London Vision Clinic: At the forefront of Laser Eye Surgery Research

The Laser Eye Surgery field has advanced significantly over the decades since its introduction. Today, more people than ever before can expect incredible results with the help of this life-changing procedure, with the vast majority able to ditch their glasses and contact lenses for years to come. This is largely thanks to the introduction of new techniques and technologies that have made it possible to correct a wider range of prescriptions. But, of course, such developments are only made possible by ongoing research.

At London Vision Clinic, we never underestimate the power of research. Our founder and Medical Director, Professor Dan Reinstein has been at the forefront of Laser Eye Surgery development for much of his career. His contributions include the development of the Artemis Insight 100 corneal scanner, as well as PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision, and ReLEx SMILE treatments.

We employ a full-time team of research staff to continuously monitor our Laser Eye surgery outcomes to identify ways we can improve. Our research team, which includes our Oxford and Cambridge-educated Research Manager, Dr Tim Archer, and Research Assistant, joe Potter, regularly publishes their findings in scientific articles and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals.

In the video above, our expert surgeon, Mr Glenn Carp, explains the importance of having access to the latest Laser Eye Surgery technology. Research and development has allowed the introduction of more accurate screening tools and more precise lasers, all of which contribute to our ability to treat a wider range of prescriptions than many other Laser Eye Surgery clinics – including presbyopia (ageing eyes).

Our Research Team

Heading up our Research Team, Dr Tim Archer works alongside Professor Reinstein and Mr Glenn Carp to review every Laser Eye Surgery procedure performed at London Vision Clinic. In doing so, we are continuously looking for ways to refine our techniques to further improve patient outcomes – even by the smallest fraction.

In contrast, few laser eye surgeons monitor their outcomes to a scientific standard. While many will review a small sample of their total procedures, few publish these results in peer-reviewed journals. However, we believe the only way to achieve the best possible results is to evaluate every single procedure. This dedication to detail can be seen in every aspect of our work in Laser Eye Surgery, and enables us to obtain the best results achievable – results we believe to be second to none.

Dr Tim Archer

Laser Eye Surgery Research Manager

“I was born and bred in the Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire area, and joined the London Vision Clinic in 2003 to research, analyse, and publish the Clinic’s pioneering work in refractive surgery. I am a graduate of Oxford University, having gained an MA in Mathematics and Cambridge University, where I completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science.More recently, I completed a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Ulster University. I had my own laser eye surgery with Professor Reinstein in December 2004, and pretty soon after, my parents and brother did too! When I’m not knee-deep in LASIK and SMILE research, I enjoy golf, tennis and football, and playing around with formulas and macros in Excel. I also enjoy spending time with my wife, son and daughter.

Dr Tim Archer

Dr Tim is also an expert computer programmer. He works with our surgeons to create individual, tailored treatment plans for each and every patient. This comprehensive plan is based on the results of our uniquely rigorous testing and screening process. We use these results to calibrate the laser technology with superior accuracy, and to refine our technique for every individual eye, ensuring every procedure is fine-tuned to the patient’s unique needs.

Dr Archer has applied his background in computer science to implement various software solutions to maximise the efficiency of data analysis at London Vision Clinic. These solutions have included building the PIQASO II database to automate the analysis of refractive surgery outcomes and managing our Electronic Medical Records system.

Over the last two decades, Tim has extended London Vision Clinic’s research output, often to more than one scientific peer-reviewed publication each month. Moreover, he oversees the preparation of more than 80 presentations at international conferences every year. Arguably, the significance of this work peaked in 2018, with the publication of a textbook on ReLEx SMILE, which Tim co-authored with our surgeons Professor Reinstein and Mr Carp.

This textbook has accompanied training courses offered by the London Vision Clinic for refractive surgeons and the Postgraduate Diploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery at Ulster University, for which Dr Archer, together with the team at London Vision Clinic, has contributed significantly to the lecture materials.