About Dr Alastair Gittos
Early Career & Education
Dr Gittos training in general medicine and surgery at the University of Auckland School of Medicine, and then trained as a specialist ophthalmic surgeon with the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.
On completing this he moved to the United Kingdom to work at the world renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital London to complete further subspecialty fellowship training in Oculoplastic Surgery, and subsequently in Ocular Oncology.
Dr Gittos worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital for seven years, of which two years were spent in Oculoplastic, Orbital and Lacrimal surgery, and a further three years in Ocular Oncology. Throughout this period Dr Gittos trained directly under some of the most internationally acclaimed specialists in their field, including Professor JRO Collin, Mr G Rose and Mr A Tyers in Oculoplastic and Lacrimal Surgery, and Mr JL Hungerford in Ocular Oncology. Intervening periods between these appointments were spent expanding his general experience in other departments at Moorfields which included Medical Retina, Uveitis, Glaucoma and Cataract Surgery.
He was also appointed to Moorfields as a locum Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon for a period of one year, during which time he received referrals from other ophthalmologists and oculoplastic surgeons from throughout the United Kingdom.
After seven years at Moorfields Dr Gittos moved to Liverpool for an additional six months experience working with Professor Damato in Ocular Oncology at the St Paul’s Eye Unit.
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For the last twelve years Dr Gittos has worked full time as a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon in the public sector in the south of England. Over this period he has amassed considerable experience and expertise in cataract surgery, the medical and surgical management of glaucoma, lacrimal surgery, and both cosmetic and reconstructive oculoplastic surgery to the eyelids and upper face.
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Dr Gittos keeps up to date with recent developments by regularly attending international conferences in his field. Recent attendances during 2019 include the International Society of Ocular Oncology Congress in Los Angeles, and the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society meeting in the United Kingdom.
Subspecialist Experience ​
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Further to his specialisation in Ocular Surgery, Dr. Gittos further specialised in the subspecialist areas of eyelids, tear duct drainage, and ocular oncology (tumours).
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As a subspecialist Oculoplastic Surgeon, Dr Gittos is specifically qualified in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the periocular region and upper face. He has considerable experience and expertise in the management of eyelid tumours including eyelid reconstruction following tumour excision using a wide range of techniques. He has experience and is specifically trained in both functional and cosmetic blepheroplasty, surgery for the correction of ptosis and eyelid malposition, as well as eyebrow surgery, and has considerable experience in surgery for disorders of the lacrimal drainage system for the relief of watery eye.
As a fully trained Ocular Oncologist, he has personally performed over two hundred radioactive plaque insertions for ocular melanoma and several hundred enucleations for melanoma and retinoblastoma. He has considerable experience in the management of ocular surface tumours including squamous neoplasia and conjunctival melanoma using surgery, radioactive plaque treatments, and topical treatments. London was one of the busiest centres in the world for the treatment of retinoblastoma at the time and considerable experience was gained in managing this rare condition.
Education:
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University of Auckland School of Medicine general medicine and surgery
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Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists specialising in ophthalmic surgery
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Moorfields Eye Hospital London, subspecialty fellowship training in Oculoplastic Surgery, and subsequently in Ocular Oncology
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Qualifications:
MBChB - Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
FRANZCO - Fellow of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
Subspecialty Fellowships:
Oculoplastic Surgery - London
Ocular Oncology - London and Liverpool
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Registration:
AHPRA - Specialist
GMC (UK) - Specialist
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Recent CPD attendance:
International Society of Ocular Oncology Biennial Congress
Los Angeles. March 2019
Australian Ocular Melanoma special interest group meeting
Sydney. May 2019
British Oculoplastic Surgery Society
Annual Congress
Nottingham UK. June 2019
RANZCO Annual Congress
Sydney. November 2019
More About Dr. Gittos
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Dr Gittos is a keen sailor and has competed in regattas in the United Kingdom, France, Greece and the Caribbean. He has sailed numerous off-shore passages, including two Atlantic Ocean crossings in a fifty foot yacht. He is a keen supporter of the charity “K1 Britannia”, which operate a number of nautical projects based in the UK and the Caribbean, and are also active in providing rapid response support and relief, during times of natural disaster.
