Glaucoma, diabetes and macular degeneration.

Consultant Ophthalmologist, Luton & Dunstable Hospital
Consultant Ophthalmologist, Harpenden Memorial Hospital

I graduated from Glasgow University and completed my post graduate qualifications in ophthalmology. I moved to the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham for my Senior Registrar training, enabling me to gain extensive experience. My first consultant post at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Wales enabled me to practice the full range of ophthalmology and I could do phase II research into new drugs for the treatment of glaucoma and diabetes. I was the subject of several award winning ophthalmic documentaries, HTV and S4C.

I have 22 years of experience in ophthalmology. I have particular skills in phacoemulsification of cataract (in excess of 10,000) both with the standard lens implants and the new Restor lens which now enables both reading and distance vision without glasses.

I treat macular degeneration with the intravitreal injections ¿ both Lucentis and Avastin.

I have considerable experience in using lasers for glaucoma, diabetes and retinal holes, having performed about 300 procedures per annum for the last 25+ years.

I have considerable experience in treating patients with botox for squint, facial spasms and with my work on the treatment of basal cell carcinomas, am skilled at subtle treatments to the face for the reduction of unsightly facial irregularities.

My practice has evolved over the years to keep up with modern developments and I firmly believe in treating the patient and not just the disease, helped by the insight that extensive experience provides.

I have run many teaching events and these have always proved to be very popular with almost all teaching evenings being fully booked. I am working on a new symptom based ophthalmic consultation system along the lines of "It's me eye doc -now what do I do?"
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I enjoy challenges and am practical. I am an informal organiser of cycling groups and have raised large amounts for charity. Every 18 months or so I work at a charity hospital in India performing surgery on adults and children along with teaching new skills to the local ophthalmologists. In the process, I help to organise more efficient services. The lessons learned are reflected in my work here and I have put in place systems that have enabled me to operate safely on up to 56 phacoemulsification cataract patients over one weekend.

I enjoy photography, having amassed a huge collection of both medical and nature photographs. I have hand built a valve amplifier from scratch, having to learn about everything from electronics to soldering, and yes it works beautifully!

I travel widely and make it a point to go to a variety of scientific meetings in ophthalmology and in particular ARVO which usually has presentations that tell you what is going to happen 5 years from now.