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
Mike Townsend
I am an office worker age 55, use PC daily and considering laser surgery for correction of approx -8.0 dioptres both eyes. Choosing consultant seems pot luck but David Gartry appears ok. Would appreciate any advice.
Andrew Smith
Just woke up for the first time with good eyesight. I had my procedure done yesterday by Alex Ionides. First though I had the best eye test I've ever had despite wearing specs/contacts for 40 years. My eyes were very weak (-8.5)with astigmatism and to add insult to injury I suffer from blepharitis (which is partly why I took the plunge). Mr Ionides is one of the nicest people I have ever met and before the procedure I emailed him with loads of questions all of which he amswered in a hugely confidence-inspiring way. After my eye test I was taken to the clinic for the procedure which is just astonishing. It is quick, painless and fascinating and Mr Ionides talks you through the whole minute on each eye. The worst I can say about the procedure is that it was such an anti-climax. Considering the inmpact on my life walking in and out within 10 minutes seemed inappropriate somehow. You kind of expect to need half a day post op recovery being pampered by a nurse and congratulated on your bravery. Anyway, went home, bit of stinging which was killed by a couple of additional drops of local anaesthetic and and hour later I could read the newspaper at arms length. I've had no probloems so far, my sight is already at least as good as it was before with correction and it seems to be improving all the time. I found this board a great help when preparing myself mentally but I couldn't find any posts from those who had been a patient of Mr Ionodes. Well, for anyone who is interested I cannot imagine how anyone could have done a better job. I'm off to see him again today for my follow-up. I'm not really qualified to advise but I would say that if you can afford it go to Moorfields. Being in a world centre of excellence for eye treatment is very reassuring. And finally, Mr Ionides back up crew were also fantastic and they deserve a mention.
Tom Schofield
Having been treated 2 weeks ago by Mr Ionides I have to say that the whole process, from a clinical perspective and a customer experience perspective, has been brilliant. Vision is perfect, no pain, no discomfort, no complications, everything ran smoothly. Thanks to Alex Ionides and Maureen in the admin team. I'd have said that if you want it done properly, get it done at Moorfields.
Emily Eimer
It's now 4 days since I had Wavefront LASIK surgery with Mr Gartry and I am delighted with the results. I am now able to see perfectly and my vision is better than it ever was with glasses / contact lenses (my prescription was -4.5 and -5). I found this site very useful in the run-up to my surgery so I thought i'd pass on my experiences... I was recommended Moorfields and Mr Gartry by 5 people that I work with and having done some research of my own it seemed like a good choice. And it was. The procedure was very quick and pain-free. Mr Gartry talked me through exactly what he was doing and even told me precisely how long the laser would take for each eye (28 seconds for one and 35 for the other). Immediately following the surgery I was able to see, but it was slightly fuzzy and my eyes were very watery. For the next few hours my eyes were very sensitive to the light and continued to water continuously (like i was chopping onions or had bad hayfever). Apparently some people get this reaction for a few hours. I was given some special drops for this, but I actually found that taking the homeopathic remedy Allium Cepa cleared it up within minutes (yes I was amazed but it really did!). Within 5 hours of having the surgery my eyes were fine, I was watching TV, using the computer and even went shopping and my vision just kept improving... When I awoke the next morning my vision was even better. I felt great and was out and about like normal. You have to take drops every 2 hours for the first week which is annoying (especially as they have to be kept refrigerated) but that's probably the worst thing about the whole procedure. Well that and the plastic goggles to sleep. I found these very uncomfortable so only used them for the first 2 nights. Mr Gartry and his team were fantastic and I'm still walking around in amazement at how good my sight is. At night I keep thinking I have to take out my contact lenses and then I remember.... It's not a cheap procedure, but this has changed my life! If anyone has any questions feel free to email me.
Hilary Woodard
I had wavefront surgery in October 2005 carried out by Mr Gartry and I have to say it was worth every penny. The surgery itself only took about 10 minutes and was quite a weird experience but not painful in any way. I could see really well even before I got back to the waiting room and my eyesight continued to improve over the next few days. I experienced some blurriness first thing in the mornings, a bit like when your contact lens is greasy, but it always sorted itself out by midday. I had been diagnosed with dry eyes even before surgery and I found that a few eye drops helped immensely. After three months I had no blurring at all or any other problems. The freedom from contact lenses is wonderful and I can't praise the expertise and helpfulness of all at Moorfields enough.
CHARLES HOWLETT
Moorfields was an obvious choice for me as it is one of the top eye hospitals in Europe and I felt it would be useful if there were any complications. My consultation was £90 and I went to Julian Stevens as I had heard good things from a colleague at work, also my father is good friends with a eye surgeon from there who confirmed that Julian is a top-drawer surgeon (he also said there were some real cowboys at the hospital, so beware!). Julian is very likeable (I suppose I would be too if I was pulling in 2k for 10 mins work!) and is clearly very competent. He also works as a consultant to one of the equipment companies so is presumably at the cutting edge of research in this area. My presciption was -1.75 on the short sight and -2.25 on the astigmatism and I had the operation 1 month ago. I had Wavefront Lasik and my vision is now excellent. I have had no difficulties other than slight hazing around light and somewhat dry eyes. My only concern is that I may regress a little, as I have heard of this happening to others, but there is no sign of this so far. Theoretically I am entitled to a free revision in 3 months but I doubt I would do this unless something drastic happened. There is only so much cornea to blast away and I would rather save it for 10 years down the line. Overall, I would thoroughly recommend the procedure and Mr Stevens, there is no point on penny-pinching when your eyes are involved. It is amazing to be able to see unaided.
Kishore Tank
My wife Priti is very keen to have a laser eye surgery. We are still doing our research and don't feel very confident, Please could you kindly comment on your experience and any affects after the surgery. I'm sure all cases are unique but it's nice to get some reassurance. Moorfield is our first choice! Thanks and look forward to your feedback.
Anzela Huq
My Mother has been treated a number of times by Alex Ionides at Moorfields, and we have been left in such awe at the way he has treated us all. He always talked us through the procedures, and the nurses and other staff were equally brilliant. The rather frightening experiences of being poked and prodded in the eyes - and watching these as a bystander - was made infinitely easier by everyone at Moorfields. We'd have to single Alex out for his exceptional skill, gentle manner and flexibility - he went abroad on vacation and said we could contact him whenever we wanted to! How many doctors do you know who would do that just to put their patients at ease? It is because of people like Alex that Moorfields has garnered the reputation it has. If there ever was an argument for introducing a 6th star, Moorfields Eye Hospital would be the benchmark.
Carmine Di Genova
Six days have elapsed since entering the laser treatment room at Moorfields, under the care of Mr Alex Ionides. Undeniably Moorfields' reputation precedes itself and from initial consultation to post operative care it is difficult to recommend enough Mr Ionides. Notwithstanding a prescription of -7.37 and -8.12 with high astigmatism in both eyes, the lasik treatment went very well. From the moment you enter the laser treatment room, the nursing staff are exceptional in the care and attention you receive. Mr Ionides guides you through the operation, step by step, taking great care to remove mental discomfort as physical discomfort is very minor. I could see extremely well in the right eye the very next day after surgery. The left eye, l have been told will need longer to settle with the sight sharpening in the next 2 months. However, the operation was very successful and l have already commended Mr Ionides and Moorfields to others.
Jane Jakeman
I had radial keratotomy on both eyes 15 years ago. I used to see quite well but now have a few problems with my vision. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had radial keratotomy and then gone on to have laser treatment to know what they experienced and what is the outcome and could they recommend a particular surgeon or procedure?
