In 1983 Dr Deist achieved his medical degree (MBChB) from the University of Cape Town medical school. He specialized in Ophthalmology having obtained his ophthalmic degree from the University of Witwatersrand medical school in 1993.
Since then, Dr Deist has been in practice in Johannesburg with a special interest in anterior segment surgery. This includes laser vision correction and other refractive procedures, corneal transplant, refractive cataract surgery and specialized procedures for the treatment of keratoconus.
He is a founder member of the Sandhurst Eye Centre which caters for all aspects of eye care ranging from treatment of medical ophthalmic disorders to complicated ocular surgery.
Dr Deist introduced Femto second laser treatments to Sandhurst Eye Centre and is the first surgeon in South Africa to introduce all laser corneal transplantation and laser intra stromal rings for keratoconus.
Furthermore, he runs an active program assisting young surgeons to acquire the skills for advanced laser vision correction, advanced keratoconus surgeries and all laser corneal transplantation.
Dr Deist has also introduced to the Sandhurst Eye Centre the use of multifocal intraocular implants for use in refractive cataract surgery. This technique goes a long way towards total spectacle freedom.