With 20 years performing vision correction surgery under his belt, Mr Julian Stevens has been a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital since 1988.
The good news? Mr Stevens makes the list of the 10 best laser eye surgeons in the UK, based on thousands of patient reviews since 2002. Hundreds of former patients have left positive reviews, praising his surgical skill and caring manner.
Is there anything I should know? You’ve probably already guessed this, but Mr Stevens’s experience and prime London address also makes him one of the most expensive eye surgeons around. As with all Moorfields surgeons, his prices can be double that of competitors.
So is he the one? If you would like a second opinion, you can find the top-rated eye surgery clinic near you using our simple tool here, and book a free consultation with an eye expert to discuss your options.
1. About Mr Julian Stevens
Julian Stevens won a scholarship to study Medicine at Merton College, University of Oxford, where he was then awarded a Postmaster scholarship. He graduated top of his year in 1980 and was awarded the Oxford University Prize in Medicine for the top First Class Honours Degree.
He continued his clinical medical training at Clare College, University of Cambridge and at the Cambridge Medical School. Higher training was undertaken at the Oxford Eye Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.
2. Training
After completing his general ophthalmic surgical training, Mr Stevens undertook two years of sub-specialist training, with Fellowships in Lens, Corneal and then Refractive Surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Mr Stevens was appointed as Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital in January 1996. His main interest is laser refractive surgery.
He has been involved in the development and application of wavefront refractive surgery and has personally performed over 10,000 wavefront procedures. Mr Stevens was the first Director of Refractive Surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
3. Qualifications
Mr Stevens joins Professor David Gartry in being one of the UK’s most qualified eye surgeons. He is an examiner for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and holds the Certification of the Royal College in Laser Refractive Surgery. He is an advisor to the British Society for Refractive Surgery and is on the Board of the International Society of Refractive Surgery.
He has won prizes from both the American and the European Societies of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. He is the recipient of the 2007 American Academy of Ophthalmology (ISRS/ AAO) Lans award for innovation in refractive surgery.
Internationally recognised as an expert opinion leader, Mr Stevens has published peer reviewed papers on refractive surgery and is regularly invited to deliver keynote lectures at national and international ophthalmic meetings.
Mr Stevens trains Ophthalmic Surgeons in advanced refractive and cataract surgery. He founded the Moorfields basic and advanced IntraLASIK courses and the Moorfields wavefront training course for Ophthalmic Surgeons.
4. Patient Reviews
“My husband and I had lens replacement by Mr Stevens last year, and are both thrilled with our results. After years of wearing glasses, we feel liberated from them from the moment we wake up. I would personally recommend Mr Stevens, and would not hesitate to refer any of my family to see him when the necessity arises for them to seek eye treatment.” – June Clayton
“I had LASIK in 2005, performed by Mr Julian Stevens at Moorfields Eye Hospital. I have absolutely fantastic vision and it stills shocks me just how well I can see. The procedure was quick and painless, and Mr Stevens and his team made me feel at ease throughout the whole process.” – Rosie
“Mr Stevens was fairly brief in his pre-op time given for discussion but you could say, efficient and utterly knowledgeable. His junior doctors were not so well informed and one lady even fobbed me off with false information. His receptionists (especially Janet – a star) were much better informed. Overall I received all the answers I needed (I was annoyingly inquisitive) but had the sense that as a customer of an expensive and commercial procedure, time for chat was necessarily not huge. Delighted with the results.” – Andrew James
5. Prices
As you would expect at Moorfields Private, Mr Stevens does not come cheap.
Laser refractive surgery costs twice the quotes at other leading UK clinics, although the prices for lens replacement surgery are only around a third more, given the higher base cost of the lens itself.
- Consultation: £150 – £600
- Wavefront laser refractive surgery: £4,370 – £4,970
- Refractive lens surgery: £3,825 – £4,430 (per eye)
- Cataract surgery cost: £3,825 – £4,430 (per eye)
Unlike at many other clinics, initial consultations with Mr Stevens are not free – you’ll be paying between £150 and £600, depending on the surgery you’re interested in. If you would prefer to have the option to pay monthly for your surgery, it’s worth looking around, as Moorfields will need the full payment up front. At Optical Express or Ultralase, for instance, you could pay around £50 a month for two years.
6. The Verdict
So, is Mr Stevens the right eye surgeon for you? Of course, that all depends on where you live, and what you’re looking for. His prices are some of the highest in the industry, but he can also justify them, as one of the UK’s most qualified surgeons.
You’d be in trusted hands with Mr Stevens. That said, with eye surgery considered a safe elective surgery by the General Medical Council (GMC), no one should feel obliged to spend any more than they are comfortable with. You can always attend free consultations with a range of surgeons to see where you feel most comfortable.
☝ To find a top-rated laser eye surgery clinic near you, just click here to use our simple quote tool, and receive a tailored match and quote from a clinic you can trust.
Mr Julian Stevens Reviews
Molly Masters
Having recently had cataract surgery and laser surgery on both eyes carried out by Julian Stevens I highly recommend Julian and his team. The procedure has vastly improved my eyesight. What is impressive is the care and attention to detail at every stage by Julian and all his team. Absolutely first class
Rosie Ivison
Mr Stevens is charming, calm, and completely professional.
The operation was swift and painless. I have had no problems at all subsequently.
I am more than happy with the results.
Previously I had been needed stronger and stronger glasses to read. Now I don’t need any except very weak ones in dim light.
Everything is much brighter and clearer now, especially colours.
I am delighted with the results. Worth every penny.
Thank you Mr Stevens!
Michelle Lickfold
After being informed by another surgeon 12 years ago that complete sight loss was unavoidable within 2-10 years, I was advised to consult Julian Stevens. To say this man has changed my life is not an exaggeration! From being literally unable to see further than the end of ny nose, to passing my driving test. Over the past 11 years, the care I have experienced from Julian and his team has been outstanding. Julian really cares about his patients and strives to make their sight the best it can possibly be. I trust him completely, and have recommended him on several occasions, always resulting in delighted patients. I cannot praise Julian and his amazing team highly enough. Thank you.
Hazel Dagwell
At the age of 59, considered severely myopic (-10) and developing cataracts I decided it was time to do something about it. Initially I was very apprehensive about the whole procedure. I was recommended Mr Stevens at Moorfields Hospital. I contacted his admin team and very quickly set up a consultation with him. He was so very reassuring and confident that he could easily remove my cataracts and replace them with multi focal corrective lenses and even better he could do both eyes at the same time.
I was extremely nervous on the day of the surgery, particularly if something should go wrong, but Mr Stevens and his team were quick to put my mind at rest. The support throughout the day was excellent. I was well looked after and very confident I was in very capable hands. The actual procedure was in two parts, the Femtosecond laser and then the surgery which in total took no more than about 30 minutes. Both procedures were painless and quick and not at all as scary as I had imagined they might be. I could see clearly almost immediately once the lenses had been inserted. I was then taken back to the ward to have a meal and a cup of tea and recover before being discharged by Mr Stevens.
I would not hesitate to recommend Mr Stevens and his team. Communication from him and his admin team in the lead up to the procedure and with the follow ups has always been very clear, supportive and helpful. The cost of the procedure and the multi focal lenses have been worth every penny. Without the aid of glasses I can easily read a book, read my texts, work on my computer, see long distance and drive. I only need glasses for very fine print, which is truly amazing. I am literally seeing the world through new eyes!
Tracy Entwistle
I can’t recommend Julian and his team highly enough. I recently had replacement lens surgery due to cataracts and am so pleased with the results. I was a more complicated case due to previous laser eye surgery but Julian was able to allow for this and get me a fantastic result and I am now glasses free!.
Nicholas Riley
Very simple to be a patient. Julian and team looked after me very well. Unbelievably easy and pain free.
Jill Fenton
I have recently had cataract removal and bilateral lens implantation by Mr Stevens and am more than delighted at the outcome that already has made a significant difference to my life. Last week, for the first time in my career as a university lecturer, I was able to conduct a field study without any of the hectic confusion of glasses on and glasses off; I was glasses free for the whole afternoon. Everything I see now is so vivid, colour in particular, light shades of blue remind me of the colours of houses on the Cyclades islands of Greece! My experience of the improvement to my eyesight goes far beyond my expectations.
As for the procedure, from beginning to end it was painless, each stage conducted by a highly professional and attentive team; there is even an App to remind me when to use the post-op drops and clear instructions post-operatively in how to administer these.
I would highly recommend Mr Stevens for this procedure, it is truly the best money I have ever spent.
Michael Clayton
This is a follow up to my review in June 2012. It is true the YAG correction elliminated the slight opacity, but of course means the lens could never be explanted. It is true the right Lasek restored the missing distance vision which no glasses could correct so without that success there would be nothing favorable to report. However, the suicidal dry eyes kicked in after the Lasek with a TBUT time of 1 second on the right eye and 4 seconds on the left due to the cutting of the corneal nerves which never, ever really recover. With the help of dry eye goggles on a daily basis, eye drops every 20 mins best case, the TBUT times have improved in 6 years, but the dry eyes is a serious, life changing problem. All of this is also affected by the dysphotopia caused by the inherent disadvantages of the multifocal implant as the human vision system has evolved to process monofocal images over millions of years and neural adaptation is a myth. The way multifocal implants are pushed is beyond belief and as a patient I trusted the advice I was given. The night vision comas, haloes never really go away as the inherent contrast reduction never goes away as it cannot. If any RLE is implanted, by definition it should be a monofocal implant and nothing else. The industry should come clean on this issue. I live with multiple glasses for different tasks, a huge dry eyes bill and most importantly, depend on custom 17mm scleral lenses for any computer work. The patients posting positive reviews are simply deluding themselves.
Chris
Couldn’t speak more highly of Mr Stevens and the service I received throughout the process. He was recommended to me by a number of people so I knew I was in good hands. He explained what surgery was best for me and his team were extremely helpful whenever I had questions or needed advice after surgery. Not having to worry about my contacts or glasses anymore has been amazing and I am beyond happy with my new vision! Thank you so much!
Leila
WARNING to anyone who has anxiety/depression at any point in their medical history and who is considering allowing Julian Stevens to carry out laser vision correction on their eyes. – If you get permanent dry eye syndrome, he will say this is in large part due to your depression. This was one of his responses to me and I’m guessing it is his standard go-to response to complaints when patients who have anxiety/depression anywhere in their history end up with dry eye disease. He says the depression exacerbates your perception of the dryness and that this is based on studies. He also says that the “tears of a depressed person” can also cause dry eye disease after surgery and that this also is based on studies (I have all the correspondence). Only problem is he does not mention this in the initial consultation (at least he did not in 2014). On the contrary, in my initial consultation he said the fact that I was on a particular anti-depressant medication was a good reason to proceed with surgery, even though I had dry eyes.
BEWARE also – Having dry eyes is a contraindication to elective laser eye surgery, according to many ophthalmologists, but Julian Stevens does not believe so, according to his response to me in 2017. I had Lasek vision correction surgery in 2014 and now have induced astigmatism, and constant dry eye, irritation and photophobia.
