46 Wimpole Street, London
020 7490 7222 Book an appointment
020 7490 7222 Book an appointment
Professor David Gartry is a senior consultant at Moorfields and with over 32 years experience, he is one of the world’s leading authorities on laser eye surgery and in fact, was the first surgeon to perform laser eye surgery in the UK. David is also a specialist in cataract, refractive lens exchange, and corneal surgery. (In 2018, in the Good Doctors Guide, his peers voted him one of the top cataract surgeons in the UK.)
Since David Gartry is an accredited NHS Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon (appointed in July 1995) he is qualified to deal with more complex problems and regularly treats patients referred from other clinics. David offers a unique combination of experience, expertise, and excellent results.
David graduated in 1978 with a first class honours degree in Optometry from Glasgow Caledonian University and completed his pre-registration training at Moorfields Eye Hospital the following year.
In 1979 he was awarded the Colebrook and Porter prizes of The British College of Optometrists, the Master’s Prize of The Worshipful Company of Spectaclemakers (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 first place in the annual national Sir Stewart Duke-Elder prize in Ophthalmology.
David moved to Moorfields Eye Hospital, London in 1992, and from January 1998 onwards he was responsible for the first LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis) research protocols at Moorfields. He has published over 50 scientific papers relating to laser eye surgery, cataract surgery and corneal surgery and has spoken at numerous international meetings presenting scientific papers and keynote lectures. In 1991 he was awarded The Storz Medal and in 1993 The Iris Fund Triennial Award (Shared with Professor Sir Peng Khaw).
He has written several book chapters and co-authored 3 textbooks: ‘Excimer Lasers in Ophthalmology – Principles and Practice’ (1997, Martin Dunitz), ‘Cataract Surgery’ (2003, BMA publishing), ‘Corneal Surgery’ (2013, Springer-Verlag). In February 1995 he delivered one of the prestigious discourse lectures to The Royal Institution of Great Britain (a historic scientific society founded in 1799 by Sir Michael Faraday) and following this was made a member of The Royal Institution.
David is a past-President of The British Society for Refractive Surgery (BSRS), a member of both the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS). In 1999 he was made an ‘Honor Award Recipient’ of The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) for his contributions (teaching, publications and presentations) to The AAO. He is an examiner for The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and was instrumental in developing the College’s Certificate in Laser Refractive Surgery. He was appointed Visiting Professor to the Faculty of Visual Sciences, City University, London, in June 2006, Director of Refractive Surgery, Moorfields Eye Hospital in December 2007, and was entered into the 2007 edition of ‘Who’s Who’.
As a member of the Corneal, Cataract and Refractive services at Moorfields his specialist interests include corneal grafting, the latest cataract surgical techniques (phakoemulsification / femtosecond laser cataract surgery) – having supervised the cataract training courses at Moorfields – and laser refractive surgery. He has extensive experience of both laser (PRK, PARK, LASIK, LASEK) and non-laser techniques and has carried out over 20,000 LASIK procedures and over 15,000 cataract / refractive lens exchange procedures including over 1000 femtosecond laser procedures to date.
David underwent LASIK himself in October 2000 for treatment of his compound myopic astigmatism. David Gartry lives in North London with his wife, (an optometrist) and three sons (a junior doctor, a professional musician and a medical student).
With a distinguished career in ophthalmology spanning over 3 decades, David Gartry remains at the forefront of vision correction and eye surgery. He is one of the most experienced eye surgeons in the UK and was the first surgeon in the UK to carry out laser eye surgery. Establishing his own eye clinic on Wimpole Street in 2015 has allowed David to realise his own vision on pushing forward and innovating in this field.
David Gartry has his own accredited National Health Service consultant clinic (appointed in July 1995) where he is qualified to deal with more complex problems and regularly treats patients referred from other clinics.
Not only does David Gartry perform your treatment, he is one of the few surgery providers that also carries out your initial consultation and all follow up visits under his unique ‘open door policy’.
In 2018, he was voted one of the top UK cataract surgeons by his peers in the Good Doctors Guide.
David was the first surgeon in the UK to perform laser eye surgery – in 1989.
Honorary Visiting Professor, Faculty of Visual Sciences at City University, London.
State-of-the-art technology including the IntraLase and Catalys femtosecond lasers.
Over 26,000 laser eye surgeries completed, and is a pioneer at the forefront of laser eye surgery. David has also completed over 15,000 cataract and refractive lens exchange procedures.
David and his team pride themselves on being warm, professional and approachable.
David provides all patients with his mobile phone number.
Full clinical support with highly experienced optometrists, nurses and admin team – many who have been with David Gartry for over ten years.
With over 30 years experience in ophthalmology he has the ability to deal with complex treatments that other clinics may not be able to assist with.
David is an examiner for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and helped set up the RCO laser eye surgery exam.
David holds The Royal College of Ophthalmologists certificate in refractive laser surgery.
Since David Gartry holds a consultant post at Moorfields Eye Hospital his patients benefit from the security of being treated in a large, well-respected hospital with 24-hour walk in primary care cover.
The following principles, or ‘rules of laser eye surgery’, are based on over 32 years of experience and result from listening to patients before and after their treatments on a one to one basis – which David Gartry considers to be very important indeed. There is no substitute for discussing the treatments in detail before, during, and after the surgery with the treating surgeon. These principles or ‘rules’ help in the management of patients’ expectations – especially in relation to close reading vision for those over 40!
“Almost all patients have almost all of their myopia eliminated with a single treatment!”
From the above results it is true to say that almost all patients have at least 90% of their prescription eliminated. This applies even to the high prescriptions. For example, patients with -10 dioptres of myopia would be typically left with -1 dioptre or less. On average, only 3-4% of patients have a retreatment procedure within the first six months to “fine tune” the result. As can be appreciated from the above results, these patients tend to be those who had very high prescriptions initially.
“Short-sighted (myopic) patients prefer to be left with a a small amount of myopia – if anything.”
Given that it is impossible to promise perfection in every case, and since it is rare for patients to have absolutely zero prescription (even Royal Air Force pilots have tiny prescriptions for which they do not require spectacles of course), it is always better to remain slightly short-sighted if you have been myopic (short-sighted) before – and slightly long-sighted (hypermetropic) if you have been long-sighted in the past. Myopic patients tend to adapt well to small amounts of residual myopia – say, -0.50 dioptres – while long-sighted (+) patients prefer +0.50 dioptres, if not absolutely zero prescription.
(More of an observation really!)
“Patients over 40 ALWAYS under-estimate their natural need for reading spectacles.”
Patients who are moderately short-sighted prior to the surgery, and could therefore read well unaided without any spectacles (for example when reading in bed), would often find it difficult to adapt to losing this ability. Simply stated, if patients have an excellent result which allows them to see very well indeed for long distance (normal vision – emmetropia) then beyond aged 40 they will certainly find it more difficult to read and from mid-40s onwards would often use simple reading spectacles. In David Gartry’s experience this principle is one of the most difficult to convey to patients prior to their surgery. However the advantage of being able to see well without spectacles – often for the first time in their lives – usually more than outweighs the disadvantage of reduced near vision for patients over 40.
“Short-sighted (myopic) patients rarely realise that the only reason they can read unaided without spectacles at close distances is BECAUSE they are short-sighted.”
They won’t be able to do this once their myopia (short-sight) has been corrected. These, and many other aspects (age, occupation, sports and hobbies and monovision or blended outcomes) are carefully taken into account when deciding on the programming of the laser. The desired outcome is carefully planned during discussions with each patient. Very rarely is the simple spectacle prescription programmed into the laser without modifications.
David Gartry has played a key and active role in ophthalmic research and education. He has written three textbooks and published over 50 papers.
Graduating in 1978 with a first class honours degree in Optometry from Glasgow Caledonian University, David then went on to complete his pre-registration training at Moorfields Eye Hospital in 1979. He was also awarded the Colebrook and Porter prize from The British College of Optometrists, the Master’s Prize of the Worshipful Company of Spectaclemakers (SMC) and the J Stephen Dawson Memorial award from The Institute of Optometry that same year. He then went on to read Medicine at University College London / University College Hospital qualifying as a doctor in 1984.
David Gartry (Front row far left) receiving a lifetime fellowship award of the College of Optometrists (November 2013 – Central Methodist Hall, Westminster)
David Gartry receiving the lifetime fellowship award from the president of the College of Optometrists Dr Kamlesh Chauhan and with Dr Cindy Tromans
In 1988 David Gartry become a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. 1989 was a groundbreaking year as November saw David Gartry perform the first laser eye surgery procedure in the UK.
In addition to many peer-reviewed published works David teaches at City University and was officially appointed Visiting Professor to their department of Vision Sciences in June 2006.
| 1978 | First Class Honours BSc in Optometry Most distinguished student in each year of the course |
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| 1978 | Bausch and Lomb Contact Lens Prize | ||
| 1979 | Honours project prize / Scottish Association of Opticians The analysis of the optics of the mid peripheral cornea utilising psychophysics. |
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| 1979 | First place in the UK National Awards: Professional Qualifying Examinations of The British College of Optometrists. |
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| 1979 | Master’s Prize of the SMC (Spectacle Makers Company) | ||
| 1979 | Colebrook Prize of the BOA (British Optical Association) | ||
| 1979 | Porter Prize of the SMC | ||
| 1979 | Stephen J Dawson Memorial Prize Institute of Optometry | ||
| 1981 | Suckling Prize in neurophysiology, University College London |
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| 1981 | Suckling Prize in neuroanatomy, University College London |
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| 1982 | Sir Stewart Duke Elder National Undergraduate Prize in Ophthalmology First Place in the UK |
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| 1984 | Ortho General Practice Prize, University College London |
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| 1989 | Annual Prize of the Southern Ophthalmological Society for a paper entitled “Acute Retinal Necrosis” |
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| 1991 | The Storz Medal for a paper entitled “Photo Refractive Keratectomy with the Argon Fluoride Excimer Laser: Clinical Trials the first year” |
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| 1993 | The Iris Fund Triennial Award for ophthalmic research shared with Professor Sir Peng Tee Khaw | ||
| 1999 | The American Academy ‘Honor Award Recipient 1999’ for research and teaching contributions to The American Academy of Ophthalmology. | ||
| 2001 | Treacher Collins Prize of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists for cataract surgery innovation. | ||
| 2007 | Certificate in Laser Refractive Surgery of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists | ||
| 2010 | Honorary Doctor of Science Degree awarded by Glasgow Caledonian University for lifetime achievements in ophthalmic surgery | ||
| 2012 | Moorfields Senior Star Award for twenty years service | ||
| 2013 | Lifetime achievement fellowship awarded by the College of Optometrists | ||
| 2013 | Moorfields Star Award for external recognition for contributions made in teaching and research |
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D S Gartry, M G Falcon, R W Cox
Primary gelatinous droplike keratopathy.
Br J Ophthalmol 1989; 73: 661664
D S Gartry, D J Spalton, A Tilzey, P G Hykin
Acute Retinal Necrosis.
Br J Ophthalmol 1991; 75: 292297
D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Excimer laser treatment of corneal surface pathology: a laboratory and clinical study.
Br J Ophthalmol 1991; 75: 258269
D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Ophthalmology 1992; 99: 1209-1219 Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy
– 18 month follow up.
D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, C Lohmann, J Marshall
The effect of topical corticosteroids on refractive outcome and corneal haze following photorefractive keratectomy : A prospective, randomised, double-blind trial.
Archives of Ophthalmology 1992; 110: 944-952
D S Gartry, A H Chignell, D A Wong, W A Franks
Pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
uncomplicated by advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
Br J Ophthalmol 1993; 77: 199-203
D S GartryExcimer laser treatment of myopia – the present position
Br Med Journal 1995; 310: 979-985
D S Gartry, DFP Larkin, AR Hill, LA Ficker, ADMcG Steele.
Retreatment for significant regression after excimer laser PRK
– a prospective, randomised, masked trial
Ophthalmology 1998; 105: 131-141
P G Hykin, D S Gartry, J E MacSweeney, E M Graham
Primary intraocular lymphoma with lymphomatous meningitis.
J Royal Soc Med 1990; 83: 5152
P G Hykin, D S Gartry, D J Brazier, E M Graham
Bilateral cilioretinal artery occlusion in classic migraine.
Postgrad Med J 1991; 67: 282284
J Marshall, D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, G E Mastellone
Photochemical effects of lasers in refractive surgery.
Proceedings of the V International Congress of Cataract and Refractive Microsurgery
June 1989 pp 291295. Capelli Editore.
J Marshall, D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir
Excimer lasers and refractive surgery.
Transactions of The British College of Optometrists 10th Annual Congress
1990p24. et seq. Butterworths
D S Gartry, D J Spalton, A Tilzey, P G Hykin
Acute Retinal Necrosis.
Br J Ophthalmol 1991; 75: 292297
D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Excimer laser treatment of corneal surface pathology: a laboratory and clinical study.
Br J Ophthalmol 1991; 75: 258269
D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall Photorefractive keratectomy with the argon fluoride excimer laser A clinical study. Refractive and Corneal Surgery 1991; 7: 420435
C Lohmann, D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, G Timberlake, J Marshall
“Haze” in photorefractive keratectomy: Its origins and consequences.
Lasers and Light in Ophthalmology 1991; 4: 1534
Claoue C, Goble R, Gartry D S, Spalton D J
La cecite due au glaucome primitif a angle ouvert.
Ophtalmologie 1991; 5: 463-466
D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Hyperopic shift following superficial keratectomy with the argon fluoride excimer laser. Br J Ophthalmol 1992;76: 6263
C Lohmann, D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, G Timberlake, F Fitzke, J Marshall
Corneal haze after excimer laser refractive surgery: objective measurements and
functional implications. Europ J Ophthalmol 1992; 1: 173-180
C Lohmann, F Fitzke, G Timberlake, D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Corneal transparency after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy:
A new technique for objective measurements of haze.
Refractive and Corneal Surgery 1992; 8: 114-121
D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Ophthalmology 1992; 99: 1209-1219 Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy
– 18 month follow up.
D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, C Lohmann, J Marshall
The effect of topical corticosteroids on refractive outcome and corneal haze following photorefractive keratectomy : A prospective, randomised, doubleblind trial.
Archives of Ophthalmology 1992; 110: 944-952
Gartry D S, Muir M G K, Marshall J.
Photorefractive keratectomy with an argon fluoride excimer laser : A clinical study
Key Ophthalmology 1992; 7: 26-27
C Lohmann, D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, G Timberlake, F Fitzke and J Marshall
Corneale Trubung nach photorefraktiver Keratektomie mit einem excimer lasers:
urasache, objektive messungen und funktionelle konsequenzen.
Ophthalmologe 1992; 89: 498-504
Gartry D S, Kerr Muir M G, Marshall J.
Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy
Mosby Yearbook of Ophthalmology 1992 C V Mosby, St Louis.
D S Gartry, A H Chignell, D A Wong, W A Franks
Pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
uncomplicated by advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
Br J Ophthalmol 1993; 77: 199-203
S J Tuft, D S Gartry, I Rawe, K Meek
Photorefractive keratectomy: implications of corneal wound healing.
Br J Ophthalmol 1993; 77: 243-247
Gartry D S, Kerr Muir M G, Marshall J
Excimer Laser Photorefractive Keratectomy : 18 month follow-up
Key Ophthalmology 1993; 8: 22
Gartry D S, Kerr Muir M G, Lohmann C P, Marshall J
The effect of topical corticosteroids on refractive outcome and corneal haze after
photorefractive keratectomy : a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial.
Key Ophthalmology 1993; 8: 23
Gartry D S, Kerr Muir M G, Marshall J.
The effect of topical corticosteroids on refraction and corneal haze following excimer laser treatment of myopia : an update. A prospective, randomised, double-blind study.
Eye 1993; 7: 584-590
D S Gartry
Inleiding in de fotorefractieve keratectomy.
Visus 1993;8: 4-7
D P S O’Brart, D S Gartry, C P Lohmann, A L Patmore, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Treatment of band keratopathy by excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy: surgical techniques and long term follow-up.Br J Ophthalmol 1993; 77: 702-708
D S Gartry
Diseases of the Cornea, R C Arffa, Mosby Year Book Inc, St Louis (book review)
J Br Contact Lens Assoc 1993; 16: 167
D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Photorefractive keratectomy – 18 month follow-up
Mosby Yearbook of Ophthalmology 1993; CV Mosby, St Louis.
D S Gartry, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Efficacy and long-term complications of excimer laser photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK): 4 year follow-up: an update
Eye on Meetings 1994; 1: 1
D P S O’Brart, D S Gartry, C P Lohmann, M G Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia: comparison of 4.00mm and 5.00mm ablation zones
Refractive and Corneal Surgery 1994; 10: 87-94
D S Gartry
Excimer laser treatment of myopia – the present position
Br Med Journal 1995; 310: 979-985
D S Gartry
Treatment of myopia with the excimer laser – is it really the bottom line?
Ophthal Physiol Opt 1995; 15 (Suppl 1):S2-S10
D S Gartry, D F P Larkin, C J Flaxel, L A Ficker, A D McG Steele
Retreatment for significant regression following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) – a randomised, double-masked trial
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1995; 36: S190 (Abstract)
Patel S, Marshall J, Fitzke FW, Gartry D S.
The shape of the corneal apical zone after excimer photorefractive keratectomy
Acta Ophthalmologica 1996; 72(5):588-96
CLK Astin, D S Gartry, ADMcG Steele
Contact lens fitting after photorefractive keratectomy
Br J Ophthalmol 1996; 80: 597-603
CG Stephenson, D S Gartry, DPS O’Brart, MG Kerr Muir, J Marshall
Photorefractive Keratectomy – A 6 year follow-up study
Ophthalmology 1998; 105: 273-281
D S Gartry, DFP Larkin, AR Hill, LA Ficker, ADMcG Steele.
Retreatment for significant regression after excimer laser PRK
– a prospective, randomised, masked trial
Ophthalmology 1998; 105: 131-141
CG Stephenson, DS Gartry, DPS O’Brart, MG Kerr-Muir, J Marshall
Photorefractive Keratectomy
Ophthalmology, Volume 105, Issue 2, Pages 273-281, February 1998
AC Poon, JE Forbes, JKG Dart, S Subramaniam, C Bunce, P Madison, LA Ficker, SJ Tuft, DS Gartry, RJ Buckley
Systemic cyclosporine A in high risk penetrating keratoplasties: a case-control study
Br J Ophthalmol March 2001; 85:1464-1469 doi: 10.1136/bjo 85.12.1464
AG Coombes, R Sheard, DS Gartry, BD Allan
Silicone plate-haptic lens injection without prior incision enlargement
Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Volume 27, Issue 10, Pages 1542-1544, October 2001
Guy T Smith, Andrew GA Coombes, Richard M Sheard, David S Gartry.
Unexpected posterior capsule rupture with unfolding silicone plate-haptic lenses.
J Cat Refract Surg, 2004; 30: 180-185
J Mehta, M Wilkins, DS Gartry
Explantation of an acrylic Acrysof intraocular lens without wound enlargement
Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, Volume 83, Issue 2, Pages 262-263 April 2005
J McAlister, N Ardjomand, L Ilari, L Mengher, DS Gartry
Keratitis after intracorneal ring segment insertion for keratoconus
Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery – Volume 32, Issue 4, Pages 676-678 April 2006
S Kashani, M Rajan, DS Gartry
Wavefront-Guided Retreatment After Primary Wavefront-Guided Laser In Situ Keratomileusis in Myopes and Hyperopes: Long-term Follow-upAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology. Volume 147, Issue 3 Pages 417-423 e2. March 2009
GM Saleh, D Lindfield, D Sim, E Tsesmetzoglou, V Gauba, DS Gartry, S Ghoussayni
Kinematic analysis of surgical dexterity in intraocular surgery.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2009 Jun; 127(6): 758-62
H Mehta, JL Hungerford, DS Gartry, HM Herbert, P Mruthyunjaya
Transpositional Autokeratoplasty in a Patient with Unilateral Choroidal Melanoma and Contralateral Exposure Keratopathy.
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging 2010 March 9; 1-3 doi:10.3928/15428877-20100215-41
AC Day, D S Gartry, V Maurino, BD Allan, JD Stevens
Efficacy of anterior capsulotomy creation in femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2014 Dec;40(12):2031-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2014.07.027. Epub 2014 Oct 8.
Patient selection guidelines for photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
The British College of Optometrists – patient and practitioner guidelines 199552. National Audit Office Survey of Day-case cataract surgery in Scotland (Committee member) HMSO 1997
National Audit Office Survey of Day-case cataract surgery in Scotland (Committee member) HMSO 1997
Royal College of Ophthalmologists Patient Guidelines on Laser Refractive Surgery
1997, 2003, 2006 and 2012 (Committee member)
Royal College of Ophthalmologists Practitioner Guidelines on Laser Refractive Surgery 1997, 2003, 2006 and 2012 (Committee member)
“Excimer Lasers in Ophthalmology – Principles and Practice”
CNJ McGhee, HR Taylor, DS Gartry, SLTrokel
Martin Dunitz 1997
“Cataract Surgery”
AGA Coombes, DS Gartry
BMA publishing 2003
“Corneal Surgery – Essential Techniques”
Zuberbuhler B, Tuft S, DS Gartry, Spokes D
Springer-Verlag 2013