In 2021 Centre for Sight celebrates 25 years of serving both the local community and worldwide with award winning premises and technology. Founded in 1996 at the Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH) by Medical Director Sheraz Daya, Centre for Sight became an established leader in technology and eye care. From here, the team has now grown across 3 clinics in East Grinstead, Surrey and London.

With small beginnings the centre initially rented out a few rooms at the Queen Victoria Hospital and within a few years grew considerably. The vision for Centre for Sight was to be an exemplary provider of medical and surgical care in the UK. The ethos of the centre has always been to exceed patients’ expectations at every level. The best way to accomplish this was to establish a free-standing self contained eye hospital able to provide diagnostics and surgery all under one roof.

The flagship building in Turners Hill Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex completed 12 years ago, is an energy-efficient and sustainable purpose-built Eye Hospital. Construction of this location began in December 2007, and completed in July 2009. Designed by renowned Toh Shimazaki Architects, the building has been the recipient of an Architectural Design Award from Mid Sussex Council and featured in the highly acclaimed Domus Magazine in 2009. It is from this facility that we are restoring vision and improving lives on a daily basis.

The main goal of Centre for Sight is, and has always been, to change lives through vision correction, restoration and preservation. Beginning as a Laser Eye Surgery, Centre for Sight is proud to now be specialised in more areas of eye surgery, including Laser Lens Replacement, Cataract Surgery, Corneal Transplants and more. 

Headed by key opinion leaders in ophthalmology, Centre for Sight acts a reference centre for the ophthalmic industry and has been involved in developing innovative technology for eye care. Its leaders have for several years been listed amongst the 100 most influential ophthalmologists globally.

The centre has achieved its exemplary status, through good clinical governance, excellent outcomes all delivered through phenomenal teamwork. This is externally substantiated by achieving with silver certification “Investors In People” (IIP), rated overall good and outstanding for leadership by the Care Quality Commission , and one of very few hospitals with ISO9001, ISO14001, and ISO27001 certification.

Words from Medical Director, Sheraz Daya

“Looking back it has been an incredible journey and wonderful to realise our intention which was to provide a means (environment and people) for us as ophthalmologists and clinicians to provide patients with the highest standard of eye care available worldwide. Never being one for mediocrity, the only way we felt we could accomplish this level of excellence was to establish ourselves as centre of excellence with the freedom of space, technology and people and I am pleased we have accomplished this goal!”

“Centre for Sights biggest achievement has been integrating innovation, research and technology with patient care. As an organisation we have been able to audit and constantly improve outcomes and set standards. The other great achievement has been working closely with the ophthalmic industry and to be able to innovate and influence development of lasers and new technology.”

“Looking back, I was perhaps a bit naive and did not realise what embarking on this project would involve. Besides providing clinical care, there are so many other aspects involved in developing an organisation. Like so many business owners, it has been sheer hard work with a fair share of sleepless nights. As with many other businesses, one of our biggest challenges was the financial crisis in 2008, which occurred while we were in the process of building both Oxshott and East Grinstead locations. We thankfully managed to complete both and keep our heads above water! Despite the challenges, it is wonderful to now revel in our accomplishments.”

“Long term, we believe we have a great model of care which continues to evolve. It will be wonderful to extend our principles and ethos to include patients under the NHS, perhaps through the development of other sites in collaboration with like-minded consultant ophthalmologists.”

“I must acknowledge and thank the old management and staff at the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust where we had our early beginnings. The people at the hospital and the Corneoplastic Unit enabled us to commence as a Centre for laser eye surgery and supported us through our years of growth.”

“Success can only be achieved by having a team of people working together with the same goals and of course an element of luck. Over the years, we have been fortunate to have excellent administrative and clinical staff who have understood the Centre for Sight difference. I am pleased to say this continues with incredible staff, one or two who have passed the 10 and 15 year mark. We are fortunate to have consultant ophthalmic surgeons who are amongst UK’s best supporting Centre for Sight’s ethos of exceeding patient expectations! I wish to extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to all staff past and present over the last 25 years. Most of all I am thankful to my ophthalmologist partner and wife Marcela who has been steady in her support and encouragement over all these years. Also not to forget a thank you to my children Olivia and Fernando who probably saw less of their dad than they perhaps should have!”

“I am very thankful to all the patients who have entrusted us with their care and continue to do so with many returning to see us after again two decades following laser eye surgery! We as a team feel very privileged and fortunate to have such fantastic patients.”