Personal Profile
Mr Parnell is an experienced Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon specialising in glaucoma, cataract and comprehensive ophthalmology. He prides himself on providing personalised and expert care to achieve the best outcomes for his patients. He has many years of experience in all aspects of ophthalmology, with a specialist interest in glaucoma management including glaucoma surgery and laser. He also has a special interest in cataract surgery including the use of premium lenses such as toric (astigmatism correcting) lens implants.
His NHS practice is based at The Royal Eye Unit, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust having previously been appointed as glaucoma lead at The Princess Royal University Hospital, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. He holds a medical degree and a BSc. from Imperial College, London.
His ophthalmology training was carried out in London culminating in a prestigious glaucoma fellowship at King’s College Hospital refining surgical techniques with renowned experts in the field.
Mr Parnell has a broad ophthalmology practice providing expertise in all aspects of glaucoma including medical treatment, laser treatment (selective laser trabeculoplasty / SLT and YAG laser peripheral iridotomies) and surgical treatments including trabeculectomy, aqueous shunts and newer, minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery such as the iStent™ inject.
He also has a special interest in cataract surgery including the use of premium lenses such as toric (astigmatism correcting) lens implants.
He is comprehensively trained in diagnosing and treating general eye complaints and keeps these general skills up to date by supervising an emergency eye clinic session weekly.
Mr Parnell is experienced in training junior ophthalmic surgeons in ophthalmology and cataract surgery as well as training senior fellows visiting from abroad to learn glaucoma surgery.
As an NHS consultant he is responsible for ophthalmology trainee’s education and progression as their educational supervisor. He is also the department lead for allied health care professionals such as orthoptists and optometrists with overall responsibility for their training.
Prior to his ophthalmology training he carried out research in glaucoma at the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London (UCL) as part of the Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Group where he was awarded an MSc. with distinction and which resulted in multiple publications and the opportunity to present at international conferences.
What is ophthalmology?
Ophthalmology is a fascinating surgical specialty involving the diagnosis and treatment, both medical and surgical of disorders of the eye. To become an ophthalmic surgeon requires at least fourteen years of training. Mr Parnell has undertaken further subspecialty training to gain specialist expertise in glaucoma.
Training
Mr Parnell gained his medical degree from Imperial College, London where he also studied for a BSc. in endocrinology. He carried out foundation training in London before completing his ophthalmology training in the prestigious and competitive London School of Ophthalmology and was awarded the fellowship of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists in 2015 (FRCOphth).
Fellowships
Mr Parnell undertook advanced training in glaucoma during a glaucoma fellowship at the world renowned King’s College Hospital learning advanced glaucoma surgery with experts in the field.
Appointment as consultant
Mr Parnell was awarded his CCT (certificate of completion of training) in Ophthalmology in 2018 at which point he was appointed consultant at King’s College Hospital. Mr Parnell subsequently moved his NHS practice to The Royal Eye Unit, Kingston Hospital Foundation Trust.
Qualifications
- 2005 BSc. Endocrinology and Medical Sciences, Imperial College, London
- 2007 MBBS, Imperial College, London
- 2015 FRCOphth, Royal College of Ophthalmologists
Teaching
Mr Parnell has a passion for teaching the next generation of ophthalmic surgeons. He is responsible for very junior trainees learning their first cataract surgery through to experienced ophthalmologists coming from abroad to learn glaucoma surgery techniques. He is an educational supervisor for ophthalmology trainees in the South Thames London training programme responsible for their education and progression. He is the departmental lead for allied health care professionals such as orthoptists and optometrists at The Royal Eye Unit, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust helping guide their training.
