Dr. Thomas Gillette

Education | Training 

Dr. Gillette received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University and his Medical degree from State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine. Following his internship, he served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Public Health Service. He then completed his residency training in Ophthalmology at New York University and a fellowship in Ocular Immunology at Harvard Medical School. When he moved to Seattle, he became the Head Fellow at Swedish Hospital Medical Center. Upon moving to Seattle in 1980, Dr. Gillette completed a prestigious Heed fellowship in Corneal Transplantation at Swedish Medical Center. His work in corneal transplantation includes two NIH studies that guide current corneal transplant surgery: CPTS (Corneal Preservation Time Study) and CDS (Corneal Donor Study)

Accomplishments | Honors
Dr. Gillette’s interest in Refractive Surgery began at Harvard in 1980 when he implanted the world’s first hydrogel intracorneal lens. He has been performing LASIK since 1997 and specializes in LASIK, PRK, Implantable lenses, and other complex corneal and refractive surgeries.

Memberships | Affiliations

He has served as President of the Washington State Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Program Director of The Academy’s Annual Meeting, and a Board Trustee. He also served as President of the Medical Staff at Cabrini Hospital in 1990 and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Swedish Medical Center from 2005 to 2009.

He is a SightLife Global Partner and has worked with international efforts to reduce blindness in Turkey, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Borneo.