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.
Our mission at Lasik Eyes is to make it easy to choose the right clinic for your ophthalmic treatment, pop in for a free consultation, and talk through your options with an eye expert. Here’s how:
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
Adam
I had my LASIK done by Mr Gartry 11/Sept/2004. I am not particularly a fan of Mr Gartry now as I will explain later. Before LASIK I had -3.5 D in both eyes with no astigmatism. To cut to the chase I have good vision in both eyes, with some starburst and slight double-vision at night or with bright lights on dark backgrounds. I was affected with Stage-1 DLK (Diffuse Laminar Keratitis) after surgery, which manifest itself some day or so after surgery. Immediately after surgery my eyes were cloudy - this is normal. They then began to clear. The following day I could notice that my already notice my right eye was not really as good as my left. There is a follow up scheduled for 48 hours after the operation. By the morning of the appointment I was quite concerned and had emailed them that the right eye was cloudy and the left eye was beginning to cloud too. Actually I was panicked. Saw Gartry, and he allayed my fears, that I had some haziness that was quite normal and would clear up – keep taking the drops (steroids et al.). It was only on searching the Internet that I found a website describing DLK and I thought to myself ‘I hope I don’t have that’ as in the latter stages it can develop to corneal melting and the need for a corneal transplant. When I saw Gartry a week later I asked him if I had DLK, and he said yes. I think my heart sank a bit, he probably thinks ‘haziness’ is a suitable lay substitute term for DLK but even so it was disingenuous I think not to tell me straight especially as it occurs in only 1% of patients. I would like to make clear that I wouldn’t necessarily wish to demure from the view of Mr Gartry’s position as a pre-eminent consultant, nor indeed have I any reason to believe the DLK was due to any lack of good procedure. It has after all almost, but not totally cleared up, so what am I whingeing about? Well this perhaps is a matter of predilection, but I do not like fudgers, people who try to break the bad news, or omit information in order not to alarm patients that may or may not make their life difficult. I saw Mr Gartry recently for the last time, after having seen another optician a week previously for a 3rd party examination. This is standard practise and is at Mr Gartry’s suggestion that all patients do this a week prior to their final visit. Well, I had my eyes examined thoroughly and I am able to read the bottom line of the chart. There was some slight DLK still visible in my right eye, and as I explained at the outset I still have some so-called 3rd order aberrations like starburst at night and slight double-vision, but liveable with and on-balance I am happy. I returned for my last consultation with Mr Gartry, and he explained that after three months I am probably stuck with the starburst and double vision. I was disappointed with this, but I did not feel it was his fault or that it was bad enough to consider risking a corrective operation. However, what happened next quite shocked me, although some may see it as quite minor, I will leave it to the reader to decide for themselves. I had not at this stage told him that there was still some DLK observed in my right eye as I wanted to see what he said when he examined me with the scope. I am sad to said it was now totally gone, perfect, completely clear. I immediately offered that I was surprised to hear that (inside I was thinking though actually no I’m not surprised and feeling quite angry with his little lie) as the other optician said there was some. He immediately backtracked and said that well yes there was some, but you would have to know it was there to see it, and brushed it aside. Like I say, I find this unacceptable, and certainly given the esteem he is held in, I would expect better.
Lucy
I was very nervous about having laser eye surgery for fear of something going wrong - you only have one set of eyes and mine were fine being corrected by lenses. However, after letting my mother be the guinea pig and watching her delighted with the results both my sister and I decided to book in with Mr Gartry - who came highly recommended. For both of us there wasn't really a decision to be made. We had both been severly short sighted since childhood and were both about -7.00 in each eye. Having decided to go for Wavefront which is supposed to be the most accurate, we booked our appointments together. Mr Gartry is very clear to point out that there are no guarantees with the results as each person heals differently and it is important to remember this. The fact that you can watch people go down for the surgery and come back up again, amazed, helps to get you through the operation which I personally did not find that pleasant. It is not painful and you are told what is going on the whole way through. Immediately afterwards both my sister and I experienced very sore and watery eyes but once in the car on the way home, we could see street signs!! By that evening we were watching television unassisted. At our first review 48 hours later, we were told that we could read the 20/20 line - a great result. Nearly 9 weeks on we are both at different stages. I feel fairly comfortable with my vision although my right eye is not a patch on my left and on its own lets me down. However together they are 20/20. My vision at night time isn't perfect but I don't struggle to see anything - it just lacks a certain sharpness. I have to go for an eye test at 3 months post surgery and that will tell me once and for all what my final prescription is. My sister feels her vision lets her down in artifical lights ie. large shopping centres or cinema and is convinced she still needs glasses. Only the test will tell. The most important thing to remember, which I try to remind myself daily, is that the sharpness I experienced wearing glasses or lenses will probably never return. I wore them for 27 years and now I have to get used to (both mentally & physically) not having the same vision. I also have to get used to the fact that I don't have to reach for my glasses first thing in the morning and i am now a 'get up and go girl'!!
Sam Coates
I had Wavefront surgery with David Gartry on the 1st of November this year. My prescription was +2.25 with 1.5 astigmatism in both eyes. The surgery was a great success. I still have a bit of 'Haloing' but this appears to be getting better and a small amount of 'glare' but to be honest I can't quite remember how much I had before the op. The balance of the 'new' eyes took a while to get used to (a bit like new lenses or glasses) but it seems fine now. I can read the 20/20 line with my left eye which was always my worst and I can read the 20/10 line with my right eye. Combined I can easily read the bottom line. It is great!!! I just can't wait to be in an environment where the difference is immeasurable like on a beach or playing sports. My only regret is not doing it earlier. My advise to everyone though is do your research on your surgeon... you only have one pair of eyes and they are worth the expense!
Nicola
I had Wavefront laser surgery with Mr Gartry in Sept 03. Prior to surgery my prescription was -4.5/-4.75. The first week after surgery my eyesight was almost perfect. However, 2-3 months later it had deteriorated to -1.5/-1.75, so I was rather disappointed. I was told this was extremely unusual. Six months after the first operation, I had re-treatment surgery in Feb 04, again with Mr Gartry and this time just 'Lasik', not 'Wavefront'. 10 months later, my vision is fine, so if anyone has this experience, I would say go ahead and have it done a 2nd time - it worked for me.
imritpal bhambra
After yeard of debating and thinking about it i finally had wavefront on the 12 may 04 performed by david gartry, my eyesight was VERY bad approx -9 in my right eye and -11.5 in my left plus astigmatism i had my initial consultation about a month previously, Mr gartry was very professional. I did have a few questions after the consultation which i emailed his secretary (more than once) and eventually got my reply. On the day of sugery i was nervous as i am with anything to do with my eyes as my eyesight was so bad, during thr operation i kept moving my eye and mr gartry had to tell me to keep it still otherwise he wopuldn't be able to carry on, this was what i needed as i didn't want to be stuck with thick glasses anymore. the surgery was painless and i was watching rv that evening. I went for my check up two days later and everything was fine and mr gartry said i didn't need to see him again unlees i had any problems. Three months later i went to get my eyes test and my eyesight was perfect in my right eye and -0.75 in my left with slight astigmatism. I only sometimes need glasses now if my eyes get tired or night time driving. I would recommend it to anyone as the difference it has made to my life is enourmous, it was for me truly life changing going from needing glasses from the moment i woke up to not needing them at all.
Zoe Wood
Last Tuesday I went to Moorfields Eye Hospital for laser eye treatment ...WOW!! I am still so overcome at how well I can see, it truly is amazing and I wish that I had gone for it sooner. My surgeon was Mr Steve Tuft. I did find the whole idea of the surgery quite frightening before and during the procedure, however I could not have felt more confident in Mr Tuft, he talked me through everything as he was doing it and boy does he know what he is doing! When I sat up in the chair and opened my eyes I began to cry! My vision already was so sharp even though it was hazy. After an hour it was so much better and throughout that evening I could see clearer and clearer...far better than I have ever been able to see with glasses or contact lenses. I am still finding it so unbelievable the feeling of freedom from lenses! I honestly could not fault Mr Tuft and his team, they were all so wonderful and I will be eternally grateful to them for giving me my sight!
Leanne
Hi, I currently live in Singapore, I am thinking of going for epi-lasik with Moorfields Hospital. I wonder has any one done epi-lasik in Moorfields ? Has anyone been to see consultant Mr B Allan ? Any feedback on this will be much appreciated. Thank you.
martha
I'm shortsighted (-7.5), thinking of having Lasik surgery soon at Moorfields and want to book with either David Gartry or Julian Stevens. Can anyone advise me about either of them? I've read that Dr Gartry relies on the optician's sight test - does Dr Stevens do the same? Do you get time to ask questions and good after care? There are a lot of postings from people who've had the surgery a couple of days beforehand but I'd love to hear from anyone who's had it weeks/months/years ago. I make documentaries which involves very long hours, lots of travel and lots of 'looking' (research on the computer & reading and looking through a camera) and am worried about the recovery time. I know people say you can go back to work within a day or so but do you have to be careful about not putting your eyes under too much strain for a period of time? I'd love any advice Martha
Sam Coates
I have had my first consultation with Mr Gartry on the 27/10/04 and I am going for my wavefront scan tomorrow and my surgery will be on the 1st November. My prescription is Hyperopic (+2.25 Sph, +1.5 Cyl in both eyes) and I am 23 years old. The initial consultation cost £150 but was worth it, as many of the other companies (rather than hospitals or independent surgeons) hold your consultation with a specialist rather that your actual surgeon... In my mind it is always best to meet the person who is going to be responsible for correcting your vision. You first go for an eye exam with a standard eye doctor who takes your prescription and measures the thickness of your cornea and the pressure in your eyes (all totally painless and far less intrusive than putting contact lenses in). He then applies dilating drops to your eyes which inhibit your ability to focus. These take about 15 mins to work and as soon as they are ready you go in to see Mr Gartry. He was superbly confident (but not arrogant) and answered every single question I asked him in a way that was very easy to understand. Before seeing him I had already decided to go for wavefront surgery, as far as I am concerned when it comes to my eyes I am not going to spare any expense. He confirmed that this was probably the best way of thinking. My No.1 tip would be to take someone with you. You will not be able to read the questions you take with you, and simpler things such as train times etc. would be very tricky. No.2 is to take a list of questions. I wrote down questions as soon as I thought of them and compiled a long list for him to answer. If you don’t write them down I guarantee you will not remember them all as there is so much information swimming around your mind! I will add another post in a week or two letting you know how the surgery went. Please feel free to e-mail me to ask any questions on the procedure or questions I asked etc. (Just click on my name in blue at the top)
sandra laine
Having spent a lifetime struggling with myopia and now aged 60 when the ageing process necessitated not just contact lenses but reading glasses as well, a friend recommended Julian Stevens at Moorfields. The treatment I received was second to none and Julian's expertise and quiet confidence guided me through the whole procedure which was a little more complicated than Lasik, medically known as "removal of cataract and phakoemulsification and insertion of new lenses". One lens is set a "long distance" the other at "middle distance" and although Julian said I would still need reading glasses, the bonus is that actually I manage very well without reading glasses and my vision is better than it has ever been. I was so thrilled that my son aged 31 was also treated by Julian with Lasik and tells me "it's the best thing that ever happened to me mum". My daughter is waiting for a new machine and will be having her severe myopia dealt with. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts - you're a star Julian.
