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
Doug Reid
Was scheduled for LASIK with Mr Allan at end of Feb. Had a call on Monday 3rd to tell me there was a cancellation for 4th. I took it and can now read the bottom line on the chart with ease. I was -6.5 in one eye and -5.5 in the other. Painless procedure, minor discomfort and pain later. Minor haloes around lights in the evening.
J K
I had lasik surgery 9 months ago and am living with a constant sore painful left eye due to dryness. My life has dramatically changed as I am living with constant soreness and pain. Although the laser itself was a complete success in the fact I have 20 20 vision, I would rather go back to wearing my glasses and feeling normal. My eye is the bane of my life, as I cannot forget about it. I suffered with this eye when I used to wear contact lenses, and I explained this at the time, but this is why most people opt for having surgery because of contact lens intolerance. I am constantly using expensive eye drops, drink lots of water, take eye vitamins, use eye gel at night, and live in hope that it one day will be better. If anyone has experienced this or has any advice, please e mail me. Oh yes forgot to mention I got conjunctivitis 5 weeks after surgery which was treated with antibiotics, so I have also in mind this has cause some damaged. I feel very low and wish I could turn the clock back 9 months ago
Ravi Ratnavel
This is unbelievable...I was one of three doctors on Mr. Gartry's list. Within 24 hours I had perfect vision in right eye and -0.25 in left. I started out with -3.75 both eyes and -2 astigmatism. Mr. Gartry is UK leader for LASIK eye surgery and therefore you pay a bit extra for the best.
Helen Hancox
I had my eyes treated six days ago by Mr Bruce Allan at Moorfields. I had been considering eye surgery for seven years (!!) and eventually decided that, although Moorfields was twice the price of the Laser Surgery centres advertising on Satellite, the opportunity to be treated by the person who might end up fixing you up if it goes wrong elsewhere was worth the extra cost. I certainly don't regret a penny that I have spent! My prescription was -6.5 right eye and -6 left eye, which means you can't see a lot really. I was quite concerned that I would not be able to have the surgery as I have dry eyes (and have had to cease wearing contact lenses because of this). I felt that if I went to one of the other clinics, who don't charge for the initial appointment, they might be more keen to do the surgery on me to get their money back. Not sure about this, but I felt that it was better to pay to see Mr Allan the going rate for his time, and for him to decide on the basis of clinical results only. So, anyway, I went to see him, having had to wait almost three months for an appointment. The John Saunders Suite at Moorfields is a comfy waiting room (that's about it). I was amused to find that several people had self-referred, hoping to have it done on the NHS. No luck for them! The receptionists seemed rather used to giving people the bad news, that bilateral LASIK would cost best part of £3,000. Anyway, various tests were done on my eyes, a sort-of topographical map was produced to show the shape of my cornea. I had medium astigmatism and was glad to hear that this could also be treated. I then saw Mr Allan and discussed my dry eyes problem. He checked me for something called Marfans Syndrome (sticking out eyes and loose joints can be symptoms, which I have, but did not have the syndrome itself); I felt this showed the importance of seeing a proper ophthalmic surgeon - would a "consultant" salesperson have known about this? Perhaps. Anyway, Mr Allan said I would be fine to have the treatment. I had read up quite a lot on it and knew that potentially I might have to continue to use artificial tears for years to treat my dry eyes after LASIK, and we talked this through. In the end I decided that, having been fully informed of the risks (the paperwork they give you is about 8 pages of what can go wrong!!) that it was worth a go. How right I was! I could have been treated a fortnight from that date, but delayed it a further month due to diary crowding. I was told to take four days off work, the Tuesday of the surgery and up to the Friday afterwards when I would have my follow-up appointment. On Monday night as I sat down to my evening meal I had a call from the LASIK team to say the Laser had been serviced and had a "glitch" and so they would have to put me off until Wednesday. Was quite happy to think that they weren't operating with a dodgy laser, and I hadn't got all that psyched up for it at that point. Wednesday came, I wandered it for 9am and left at 10:30am with my shades on. Others have talked about what it was like; all I will say is it isn't a particularly nice experience (not something you'd do for fun), but is over pretty quickly and doesn't hurt. When I got up off the chair I couldn't see very well at all and was initially worried as I'd read lots of reports where people say they had fantastic vision immediately. Mr Allan reassured me that it'd slowly come to me. I was given masses of different drops to take away and told to try and rest with my eyes shut for six hours. I could open them to see as I got on the train, etc, but had to try and shut them as much as possible to aid healing. It's interesting walking through London, hailing a taxi, getting on trains etc with your eyes shut (my husband was with me to help). It makes you realise how difficult it must be for blind people, and that other people assume you can see, even if you're wearing colossal dark shades on a dull day in November. Made me realise that I had actually risked a very precious gift (sight) by having the treatment, but then I knew that anyway. I rested at home with Radio 4 and after the six hours was up, got up and went about as normal. It felt completely pain-free, no grittiness, just the sort of "I've had my contact lenses in too long" feeling. I had to take 3 different drops every hour for the first day but these were OK, didn't sting or anything. I went back on the Friday for the quick consultation with Mr Allan who was very happy. Had a very quick eye test which involved me reading whatever lines i could from the letters board. With my left eye I could read the bottom row, with my right the second from bottom row; with my glasses I had been able to read the first from bottom. That was two days after the surgery and it might improve further; in fact, my left eye has become less sharp now, but I can still see very well with both eyes. Can watch TV, read the video clock, use the computer etc with no ill effects. Driving at night is a bit scary due to star effects but I know these will quieten down, and I had them with contact lenses before when they were dry anyway. One thing I am having to do extra because of my dry eyes is to put special drops in at night. I sleep with my eyes open (weird) which means they were really dry the first two nights, despite wearing the bizarre eye-protecting goggles. So Mr Allan suggested I get some lacri-lube and put that in at night. It appears to be basically paraffin and a few other bits that go IN your eye, and means the world becomes blurry and when you wake up in the morning you've look like you've smeared vaseline all round your eyes. But it means my eyes are moist in the morning, although for the first hour or so life's a bit blurry. Am I glad I had it done? Absolutely! From -6 vision (i.e. you can't function without glasses) to near-perfect vision, it's like a miracle. I was evaluating how much I would have spent to get this result, if it were guaranteed. I reckon easily £10,000; I'm only 31 and I have years and years of benefit (hopefully). The £3,000 charge was excellent value for money and, for me, the chance to have it done at Moorfields very much helped my peace of mind.
Paula Flynn
I qualified for the Excimer Laser LASIK Trial at Moorfields (now finished) and have had both eyes corrected (28th Feb left, 5th July right) last year - 2001. Being part of the trial meant that I about 50% reduction on surgery costs (no consultation fee) but it meant attending check-ups at the hospital for one week, one month, three months, six months and one year. Apart from the inconvenience of travelling from Berkshire to central London, I found the amount of aftercare really assurring. It has also been possible to monitor the progress of my vision as my eyes heal. I was moderately short sighted at -4.0 and -4.5 with slight astigmatism in the left. My vision is better than 20/20 but I am now very slighty long sighted at about +0.50 in each but not enough to warrant glasses. I have only recently encountered eye strain when using VDUs after a three month career break. My eyes get tired very easily and quite dry. Also, beware of opticians...mine tried to convince me that I needed glasses of +1.25 and +1.00 which is totally untrue!! Moorfields have been absolutely fantastic and the level of service I have, and continue, to receive would restore anyone's faith in the NHS. Absolutely brilliant!!
Matt Boucher
Unfortunately there is no rating for unbelievable on this chart. I had LASIK eye surgery about 6 weeks ago with Dr. Stevens and the whole process is an absolute revelation. Took the morning off work and went to the consultation with my sister praying that I could qualify and once all the tests were done the good news came though. Sounds harsh, but the news that my sister didn't qualify for the surgery actually made me feel more confident in Dr.Stevens. Two weeks later, I had the surgery and it was completely smooth. I nearly ripped the arm off the nurse at certain stages but I couldn't believe that it took the best part of 10 minutes and then that evening I could sit in front of the Commonwealth games highlights. Quite simply I woke up the following morning and that was that. Best money i've ever spent. Full stop.
Steve Chatwin
I have just had my first appointment with Dr Gartry and I have now booked myself in to have the LASIK procedure in a couple of weeks. It has taken rather a long time to summon the up the courage to walk through the door for the intital consultation but Dr Garty was honest, and extremely reassuring. I now feel confident about the operation and I can't wait to throw away my lenses.
Annette
I had LASIK on 18th September with Miss Linda Ficker. The procedure was quick and painless, but I was still grateful to the second doctor (don't know his name) who let me hold his hand (very tightly) throughout! Miss Ficker talked me through the operation which was reassuring. The team of 3 including Miss Ficker were all very professional. Immediately after the operation my eyes were pretty bloodshot (which is normal) and my vision was quite hazy. There was some minor discomfort, but after about 3 hours my eyes felt and looked fine and I've had no problems at all. My prescription was -6 in my right eye and -7.5 in my left with some astigmatism, but now I don't even need glasses for driving. My left eye is not quite as good as my right, but only marginally. I'm absolutely delighted with the result, seems like a miracle after years of being short-sighted.
David Meadows
Had surgery on Monday 16th. I found the clamping and suction part to create the LASIK flap a bit uncomfortable but was glad the operation was so quick. Was very happy afterwards and was treated well. Like most of Mr Gartry's appointments the follow up on Tuesday was very quick but not really much to say though as everything was fine.Woke up on Tuesday morning with very clear vision - before I had -4.75 in both eyes. it is now Wednesday and I am back at work with no problems. Am looking forward to minor improvemnts but it is almost perfect already. Go for it. Spend that extra cash for reassurance. I'm 25 so may more years left to enjoy my new found vision.
Glenn Moody
I am doing a little research into laser corrective eye surgery, I called the number for a surgeon called Mr Allan at Moorfields. Well it is quite clear the NHS runs it, for example one part of the conversation went something like this "could you tell me a little about the sort of treatment for my eyes i.e. what type of Laser you use” answer “I can say that” “you cant say because you don’t know or you cant say” answer “I cant say that” “you cant say because you don’t know your are not allowed to say” answer “maybe one of the other assistants will tell you if you try” I have contacted a number of laser surgeries, Moorfields was the only one to refuse to give me information and interestingly the only one that charges for a consultation.
