Professor Dan Reinstein: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Over his career, Professor Dan Reinstein has become one of the most well-known and well-respected Laser Eye Surgeons in the game. From helping to develop some of the most cutting-edge Laser Eye Surgery technology and techniques to founding one of the UK’s best Laser Eye Surgery clinics, Professor Dan has been an extremely influential figure in the field—but he is always quick to remember those who came before him.
A Mentor for the Next Generation
Throughout his career, Dr Dan has been a valuable mentor to many budding Laser Eye Surgeons and up-and-coming ophthalmologists – including our expert surgeon, Mr Glenn Carp. In addition to leading the day-to-day operations at our Harley Street clinic, and expertly correcting the vision of countless patients, Dr Dan also leads classes and courses on refractive surgery, informing the next generation of surgeons.
To many, Prof. Reinstein is considered a pioneer in his field. He has helped to develop some of the most innovative Laser Eye Surgery techniques and technology. But having developed both the PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision and ReLEx SMILE procedures, he still doesn’t take all the credit.
“I am standing on the shoulders of giants – there were some very smart people ahead of me. I was the last leg of a relay race.”
This is, in essence, true. After all, the evolution of Laser Eye Surgery into what it is today has taken decades. But in particular, Dr Dan remembers a special person who inspired him – Professor John Marshall.
The Mentor’s Mentor
Professor John Marshall MBE is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the Institute of Ophthalmology in association with Moorfield’s Eye Hospital, UCL.
“He was my mentor after medical school and when I was at Cornell (university New York). He mentored me during those years helping and guiding my research”, remembers Dr Dan.
As the inventor of the excimer laser for use in refractive surgery, it makes a lot of sense that Dr Dan would look up to Professor Marshall as a mentor.
“He was inspirational to me during my post-graduate years and when I came back to the UK he insisted on putting me on the Kings College faculty at St Thomas’ (hospital, London).
“Over the years we have both informally and formally discussed research.”
In addition to his invention of the excimer laser, Professor Marshall also developed a treatment for the most common type of age-related macular degeneration – the leading cause of sight loss in the Western World! As Dr Dan puts it, this innovation was “like walking on the moon!”
But we won’t let that take the shine off the importance of Professor Dan’s life-changing presbyopia treatment. After all, blended vision has helped thousands of patients to ditch their reading glasses for good!
“I have developed something with my colleagues here at the London Vision Clinic, where we can painlessly and practically effortlessly get people to see both distance and near in surgery which takes twelve minutes and heals in three hours … and you might just be able to read the menu that evening.”
If you’d like to learn more about our range of Laser Eye Surgery treatments, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators today. Alternatively, Book a Consultation to start your journey to clear, glasses-free vision.