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)
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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
Vicky Howarth
I am due to have an intial consultation with Mr Julian Stevens on 1st June for laser surgery and am just wondering if anyone can pass on any advice to me? I am particularly thinking of questions to ask, things to check up on etc etc. Also can anyone let me know if they have had surgery with him and how they found it (painful??). I have read all the comments on here and on the whole you all seem impressed, but I still need a bit of re-assurance! I'd like to know if anyone has had any problems so I can ask about these. Basically I want all the info I can get before going for the consultation so if anyone can help I'd be really grateful so please don't hesitate to email me. Thanks.
Tim Wood
I had Wavefront LASIK with David Gartry on 28th February. I must say that everyone at Moorfields was very professional and I was seen by Dr Ilari for the initial Wavefront scan, a nice doctor from Trinidad (I think Dr Khan?) for the after care advice on the day of the operation, and of course Mr Gartry himself in the laser room, together with the charge nurse Mike Behrend and also another nurse whose name I cannot remember but I think was from NZ. All were super and very professional but at the same time friendly and chatty. My wife was more worried than I was! The actual procedure itself was simple and totally painless, not even uncomfortable. I went out to dinner with 12 friends from my Yacht Club the night of surgery and they were all amazed by how much I could see already, although distance was a bit blurred and remained so for probably a week before I was really comfortable with driving. But NO adverse side effects, no haloes or starbursts at night, no pain or even discomfort (and my wife says that like most men I’m such a baby that if it had hurt the world would have known about it…….) Before the op I had minus 8.50 right and minus 8 left, and significant astigmatism in both eyes. Mr Gartry saw me on the Monday after the op and told me I had 20/20 vision although to be honest it didn’t feel like it at the time. Now, 4 weeks later, it continues to improve and I can see far more than I ever did with glasses. My eyes water a bit in cold winds but then I suppose everyone’s do and if they are shielded behind glasses perhaps you don’t feel it. The odd day of ‘dry eye’ occurred but this has largely stopped now. I have to go and see Mr Gartry again next week and I’ll be interested to have the eye test and see what he thinks. I’m 49 and work with computers in an office, and there have been no problems on that front at all. I also sail and I’m really looking forward to getting out in the boat in the summer with no salt splashes on my glasses. I found this site to be extremely helpful and particularly to someone called Ian who had had the surgery and was kind enough to answer my email – I picked him because he had a similar large correction to mine. If you are considering it I cannot recommend Moorfields too highly. It is the best eye hospital in the world and I don’t know about you, but in this life you only get one set of eyes and if you can have the best then that’s for me and so far at least it seems that Moorfields and Mr Gartry is just that. Some may balk at the fee but any professional at the top of their profession charges accordingly. From my own professional knowledge I can assure you that you wouldn’t get a top London QC to even open his door to you for what Mr Gartry charges for the op. A couple of tips that you may find useful. Make sure you have a coffee before you arrive at Moorfields as theirs is from a machine and it is truly disgusting. There’s a Starbucks down the road. You may also find a cheap pair of swimming goggles useful to keep the water out of your eyes when showering during the week after the op. Make sure you get a brand big enough to cover your eyes without pressure on the lids. I used Adidas ones at £9.99 from JJB Sports. If anyone has any concerns please email me and I’ll try to answer. This cynical, seen it all before and don’t trust anyone 49 year old is truly amazed with the result. Early days yet, of course, but all seems fine so far.
Lynn Mortlock
I had my lasik in August with Miss Ficker and while I am pleased overall I am also slightly disappointed. I find that my right eye has regressed quite a lot and although I don't have to wear glasses at all I do find that I am straining to watch television or distant objects. At my 3 month check up Miss Ficker did offer to re-do the right eye but re-emphasised the risks that much that I am still thinking about it 3 months later. The right eye has altered itself so that I have monovision. The right one is better for close up and the left for long vision. As I have stated I do not have to wear glasses which is great but a lot of the time my eyes look tired. Think very carefully before you jump in!
Marie Game
Surgeon: Mr. D. Gartry I Have just had eyetest at 3 month stage after having wavefront lasik surgery on the 18th August 2003. Results: +1.00 and -0.75 cyl in both eyes. Original prescription: -1.75, -1.50 cyl in Right, -2.25, -1.25cyl in Left. Seems they have been over corrected and still with some astigmatism, not sure if things are still healing or likely to change. Eyesight seems fine to me, and I don't need to wear glasses for reading, as yet, at 45 years old. MG.
Nick Bell
3 month results. Had Wavefront Lasik with Mr Gartry on 9th August 03. Was originally -5 (roughly) in both eyes, day after the op my vision was 'perfect' (read bottom line of eye chart etc). As of two months after the op my eyes have healed (perfectly well) but to -1 and -1.25. I noticed that I could no longer see a TV clearly across a room and road signs were more blurry. I saw Gartry 6 weeks after the op and he told me to get tested 3 months post op and get back to him. I guess he might suggest another op, I don't know. He said we had to wait at least three months to be sure which is fair enough. I now use specs for driving (like to see road signs well in advance!), but I don't need any day-to-day or for PC use. Having worn specs for 27 years its a great result - just not as perfect as I hoped. I am a little disappointed as other posters have reported healing to 'perfect' vision. However, it was made quite clear to me pre-op that the results were not guaranteed and I suppose if I had gone for a 'lesser' surgeon or hospital and got this result I would have always been wondering if I should have got better - at least I know I got the best I could find. So - if you are considering Wavefront - the freedom from glasses is great but perfect vision is not guaranteed. I would have no qualms recommending Moorfields or Gartry, very professional.
Anna
Had Wavefront Lasik surgery yesterday at Moorfields with Mr David Gartry. Had checked out a few clinics but decided to go to Moorfields as they have the best experience and presumably you would be in the right place if anything went wrong. Mr Gartry has over 20 years of specialist interest is laser surgery - I don't believe I could have found anyone better. I opted for Wavefront as this offers the opportunity to also correct the 5% of abberations in the eye which a standard eye test cannot pick up. Wavefront is also reputed to leave less problems with the night time halo effect around lights. Felt very nervous immediately beforehand but Mr Gartry talked me through the whole procedure and told me exactly what to expect to happen at each stage. I felt very safe all the way through. Minor discomfort afterwards, mainly a stinging sensation and sensitivity to light in the first hour or so. No problems for the rest of the day, my eyes just felt a little dry at times. My sight had started to improve on the way home and by the time I atttended my follow up appointment today I could read the bottom line of the eye chart. Absolutely brilliant - I can't believe I can see this clearly without glasses or contact lenses for the first time in my life. A friend who had LASIK (but not Wavefront) surgery in August has experienced some regression and it is best to try to be prepared if this happens. I hope it doesn't though, today has been amazing and it may be some time before I stop reaching for my glasses first thing in the morning, before realising I no longer need them. I found this website useful when I was making a decision about whether to go ahead with surgery - I hope this note of my positive experience to date is helpful. If you are thinking of going ahead with surgery, take great care in finding out as much as you can about your chosen surgeon to ensure you have confidence before going ahead. Also - don't scrimp on cost - it shouldn't be a factor in your decision.
Nicola Kerr
I had Wavefront Surgery with Mr Garty at Moorfields on Sat 13 Sept. The operation itself was painless and apart from some minor discomfort and stinging that same afternoon, I can honestly say that the whole procedure was a doddle. The first week after the operation I was delighted with the results and could see perfectly clearly. It is now nearly a month since the surgery and I am concerned because my level of vision is getting worse not better. I am hoping this is just a case of waiting for things to heal and settle down and nothing more serious. Has anyone else had this experience and what was the outcome?
Batul
My eye surgeon was Julian Stevens, I had treatment on Friday 7th October. I cannot complain about any part of the service.I had Lasik with Wavefront Surgery. I was informed about all possible problems all along the way and was able to ask questions at anytime. My eyes were measured in 3 seperate ways to ensure acurate readings. I was made to feel like an individual and not a patient. I feel happy with my sight today. My left eye remains slightly out of focus but the prescription (-4.00) was higher than the right eye (-2.50). I am told that this will settle in the coming weeks. My eyes feel a little dry but this is norma and be expected for the next few weeks. I was also told that I can walk in anytime I need to to be seen which is extremely reassuring. Thank you Moorfields and Julian for a great service.
MG
Update on my wavefront lasik, 18th Aug. Had my '1month' follow-up on the 24th Sept. everything fine. 6/5 in right eye, slightly better in left, am extremely happy with results, have had no problems whatsoever not even dry eyes. However, have awarded 4 stars not 5, as neither of my two follow-ups were with Mr. Gartry for one reason or another, which was a bit disappointing. At a cost of 4k I thought that I would have been guaranteed that at least, and it would have been nice to have been able to thank him personally.
Claire Benfield
I had Lasik treatment at Moorfields with Miss Ficker on 20th August after many years of thinking about it but being too scared just in case… It’s now been over a month and I’m really pleased. The initial consultation was professional as was the whole procedure on the day – it also helped to see another patient who’d just had it done saying how painless it was! It was painless but slightly surreal during the operation – I was glad of someone holding my hand and being reminded to start breathing again once it was done! I slept for a few hours once I got home and was then amazed at the clear long sighted view when looking over the garden. However TV was slightly blurred as was print. The follow up appointment the next day was very brief and I did feel rushed asking my questions but was told everything was as it should be (if very blurry). Over the first week I was slightly worried as I was finding reading print and the computer rather blurry with things getting worse in dim light or when going indoors. I did call and was advised to make sure I was using plenty of eye drops which I have been. After the second week, things started to improve just as I’d been told they would and now although I get slight blurring if I’m tired things are really good.
