Review of Moorfields Eye Surgery
Moorfields Eye Hospital enjoys a global reputation for providing world-class laser eye surgery.
Moorfields Private is the private arm of the renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and offers ophthalmic care to patients seeking a vast range of treatments for both common and complex eye health conditions.
Today, Moorfields has a number of clinics around London – located in the City, the West End, Bedford and Croydon – and treats around 400,000 outpatients and 30,000 inpatients each year.
☀ Pros: World-class reputation, highly experienced eye surgeons, central London locations, advanced technology
☂ Cons: No fixed prices (fixed by the surgeons), no monthly payment options, no free consultation
☝ Compare clinics: See if there are any other top-rated clinics near you, and use our simple tool to receive a personalised quote.
Our no-nonsense review of Moorfields Private and Moorfields NHS Eye Hospital covers:
- Moorfields Private Eye Hospital
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Moorfields laser eye surgery cost
- What laser eye surgeries are offered?
- Moorfields’ best consultants
- Moorfields laser eye surgery reviews
- The Verdict
1. Moorfields Private Eye Hospital
For patients who fail to meet NHS requirements, or for those looking for treatments left off NHS checklists (such as refractive surgery for the average glasses-wearer), Moorfields Private is a viable option.
Private laser eye treatments at Moorfields include the most common surgeries such as PRK, LASEK and LASIK, as well as specialist procedures for more complex conditions. Private patients also benefit from Wavefront guided surgeries, which tend to have higher success rates due to greater laser accuracy.
In addition to providing high quality treatment and aftercare, many patients like to know that the profits from Moorfields Private are used to fund the Moorfields Eye Charity, Friends of Moorfields, which supports critical new research and quality eye care for children and adults.
2. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
If you happen to suffer from a select range of debilitating eye conditions that cannot be treated by contact lenses or glasses (such as cataracts or glaucoma), you may be one of the few people who qualify for laser eye surgery on the NHS.
Moorfields’ NHS Eye Hospital is there for these patients, but for the vast majority of us, Moorfields Private has its door open.
3. Moorfields Laser Eye Surgery Cost
While NHS treatment is free, at Moorfields Private prices will apply to all consultations and surgeries.
Laser eye surgery costs at Moorfields start at £2,000 per eye for common laser eye surgery such as LASIK or LASEK. These prices rise to between £3,000 and £4,000 per eye for more complex procedures including cataract surgery.
An initial consultation at Moorfields is around £150, and the private prices will depend on the eye surgeon you choose. That’s because the laser eye consultants are employed by Moorfields, and set their own fees.
Consultation costs
- Consultation: £150 – £200
Patients considering laser eye surgery usually book one to two consultations prior to receiving treatment. You can book your first appointment on the Moorfields Private website.
Treatment costs (per eye)
- LASIK or LASEK eye surgery: £2,000 – £2,500
- Refractive lens exchange (RLE) or cataract surgery: £3,000 – £4,000
- ICL implantation surgery: £3,000 – £4,000
Other costs
In addition to these costs, you may also need to consider covering your potential stay in the hospital for private treatment. Moorfields Private hospital fees tend to range from £900 to £1800, depending on the procedure.
However, recovery times vary, and many eye treatments allow you to leave following the surgery. Naturally, there are no hospital fees for NHS patients.
Other options?
Moorfields Private Hospital offers some of the latest laser and implantable contact lens treatments performed by world-class consultant eye specialists, and these prices reflect the clinic’s high standards.
However, if these costs are outside your budget, or you would like to compare them with other leading laser eye surgery clinics in the UK, click here to fill in a few details, and talk directly to a trusted clinic to compare their quotes and services.
To see how other eye laser surgery clinics compare with Moorfields Private, just click here to use our simple quote tool, and receive a tailored quote from any trusted clinics near you.
Paying for treatment
Opting for laser eye surgery is a financial commitment for most people, and Moorfields offers three ways of paying for your treatment:
- Private Medical Insurance – If you are covered by private healthcare, Moorfields asks that you try to verify these details before your first appointment, and obtain your pre-authorisation number.
- Self pay – Many patients pay for their own treatment, with no private insurance needed.
- Third party sponsorship – If a third party (such as your employer) has agreed to settled your account, make sure you acquire a letter of guarantee along with a deposit.
Read more: Laser eye surgery costs explained
4. Laser Eye Surgery Treatments
Moorfields Private Eye Hospital provides over 100 vision correction treatments for adults and children of all ages.
Here are some of the most requested types of laser eye surgery treatments:
- LASIK: The most common treatment to correct eye conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
- LASEK: A surface laser treatment that is suitable for patients with thinner corneas (eye surfaces).
- Cataract surgery: A refractive lens exchange (RLE), which is an option for those in the “reading glasses” age group.
- ICL surgery: Implants that work like permanent contact lenses are common for younger people, or patients with medical dry eye conditions.
Moorfields Private Hospital usually performs laser sight correction surgery to both eyes on the same day, but with cataract surgery and ICL implantation, most surgeons prefer to leave a week between operating on each eye for their patients’ comfort.
5. Moorfields’ Top Surgeons
Moorfields Private and Moorfields Eye Hospital claim their ophthalmic surgeons and consultants are some of the best in Britain, and six Moorfields Private surgeons were recently named in the Daily Mail’s top doctors list.
Within the industry, Moorfields is also the go-to for ophthalmic expertise: a recent Moorfields report shows that over half of all registered ophthalmic surgeons in the UK received their training there. Not surprisingly, many Moorfields consultants also completed their training onsite.
Plus, based on hundreds of unfiltered reviews from former patients, Moorfields hosts some of the top-rated laser eye surgeons in the UK.
Here are the five best consultants at Moorfields, as voted by you:
- Mr David Gartry: As one of the first surgeons worldwide to perform laser eye surgery, they don’t come more experienced than Mr Gartry.
- Mr Julian Stevens: Mr Stevens is an advisor to the British Society for Refractive Surgery, and is recognised globally as an expert opinion leader in laser eye surgery.
- Mr Bruce Allan: Mr Allan had been the Service Director for Refractive Surgery at Moorfields since 2012.
- Ms Valerie Saw: Ms Saw’s interests lie in inflammation and scarring of the eye, and she regularly treats patients for dry eyes and conjunctivitis.
- Mr Alexander C. W. Ionides: Since 1989, Mr Ionides has specialised in cataract and refractive lens surgery for both long and short sighted conditions.
Read more: Laser Eye Surgeon reviews
6. Independent reviews of Moorfields Private Eye Hospital
Moorfields consistently receive fantastic customer reviews, making them one of the highest rated laser eye providers in the UK. Click here to read their customer reviews below.
Moorfields Eye Hospital Private Clinic is also featured as one of Lasik Eye’s best laser eye surgery clinics in the UK, as well as shining in our list of the best laser eye surgery in London for partnering with some of the most renowned surgeons.
What makes Moorfields Eye Hospital so popular?
- History – Moorfields Eye Hospital first opened in London in 1805, and is now one of the oldest and best reviewed eye hospitals in the world.
- Ophthalmic Research – Moorfields has spent over 200 years researching and providing the latest laser eye surgery and implantable contact lens treatments, in partnership with the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.
- Cutting-edge technology – Moorfields Private is a flagship location for laser and implant manufacturers. Its surgeons are therefore able to choose from the latest state-of-the-art laser eye equipment and non-invasive techniques like Intralase technology.
- Patient care – The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates Moorfields Eye Hospital as ‘outstanding’ for care in their latest inspection report.
But is Moorfields Eye Hospital right for you?
Not everyone is best suited to Moorfields: as you would expect, world-class laser eye surgery often comes with an eye-watering price tag.
- Expensive treatments – Although patients tend to leave rave reviews, LASEK eye surgery costs on average £2,235 per eye at Moorfields Private, but between £595 and £1,595 per eye at other leading high street eye clinics such as Optical Express.
- No free consultations – Moorfields Private is one of the few laser eye clinics in the UK not to offer free initial consultations: you can expect to pay between £150 and £200, depending on the surgeon you see.
Next Steps: Find the Top-Reviewed Clinic Near You
Compare Moorfields Private with the highest independently reviewed eye laser clinics near you – see if you’re eligible for 20/20 vision or your money back, and receive your very own personalised quote.
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Next steps: Our simple tool helps our readers every day get one step closer to 20/20 vision:
- Find a top clinic near you: Answer three questions to be matched with the leading eye clinic in your area
- Check you’re eligible in minutes: Receive a quick call to check you can get surgery (we will never share your number with anyone else)
- Receive a tailored quote: Talk to an expert at a clinic you can trust for a free eye test (worth £800) and personalised quote (with no obligation)
☛ Click here to find the best clinic near you, and receive a tailored quote.
Moorfields Surgeons Reviews
Mr Alexander C W Ionides
BSc FRCOphth MD.
Mr Vincenzo Maurino
Mr Bruce Allan
MD FRCS FRCOphth
Mr Stephen Tuft
Professor David S Gartry
MD, FRCS, FRCOphth, DO, BSc(Hons)
Mr Julian Stevens
MRCP, FRCS, FRCOphth,DO
Moorfields Eye Hosptial Reviews
Amir
I had my bilater lasik done 23 Aug 2006 with Alex Ionides. He was very understanding explaining the whole procedure as I lie down on the under lazer. Whole process took less than 10mins. My prescription was R-7.50, L-6.50 with slight astigmatism. Next day left eye gave 20:20 vision right was slightly worse with little blurred vision. Three month on I have perfect vision for both eye's. No longer suffering from any dry eye. Night driving is little difficult as I still have some star gaze from road lights and car head light. My next check up is in three months. My recommendation. if you are thinking about getting laser treatment done then go for it, provded you are suitable.
Rob Giovanelli
Hi, I'm considering LASIK with Mr Tuft. Has anyone had this procedure done with him and if so could you advise me how things went. Many Thanks!!!!!
nic
i've been very interested and scared about going through with laser eye surgery- but after a friend recently had it done i thought i might as well try- i've been wearing glasses since the age of 5 and im sick of them and contacts!! so yesterday i went to 1 of the 3 that i thoroughly researched and to my utter disappointment got rejected!- it is because i am amblyopic in my right eye- something i never knew i had and is untreatable as im too old for treatment. so i wandered if any one has had successful laser treatment with around -6.5 in both eyes, astigmatism AND amblyopia. would be greatful for some response. cheers.
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I had my 3 month checkup with Mr. Stevens. First the optometrist checked my eyes using the wavefront scanner. She printed out the results; both the left and right eye had large blue circles in the centre. Before the operation, the result print out had a lot of red and yellow. She then did the standard eye test with the eye chart. The third line from the bottom is 20/20 vision. I covered my left eye and read the chart with ease, right down to the last line. I was told I only got one letter wrong. I then covered my right eye and read the eye chart right down to the second line from the bottom. It was a little harder to read than with the right eye. I mentioned to her that I was occasionally getting glare at night and that it’s more noticeable when I get tired. Mr. Stevens then came in and checked my eyes and the notes his colleagues made. He said that my tear production is at half capacity, but this should improve over the next 9-12 months. I was ecstatic with the news that my eyes are better then 2020. It’s more than I could have asked for. Mr. Stevens said that I wouldn't need any further consultation, even though I could call with any queries if I had problems. I would highly recommend Mr Stevens to anyone.
Sarah Startup
I had my treatment at Moorfields by Alex Ionides a week ago and I am so happy with the results. I can see better than I ever could with glasses and contact lenses. Alex Ionides was a fantastic doctor, makes you feel assured and in safe hands.
kaz
I had a consultation with Julian Stevens recently and am considering having lasek surgery. I would be grateful if I could hear from anyone who has had this procedure done by him or any of the other surgeons.
Simon
I had Lasik Wavefront surgery with Mr Gartry in February 2005. It is now over a year & a half since I was treated. I have had absolutely no problems since the operation. I found the whole experience to be quick, painless and indeed quite enjoyable. I am one of the lucky ones - there are obviously others who may not have fared as well - but I have definately benefited from it. The only thing I would mention is that I haven't been asked in for a check-up since a month after the op, but apart from that, it's been excellent.
John Waterhouse
I had Epilasik surgery performed by Vincenzo Maurino on 18/4/06 and found the experience wonderful. In the lead up to the procedure I went looking on the internet for reviews of Mr. Maurino and couldn't find any. This slightly unsettled me but, having gone ahead, I am delighted with the outcome and wanted to post this comment so no-one else feels any concern about using this excellent surgeon. It is now three months on and I have pretty much perfect vision, having started at -3.25 left eye and -2.5 right eye. Now my left eye has no prescription at all and my right is -0.5. It is just brilliant not to need glasses or contacts anymore, and the whole procedure with Moorfields was excellent. My only advice to anyone having this surgery is to have someone to look after you for a day afterwards - I couldn't really open my eyes so putting in the drops was a bit difficult! I would give full marks to Mr. Maurino. He is calm, assured, professional and easy to deal with. His team were also excellent. In all, a highly recommended experience.
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After having a consultation at a company in Harley Street, I felt more comfortable having my eyes checked by Moorfields. Since Moorfields specialises in eye surgery & research, I felt it would be the ideal place to place my vision & trust. I was recommended by several friends to see Mr. Julian Stevens. One friend in particular had recently had LASIK done by Mr. Stevens back in November with great results. I called Moorfields in Feb to book an appointment. With a reputation such as Mr. Stevens, it no wonder there is a waiting list. The earliest consultation was in June. They did various tests and confirmed my prescription was left eye is -8.00 (-6.00 -2.00 astigmatism), right eye is -8.25 (-6.00 2.25 astigmatism). I actually went to the consultation expecting to have LASIK done. Mr. Stevens told me I could have the LASIK done but was strongly advising me to have the LASEK treatment due a thin cornea. When I did my initial research all my questions were about the LASIK treatment & the complications with the flap. Mr. Stevens answered my queries about LASEK and reassured me the results would be the same. The only thing is that it is a longer healing process, so I would need to take a week off work. I had the operation on Friday the same week. It went really well, taking around 4mins each eye. No pain or discomfort during the surgery. The chair you lie on is really comfortable and the room is dark. Mr. Stevens has a sense of calm about him. By the end of the surgery, I could see clock on the wall. There was also bit of haze (ghosting), like looking through a steamed window. The nurse gave me drops to take every hour for the first week. After that week, I had another set of drops for week 2 & 3. The steroid drops do sting a little when I put them in, but it’s definitely worth it. I wore sunglasses after the surgery as the drops they use dilates your eyes. They said my eyes would be like that for a couple of days. I spent my week off work at home resting in a dark apartment. My vision was very blurry during this time. One eye was more blurred than the other. Both had a haze effect. They provided some goggles to wear at night to stop you from rubbing your eyes. After one week I was able to get round home quite comfortably. At both my checkups, Mr. Stevens told me my eyes were healing nicely. I was very impressed with Mr. Stevens when he took out the bandage contact lenses. Using tweezers, he took out the left lense with his left hand, then the right lense with his right hand. I didn't feel a thing. First week at work was a little difficult. I had to decrease the screen resolution to 1280x800 to read emails on a screen. I did find my sight improving when comparing from the vision from the previous Friday. The end of week 2 I was playing racquet sports wearing protective eyewear. I daring not have anything hit my eyes. I'm now on week 3 and my vision is so sharp, I am absolutely impressed. I can't even remember what its like to have bad vision now. I want to commend Mr. Stevens for all his hard work and being an easy person to talk to. I'm sure if was me hearing the same questions from all his patients it would drive me crazy. Thanks Mr. Stevens, it’s changed my life.
Danny Colvill
I had Wavefront Lasik surgery done by Mr Gartry on 22nd July 2006 and given my experience with another clinic & my relatively high prescription I thought I would share my views here. Around 4 years ago I went to Laservision in Harley Street only to be turned away on the grounds of large pupils and a fluctuating prescription, they suggested I wait for the Wavefront technique to become fully established, so thats what I did. I was all booked in with Laservision again this time around only to be told a couple of weeks before that they had issues with their Medical License which worried me considerably so I switched to Moorfields and in particular Mr Gartry who came highly recommended (by frinds and also by my optician) and who had also performed my mothers cataracts operation some years ago. The consulation was straightforward (dilating the pupils is a little uncomfortable but nothing to worry about) and so I booked in to have the operation on the Saturday morning. It really is just like a trip to the dentist, its a bit surreal but not painful, although I did feel the flap being created each time. Mr Gartry is very reassuring and explains how long each procedure will last. I was worried about not being able to stare at the red light properly but this was not a problem. The suction on each eye feels a little weird but again is not painful, to be fair the whole thing was a bit of an anti-climax and over with very quickly. You can see properly straightaway although things are a little blurred. My eyes were really stinging on the way home and very bloodshot but as soon as the first set of drops went in they cleared up and felt miles better. The 3 sets of drops every 2 hours is a bit of a nuisance and the goggles to sleep in are quite uncomfortable but these are not exactly major problems. I was -7.25 in one eye and -8.25 in the other with astigmatism in both plus very large pupils. The day after the op I was seen by Mr Gartry (on a Sunday!) and he told me I has 20/20 vision in one eye and a little less in the other although things should keep improving over the next few days. My right eye feels better then it ever was and my left not quite where it needs to be yet but I'm hoping it comes in, although even if there was no improvement from here I can see perfectly well, even if a shade of crispness is lacking. It is only 3 days since the op!!! I would recommend Moorfields and Mr Gartry to anyone. It is the most expensive place out there.....for a reason!
