff in Moorfields.

Clearly I am an advocate of this procedure. So much so, that the freedom I am experiencing by having it done has led my wife to have the same procedure. She has her first eye done next Monday.

Many thanks professor Gartry. Richard Lewis.