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
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.
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I had my 3 month checkup with Mr. Stevens. First the optometrist checked my eyes using the wavefront scanner. She printed out the results; both the left and right eye had large blue circles in the centre. Before the operation, the result print out had a lot of red and yellow. She then did the standard eye test with the eye chart. The third line from the bottom is 20/20 vision. I covered my left eye and read the chart with ease, right down to the last line. I was told I only got one letter wrong. I then covered my right eye and read the eye chart right down to the second line from the bottom. It was a little harder to read than with the right eye. I mentioned to her that I was occasionally getting glare at night and that it’s more noticeable when I get tired. Mr. Stevens then came in and checked my eyes and the notes his colleagues made. He said that my tear production is at half capacity, but this should improve over the next 9-12 months. I was ecstatic with the news that my eyes are better then 2020. It’s more than I could have asked for. Mr. Stevens said that I wouldn't need any further consultation, even though I could call with any queries if I had problems. I would highly recommend Mr Stevens to anyone.
John Waterhouse
I had Epilasik surgery performed by Vincenzo Maurino on 18/4/06 and found the experience wonderful. In the lead up to the procedure I went looking on the internet for reviews of Mr. Maurino and couldn't find any. This slightly unsettled me but, having gone ahead, I am delighted with the outcome and wanted to post this comment so no-one else feels any concern about using this excellent surgeon. It is now three months on and I have pretty much perfect vision, having started at -3.25 left eye and -2.5 right eye. Now my left eye has no prescription at all and my right is -0.5. It is just brilliant not to need glasses or contacts anymore, and the whole procedure with Moorfields was excellent. My only advice to anyone having this surgery is to have someone to look after you for a day afterwards - I couldn't really open my eyes so putting in the drops was a bit difficult! I would give full marks to Mr. Maurino. He is calm, assured, professional and easy to deal with. His team were also excellent. In all, a highly recommended experience.
Jo Battrum
I had LASIK with by Alex Ionides on 13 September after years of agonising over whether or not to have surgery. I had a pretty bad prescription - -7.5 and -6.25, and had worn glasses and contact lenses since early childhood. I am pleased to able to be able to say that the results are fantastic and I now have great sight. I had to be "redone" on the left eye three weeks ago but now both eyes are stable and my vision is better than 20/20! My only regret? That I didn't do this years ago. The whole process is over really quickly - the best description I have come up with to describe it is that it is as though your eye is the ice and someone is skating across it! Afterwards it is a bit like a really bad contact lens day but waking the next morning with "proper" eyesight for the first time is an unforgettable experience. Alex Ionides is a fantastic doctor - I felt in really safe hands as he guided me through every step of the way. For anyone thinking of taking the plunge my advice is to go to Moorfields if you possibly can. You only have one pair of eyes and you deserve the best treatment.
Danny Colvill
I had Wavefront Lasik surgery done by Mr Gartry on 22nd July 2006 and given my experience with another clinic & my relatively high prescription I thought I would share my views here. Around 4 years ago I went to Laservision in Harley Street only to be turned away on the grounds of large pupils and a fluctuating prescription, they suggested I wait for the Wavefront technique to become fully established, so thats what I did. I was all booked in with Laservision again this time around only to be told a couple of weeks before that they had issues with their Medical License which worried me considerably so I switched to Moorfields and in particular Mr Gartry who came highly recommended (by frinds and also by my optician) and who had also performed my mothers cataracts operation some years ago. The consulation was straightforward (dilating the pupils is a little uncomfortable but nothing to worry about) and so I booked in to have the operation on the Saturday morning. It really is just like a trip to the dentist, its a bit surreal but not painful, although I did feel the flap being created each time. Mr Gartry is very reassuring and explains how long each procedure will last. I was worried about not being able to stare at the red light properly but this was not a problem. The suction on each eye feels a little weird but again is not painful, to be fair the whole thing was a bit of an anti-climax and over with very quickly. You can see properly straightaway although things are a little blurred. My eyes were really stinging on the way home and very bloodshot but as soon as the first set of drops went in they cleared up and felt miles better. The 3 sets of drops every 2 hours is a bit of a nuisance and the goggles to sleep in are quite uncomfortable but these are not exactly major problems. I was -7.25 in one eye and -8.25 in the other with astigmatism in both plus very large pupils. The day after the op I was seen by Mr Gartry (on a Sunday!) and he told me I has 20/20 vision in one eye and a little less in the other although things should keep improving over the next few days. My right eye feels better then it ever was and my left not quite where it needs to be yet but I'm hoping it comes in, although even if there was no improvement from here I can see perfectly well, even if a shade of crispness is lacking. It is only 3 days since the op!!! I would recommend Moorfields and Mr Gartry to anyone. It is the most expensive place out there.....for a reason!
katy Lytton
Hi.... I had laser eye surgery in 2000 at Moorfields the operation was performed by Mr Julian Stevens my eyesight was extremely poor -9 and I had worn glasses since a child. The results were amazing I could read the time on the clock in his surgery within minutes of the operation being performed ..I cannot thank Mr Stevens enough he was a lovely surgeon.. 6 years later my sight is still very good ....xx
Molly
I have just returned home after having wavefront lasik on both eyes with Dr Julian Stevens at Moorfields. I am 34yr old girl with a 3yr old daughter and I was sooooo nervous. I chose Moorfields as I know that all other eye clinics refer to Moorfields should anything go wrong, so I knew that I was at the best place. Several friends had recommend Julian Stevens as the best, as well as a few recommendations of Mr Gartry. Firstly the staff were all fantastic and put me at ease. I had my initial consultation 2 weeks ago, a couple of hours of sight tests and they diluted my pupils (none of this hurts at all, its like looking at a light close vision). Anyway on the day I was soooo scared. I had read on teh net about things going wrong etc, and friends had told me in absolute detail what happens. Anyway i had my scans again - Julian Stevens is very very thorough, more so than any other eye surgeon. He has his own personal staff working for him, and they are a fantastic team, all of them. I asked for valium which he gave me 10mg to help calm my nerves (which were terrible). Before the procedure I asked him for extra anesthic drops, you name it, I was a baby, I even held a teddy they gave me!!! Well all the worry was for absolutely nothing. They taped my eyelashes back, clamp went on first eye (didn't feel a thing), drops were put in, then the cornea was cut, didn't feel a single thing. Things went blurry and all i could see was the laser, it made a slight tapping sensasion on my eye, nothing more than the lightest tap, and you could smell burning from the carbon (the laser doesn't heat, so its not burning flesh as I had read somewhere, more scare stories!). Then the flap was replaced, didn't feel a thing, and that was it. Then it was the same for the 2nd eye. I would rather have my eyes done than a small filling, it really was that painless. He tested my sight and although everything was slightly blurry I could already see the clock! After having lots of drops I stayed in the Thistle hotel. When I got to the hotel, my eyes started to sting, like someone had onions next to me and was peeling them. I couldn't open my eyes well, but as soon as I put my drops in, they were fine. Things were blurry, and I didn't sleep at all. Not because of the goggles they give you (they are really light), but because I was so excited that every hour or so things were becoming clearer. This morning I had my outpatients. I could read the 3rd line from teh bottom, same as if I were wearing my glasses. Its utterly amazing. Even more amazing was Julian STevens said it would get better over the next 2 days, better than wearing glasses or contacts. He put 2 gel sticks in my eyes (tiny little sticks) to help with dry eyes/tear ducts, and told me to enjoy my new sight. I have a follow up appointment in 3 months. I cannot believe that this painless procedure has given me my sight since the age of 7. I wish I had it done earlier. HE is the BEST surgeon. Has a fantastic nature and has a lovely team working with him. He is expensive, but worth every penny adn more. Its nice to know I can ring him or his staff any time, he provides you with all their numbers and even his mobile (which I won't be ringing - hopefully not!) I told him I was going to write up about him, as I am beyond happy with the whole thing. I wish I hadn't had worried so much. He has done all the hard work, now its up to me, to follow my after care so that I can continue with this fantastic procedure. Thank you. Anyone nervous or scared, go for it. I met several people in teh waiting room, we were all very happy.
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.
Stuart
I have just had my 9 month follow up with Vincenzo Maurino at Moorfields. My prescription has gone from -3.50 L and -5.50 R with astigmatism to perfect vision in the L and +0.25 R. I have worn glasses since I was 10 years old and now at 42 am able for the first time to swim, walk in the rain, jump out of bed without glasses and wear cool sunglasses for the first time in 32 years. I had EpiLasik Wavefront which means a longer recovery period, you don't get the instant clear vision of the other procedures but it involves a shallower impression on the epithelial cells of the eye and leaves no inherent weakness in the structure of the cornea etc. Not even an eye surgeon could tell I have had an operation if they checked my eyes now. So if you are active and have a week or so to allow your eyes to recover this is the operation to have. The operation involved no pain at all and the only sensation i felt was the equivalent of a brief pressure like someone gently brushing a fingertip across my hand. I have had haircuts that hurt more and took longer !!!! Vincenzo is a expert in his field and respected in both the UK and Italy. He is happy to see you and any time if you have any questions, is one of the younger of the Surgeons and has given me superb aftercare. I have been waiting over 15 years for the procedures to evolve and improve and paying to attend Moorfields where the surgeons are all experts in real eye problems and not just cosmetic procedures is well worth the expense as we only have the one set of eyes. Don't risk it on the high street. I would recommend Vincenzo and his optician as the most thorough, professional and pleasant medical professionals I have met anywhere in the world.
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.
