Consultant Ophthalmologist, Southend University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant Ophthalmologist, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS)
United Kingdom and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (UKISCRS)
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS)
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA)
European Vitreoretinal Society (EVRS)
United Kingdom and Eire Glaucoma Society (UKEGS)
Britain and Eire Association of Vitreous and Retinal Surgeons
Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons

Mr Russell V. Pearson is Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon whose private eye surgery practice is based at Spire Hartswood private hospital in Brentwood, Essex and at Spire Wellesley Hospital in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

Mr Pearson became a Consultant Ophthalmologist in 1991, initially at Oldchurch Hospital, Romford, Essex. Since 1994, he has been a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and at the Orsett Eye Department, part of Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Pearson has introduced numerous treatment options to his private and NHS practice. These include vitreoretinal surgery, phacoemulsification cataract surgery, diabetic retinal screening, and treatment for age-related macular degeneration (ARMD / AMD).

Advanced cataract surgery

Russell Pearson was the first eye surgeon to introduce small incision phacoemulsification cataract surgery into his private practice in South Essex. He has performed over 10,000 cataract removal operations with an extremely high degree of patient satisfaction.

Patients having private cataract surgery by Mr Pearson at Spire Hartswood Hospital or Spire Wellesley Hospital can choose from monofocal, multifocal, Toric or Toric multifocal lens implants. He also offers second stage intraocular lens implantation to improve vision for patients who have had previous cataract surgery without a replacement lens, and who no longer want to rely on thick glasses or contact lenses.
  
Russell Pearson also offers refractive cataract surgery. This is the surgical equivalent of refractive lens exchange, presbyopic lens exchange and clear lens extraction. He can also reposition dislocated lens implants. Astigmatism can be addressed at the time of surgery with on axis surgery, limbal relaxing incisions or the use of Toric lens implants.

Refractive error is routinely treated at the time of cataract surgery with the intention that distance spectacles or, if multifocal lens implants are used, all spectacles may no longer be required. Mr Pearson has considerable experience with many lens implant styles including Alcon IQ, IQ Toric and Restor intraocular lens implants.

Assessment for all patients having cataract surgery and lens implantation includes advanced biometry to calculate precisely the power of the lens required.

Glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Mr Pearson uses visual field analysis, tonometry, pachymetry, stereoscopic disc photography and OCT (spectral domain optical coherence tomography) to diagnose and manage glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Glaucoma may be treated with eye drops, laser surgery, selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and glaucoma drainage surgery (trabeculectomy). YAG laser peripheral iridotomy is also undertaken for angle closure glaucoma. Mr Pearson has recently trained in two new procedures: canaloplasty and trabectome surgery. 

Retinal disorders 

Russell Pearson uses a range of specialised eye tests to diagnose and monitor retinal disease. Tests include fundus fluorescein angiography, BScan ultrasound, spectral domain OCT (optical coherence tomography) and photographic digital imaging. He offers surgical and non-surgical management of retinal disorders as follows:

Diabetes - Russell Pearson is the Senior Ophthalmologist in the South West Essex Diabetic Retinopathy screening programme.  Investigations can include fluorescein angiography and retinal photography. Treatments available include Argon laser treatment, anti-VEGF injections and vitreoretinal surgery (see below). 

Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD / AMD) – Russell Pearson has expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of both dry and wet age related macular degeneration.    Investigations include fluorescein angiography, spectral domain OCT and BScan ultrasound. ARMD / AMD can be treated with photodynamic therapy and intravitreal anti-VEGF injections.

Vitreoretinal surgery for:
Detached retina
Vitreous haemorrhage
Proliferative disease
Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)
central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)
Macular Hole
Epiretinal membrane (ERM)
Vitreomacular traction syndrome (VMT)

Other vitreoretinal procedures - endolaser, cryotherapy, gas tamponade and silicone oil tamponade.

Other eye conditions treated
Eyelid lesions, ectropion, entropion, epiphora (watery eye).
Uveitis
Ocular infections and allergies
Dry eye
Blepharitis
Neuro-ophthalmology

Russell Pearson also provides second opinion consultations, prepares medico-legal reports and performs blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery).

Russell Pearson lives locally in Essex and is married with four children. He enjoys keep fit, swimming, running, squash, tennis and ballroom dancing. 

Background and training
Russell Pearson studied medicine at the Royal London Hospital Medical College. As an undergraduate he was awarded an Edith Forbes Memorial Scholarship. All his post-graduate training was in London University teaching hospitals and after working in junior doctor posts at the Royal London, St Bartholomew’s and University College hospitals, he qualified as a Member of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCP UK) in 1984. After further training at Charing Cross Hospital and the Western Eye Hospital in London and he qualified as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (England) in 1985. He was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth) in 1989 and was awarded a certificate of higher surgical training in ophthalmology by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1991. His specialist training in ophthalmology was at Moorfields Eye Hospital where he worked as a registrar, senior registrar and research Fellow.

Mr Pearson has served as Educational Tutor and Unit Training Director for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. He is a member of Prime Hospital Consultants and Essex Vision.