Meet Allon Barsam | OCL Vision

About Allon Barsam

Allon recognises that each patient deserves both precision and personalisation of their visual needs. He features on every independent patient and peer reviewed list of the UK’s top laser eye surgeons and cataract surgeons.

Allon Barsam MA (Hons) Cantab MB BS FRCOphth FWCRS Examiner Cert LRS is a director and founding partner of OCL Vision. From 2010 he specialised exclusively in laser eye surgery, lens-based vision correction surgery, cataract surgery with premium lenses and corneal surgery. He has an international reputation for combining state of the art technology with superb, microsurgical skill.

Mr Barsam recognises that each patient deserves both precision and personalisation for their vision. He has a passion and proven track record providing enhanced vision for many people whose livelihoods and wellbeing are dependent on sight. His laser eye surgery patients include naval aviators (top gun pilots), commercial pilots, elite professional athletes in major sports and high-profile members of the entertainment industry. In addition, he has treated hundreds of doctors, optometrists, consultant eye surgeons and members of their families including several other laser eye surgeons from across the world.

Mr Barsam was trained in several international centres of excellence. He graduated in 2002 from the University of Cambridge and University College London Medical Schools with honours and a distinction in surgery. His residency training was at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, followed by a fellowship in New York, where he worked closely with two of the founding fathers of modern cornea, cataract and laser vision correction surgery. He then completed an additional cornea, cataract and refractive surgery fellowship at the Western Eye Hospital in London.

Mr Barsam was the lead Consultant and fellowship director for corneal transplantation and complex anterior segment surgery at the L&D University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Partners. This tertiary centre of excellence was founded and set up by him in 2012, for which he received several excellence awards.

He has published over 45 peer-reviewed scientific papers, 16 book chapters and he is the co-author of a comprehensive textbook of Ophthalmology, which is now in its third edition. He is an editorial advisory board member and former section editor of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today Europe. He wrote his Doctoral thesis at the University of Cambridge on Keratoconus and safety in laser vision correction.

Mr Barsam is regularly invited to speak, chair and moderate at national and international conferences. He is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ prestigious Microsurgical Skills Faculty.

In 2023 he was honoured to be invited to become one of a few inaugural board-certified fellows of the World College of Refractive Surgery and Visual Sciences (FWCRS) in recognition for his commitment and contributions to the Specialty of Refractive surgery globally. Mr Barsam was a member of the Council for the Royal Society of Medicine, Ophthalmology section from 2015-18. From 2018, he was selected to join the CertLRS Examinations Subcommittee of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, working with the college to safeguard national standards in laser and lens based refractive surgery.

In addition, Mr Barsam is an expert opinion leader for the laser-eye surgery and cataract surgery industry, frequently advising on best practice with existing and emerging advanced technology.

Allon Barsam specialities

Allon specialises in personalised laser and lens vision correction. He will work with you to carefully customise the best treatment plan for your individual visual needs.

Laser Eye Surgery

Laser Eye Surgery: LASIK

Laser Eye Surgery: LASEK

Reading Vision Correction

Refractive Lens Exchange

Cataract Surgery

Phakic IOL’s

Corneal Transplantation

Keratoconus Management

Advanced Surface Ablation

A global reputation

Allon is a sought-after, expert opinion-leader for the laser-eye surgery and cataract surgery industry, frequently advising on how to improve and perfect safety with existing and emerging advanced technology.

In 2023 Allon Barsam was invited to become one of only a few inaugural board certified fellows of the World College of Refractive Surgery and Visual Sciences (FWCRS) in recognition for his commitment and contributions to the Specialty of Refractive surgery globally.
In 2022 Allon successfully carried out the UKs first Smartsight (lenticule extraction/flapless keyhole laser vision correction) procedure.
In 2018, Allon Barsam was selected to join the CertLRS Examinations Subcommittee of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, working with the college to safeguard national standards in laser refractive surgery.
He is an editorial board member and section editor of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today Europe.
Allon wrote his Doctoral thesis at the University of Cambridge on Keratoconus and safety in laser vision correction.
Allon is regularly invited to speak, chair and moderate at national and international speciality meetings and conferences.
He is actively involved in teaching other surgeons the latest techniques. Allon is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ prestigious Microsurgical Skills Teaching Faculty.
He has been the lead instructor for a video-based instructional course in refractive anterior segment surgery at both the American and European Societies of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
Mr Barsam was a member of the Council for the Royal Society of Medicine, Ophthalmology section.

Research highlights

It’s essential for Allon Barsam to offer his patients the most effective, safe and very latest technology. Allon highly values innovation and he is meticulous with researching, critical analysis of and thorough evidence base for best practice before he implements new techniques or treatments. Allon Barsam is a surgical innovator and therefore works closely with industry to continually refine and advance existing techniques.

Some of Allon’s achievements are recognised on his Wikipedia page.

LASIK Laser Eye Surgery

Publishing the largest and most significant review on treatment options (LASIK vs. Phakic intraocular lenses) for people with moderate to high myopia (near/short sightedness).

Keratoconus Treatment

Innovative treatment options for patients with Keratoconus

Cataract Surgery Safety

Publishing a randomised controlled trial looking at the safety of two different techniques of cataract surgery.

Advanced Surface Ablation Treatment

Publishing new ways of carrying out advanced surface ablation (PRK/LASEK/epi-LASEK) treatment options.

Allon Barsam publications

Allon Barsam has published over 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers, 14 book chapters and he is the co-author of a comprehensive textbook of Ophthalmology, which is now in its second edition.

See all publications

Publications

Books

Book Chapters

Published Abstracts

Protocols and Guidelines

Video Publications

Patented Instruments

Ophthalmic Press Articles

Prizes, awards and distinctions

2000

Distinction in OSCE clinical examination for placing second in his year of medical school out of 200 students

2001

Rosenheim Prize in Cardiovascular Medicine, awarded for elective project.

2002

Distinction in Surgery, Clinical Finals, MB BS Examinations. Certificate of Merit in Surgery, Clinical Finals, MB BS Examinations.

2008

Alcon Prize for Best Overall Poster, UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (UKISCRS) Annual Congress.

2009

Ethicon Foundation Fund, for cornea, external eye disease and refractive surgery fellowship , New York, USA. Special Trustees of Moorfields Research Grant, for national study on acute corneal hydrops secondary to keratoconus.

2011

Alcon Prize for Poster, UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (UKISCRS) Annual Congress. Best Paper – Keratorefractive, American Society

2011

The first British Ophthalmologist in the world to use laser vision correction technology for cataract surgery with the use of intraoperative aberrometry to refine visual outcomes.

2012

The first British Ophthalmologist and one of the first ten surgeons in the world to carry out laser cataract surgery.

2016

First British Ophthalmologist and one of the first in the world to use the small aperature IC-8 lens for treating radial keratotomy patients

2017

First British Ophthalmologist and one of the first in the world to use the latest most advanced trifocal intraocular lens by Rayner for both refractive lens exchange and cataract surgery

2018

Founding Partner and Director of OCL Vision – a multi-location leading group of eye surgeons using the world’s most advanced technology for vision correction and cataract surgery

In the media

Allon Barsam features in the media across multiple platforms regularly for his expertise in laser and lens vision correction surgery including, BBC News, The Times, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, Reuters and the Discovery Channel.

Allon Barsam appeared in a feature on BBC News performing advance laser eye surgery on a patient suffering from a rare eye condition called Reis-Bucklers syndrome, which made everyday activities nearly impossible. The pioneering laser surgery was completed to remove scarring on the cornea which caused blindness, and the report follows the patient on her journey through recovery which will fully restore her sight.