Who is the Best Eye Surgeon in the UK?

Deciding on “the best” eye surgeon in the UK is not simple, because there are many highly trained specialists. The UK has world-class eye hospitals and clinics where top surgeons work. The London-based Moorfields Eye Hospital stands as Europe's oldest and largest eye center which produces top consultants together with groundbreaking research. Moorfields Eye Hospital maintains a team of more than 100 specialist eye consultants who simultaneously train future ophthalmologists according to moorfields.nhs.uk. In Britain, many skilled eye surgeons also practise in major cities or private centres. Choosing the best surgeon usually depends on your specific eye condition (such as cataract, glaucoma or laser vision correction) and the surgeon’s experience in that area.

Qualities of a Top Eye Surgeon

  1. Specialist Training and Accreditation: Top UK eye surgeons are fully qualified ophthalmologists who have completed specialist training and are accredited consultants (often Fellows of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and registered with the General Medical Council). For instance, Moorfields says all its private surgeons “are accredited consultants at Moorfields NHS Eye Hospital”.
  2. Years of Experience: The most respected surgeons have many years of clinical and surgical experience. Some have performed thousands of procedures. Professor David Gartry at Moorfields conducted the first UK modern eye surgery while accumulating numerous years of expertise according to lasik-eyes.co.uk. The total number of surgeries performed by surgeons provides patients with an accurate measure of their professional experience.
  3. Good Patient Outcomes and Reviews: Leading surgeons work in clinics with high safety and care standards (often rated well by the UK’s Care Quality Commission). They also tend to receive positive feedback from patients. Clinics with “Outstanding” CQC ratings (like some Harley Street eye clinics) and surgeons with many positive patient reviews are good signs cadoganclinic.com.
  4. Up-to-Date Skills and Research: The best surgeons keep up with new techniques. Many are involved in research or teaching. Moorfields notes that its private consultants “lead on international research projects” and train the next generation of specialists moorfields.nhs.uk. Surgeons listed among global leader boards or published in journals tend to be very highly regarded.

These qualities mean there is no single “best” surgeon for everyone. You must find a specialist who matches your medical requirements instead of seeking generic expertise (for instance a retinal surgeon for retinal conditions). The special interests and professional experience of surgeons can be found on trusted hospital websites and medical platforms.

Notable Eye Surgeons in the UK

Some UK eye surgeons are particularly well-known. Here are examples of top specialists (with sources showing their expertise):

  1. Prof. David Gartry (Moorfields Eye Hospital, London): One of the UK’s most experienced eye surgeons. He was the first doctor in Britain to perform modern ophthalmic surgery, and he is a senior consultant at Moorfields
  2. Prof. Keith Barton (Moorfields Eye Hospital): A prominent glaucoma surgeon who teaches at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. The Ophthalmologist included him among the top ten ophthalmologists worldwide in their 2024 Power List.
  3. Prof. Gus Gazzard (Moorfields Eye Hospital): Director of Surgery at Moorfields and a glaucoma expert. He was named in the top 20 globally on the same power list moorfields.nhs.uk.
  4. Prof. Dan Reinstein (London Vision Clinic, originally Cambridge): A pioneering surgeon in LASIK and laser vision correction. He has over 18 years of experience in laser eye surgery lasik-eyes.co.uk.
  5. Mr Sheraz Daya (Centre for Sight, London): A consultant who specialises in cataract surgery. The Daily Mail named him one of Britain’s best cataract surgeons lasik-eyes.co.uk.
  6. Ms Valerie Saw (Harley Street, London): A veteran cataract and laser surgeon who trained at Moorfields and now has a Harley Street practice.
  7. Mr Manek Patel (Optical Express): A high-volume LASIK surgeon. He has performed over 61,000 laser procedures in his career.

And many others: For example, Moorfields surgeons like Prof. Julian Stevens (laser refractive surgery) and Mr Romesh Angunawela (complex eye surgery) are also highly rated\.  This list is just a sample – the UK has hundreds of excellent eye surgeons. Major London clinics like Moorfields (rated for “most renowned eye doctors”), Opticians Eye Clinics, and Harley Street practices are home to many of them.

How to choose the right eye surgeon

Selecting the ideal surgeon for your needs requires research and multiple inquiries:

  1. Specialist for Your Problem: Select a surgeon who has dedicated their practice to your specific medical condition (cataracts, retina, glaucoma, etc.). The Royal College of Ophthalmologists offers a directory of certified surgeons through practiceplusgroup.com  which helps patients find providers for standard procedures such as cataract removal. The directory enables you to locate certified specialists who operate close to your location.
  2. Referrals and Reviews: Patients should consult their GP or optometrist for surgeon recommendations. Patients can check surgeon or clinic ratings through NHS websites and review platforms as well as other medical portals. Patients commonly notice that famous surgeons maintain lengthy patient lists which shows their strong reputation according to lasik-eyes.co.uk. 
  3. Clinic Reputation: Good results often come from good hospitals. Check the clinic’s credentials (CQC rating, range of technology, staff expertise). Many patients look for clinics with high safety records and positive patient stories. For example, Cadogan Clinic in London advertises an “Outstanding” CQC rating and award-winning surgeons cadoganclinic.com.
  4. Qualifications and Experience: You can ask any surgeon how many surgeries they’ve done, what training they have, and whether they have special qualifications (like a fellowship of the Royal College or recognised certifications). The Royal College of Ophthalmologists notes that accredited members who do laser surgery will have performed at least 300 procedures over two years. Many top surgeons will have such credentials or additional research awards.
  5. Second Opinions: It’s often fine to get a second opinion. If you are unsure, you can have initial consultations (private or NHS) with more than one specialist to compare.

In short, there is no single “best” name. Look for a consultant ophthalmologist who is highly qualified in your area of need, has plenty of experience, and works in a well-regarded setting. By checking professional directories and talking to doctors, you can narrow down the list of top UK surgeons for your condition practiceplusgroup.com.

Heal Private – connecting you to top eye surgeons

At Heal Private, we help patients find and book appointments with leading UK specialists, including eye surgeons. We work with a network of experienced ophthalmologists, consultants and healthcare professionals who meet the highest standards of care. For example, we can connect you with surgeons from famous centres like Moorfields and top private clinics.. Our service is designed to make it easy and fast to access expert eye care. In short, Heal Private provides access to the best eye surgeons, consultants and specialists in the UK – so you can get trusted care from qualified professionals.