Michael

In a word: exceptional. My eyesight went from effectively -12 in both eyes (with fairly bad astigmatism on one) to 0/+0.25 (measured while still settling down).

During consultation process, Professor Gartry put up with a large number of questions very patiently and answered all calmly. I suspect he does so many of these operations so it is something of a second nature for him but he was patient with the multitude of questions. The tests on eyes before were reassuringly thorough and unrushed.

My eyes were operated on, on separate days in Moorfields. My experience…The surgery itself felt surprisingly low key – admission was quick, private room where they administer some eye drops and put a small pellet under your lower eyelid (don't feel it). Professor Gartry comes by for a final chat/consent forms and then you walk to the first room where a laser is used to make a small incision and break up the lens. You're under the machine for about a minute in total – you spend more time lying down and getting comfortable. Your eye is held open for you by some "eye spreaders" and you stare at some lights. After some humming, step one done (you wonder why you might have been apprehensive). You then walk to the operating theatre. Anaesthesia administered there once you lie down (makes you drowsy – Professor Gartry's description of the effect as a couple of gin and toncs is accurate. Also given an injection to the eye – didn't feel a thing when it was administered) then operation is done. Eye held open again for you and you don't actually see or feel anything. You get wheeled back to your private room and have lunch (quite nice food!). Final check from the nurse and then you go home with gauze and an eye patch. You sleep with the eye patch etc but can shower etc normally (just no jets of water directly at your eye/face etc).

Wake up the next day. Take the eye patch off and it is pretty amazing. Sight takes a few days to settle but even that morning, I could see across the room and see almost normally. Spent a week (between operations) winking at people trying out my new eye. Eye itself is a bit tender for about 2 weeks (ie don't rub it directly) and sight improves over the course of a week to being near normal. Administering eye drops is all you have to do.

Second eye operated a week later. Same process and same result. All resassuringly familiar.

Just come back from holiday and no need for bottles or contacts or worrying where glasses are (or them breaking). Wearing sunglasses at will. Swimming without goggles etc and being able to see everything, all completely life changing.

"Downside" is that I can no longer look at things very closely (e.g. 5cm from my face) – this was pointed out several times by Professor Gartry pre-operation so was fully aware. I am not a jewellry maker or watch maker so don't need such close detailed sight and the "sacrifice" of this (I only used to look at things this close pre-op because I was so short sighted) has been well worth it.

Would I do it again? Resoundingly yes but only with Professor Gartry. In fact, I mentioned at the post-operation check up that I wish I had done it 10 years ago. Professor Gartry being the man of precision that he is, stated that would not have been possible as the technology was not available then.

Why only Professor Gartry? He answered all the questions I had (even though he has probably answered them for others thousands of time). Professor Gartry "just gets on with it" with quiet confidence and expertise. I don't think he is one for fanfare or showboating/showcasing and simply wants to achieve the empirical best for each patient. Quite the opposite to another doctor I consulted a few years ago but did not proceed as I was not comfortable with that doctor's manner and approach. Professor Gartry has the reputation as being the opthalmic surgeon's choice of surgeon should they need anything done.

Thank you Professor Gartry.