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)
- 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
Andrew Skillen
Excellent service throughout with very pleasing results. Absolutely no difficulties with initial examination, surgical procedure and aftercare. I cannot speak highly enough of the treatment and service I received. A life changing experience.
Georgie
I had always dismissed laser eye surgery because although I was very blind (- 7.50 in both eyes) I could quite happily wear glasses and contact lenses so why risk having surgery on your eyes? However, I do lots of sports and kept meeting more and more people who had had it done. They all said it was the best thing they had ever done. As I had had a stable prescription for many years, I went along to see if I was eligible and then made the decision to get the surgery done as soon as possible. Dr Tuft was very patient at answering all my questions and concerns. The procedure was carefully explained to me beforehand and Dr Tuft talked me through it. I am not going to lie, the procedure wasnt particularly pleasant - there isnt pain but the pressure is quite uncomfortable. However, it only lasts half an hour. My eyes were a bit bruised afterwards and I had to take a couple of days of work for my eyes to adjust but the results are amazing. I wake up every morning with a smile on my face as I can do eveything without contact lenses or glasses - drive, work, read, swim etc. Overall Moorfields' is not the cheapest place to have laser surgery but when you are lying in the chair having the procedure you will be more than happy that you have gone there! It is truly life changing.
Raja Adil
After careful research decided the time had come to investigate laser eye surgery. Met Julian Stevens for the initial consultation who was plain talking and inspired confidence. Had Intralasik surgery which went well. The results are truly life changing and words cant describe just how much better you feel. With the surgery comes an inheritant responsibility to ensure you put your eye drops in on time which will assists the healing. So far so good. Honestly, dont deliberate too much, go for it.
Raja
Went for a consultation with Julian Stevens in late 2012. Mr Stevens was plain talking and inspired confidence. Had Intralasik surgery in December 2012 and so far so good. Words cant decribe how life changing it is. Not needing to worry about glasses or contacts. What a relief. My vision is 20/20 and just from a morale point of view its great. I should say that just like any surgery there comes with it implicit responsibility namely that you need to make sure you put in the eye drops on time which is vital to assist the healing. I am happy with the results so far. My advice is not to deliberate too long, make up your mind and go for it!
Joana Rzepa
I thoroughly recommend ICL with Mr Allan. I now have better than 20/20 vision and ICL was incredible - no pain and vision recovered within a few days. Vision is now amazing, I have never seen better, even with glasses. I had consultations with 3 surgeons at Moorfields and I choose Mr Allan because of his professional manner, his experience in performing this type surgery and his very thorough answers to my questions prior to deciding to go ahead (everyone was done in writing, including detailed explanation of who pays if the result is not as expected). Post op care was excellent. The second eye was a bit more uncomfortable than the first so I contacted the hospital one evening and Mr Allen called back within 10 minutes. My partner had laser surgery with another very experienced surgeon at Moorfields and 1 month post surgery his sight started deteriorating and he had a suspected infection. In the months that followed, I felt the post-op care was poor, mainly because the surgeon/hospital were not easily contactable. I cannot stress how distressing it is if a problem occurs and you are not able to contact the surgeon or get any advice from the hospital other than 'go to A&E'. Different surgeons have different after care (even though they work for same hospital) and Mr Allans aftercare was very good. If you go ahead with eye surgery, I suggest you ask about aftercare procedures. The chances of something going wrong are very rare, but knowing you are in the best possible hands if it happens is invaluable, which for me is why I choose Moorfields over a high street surgeon. Just one small thing to note, Moorfields is a very busy hospital and it can be a little bit disorganised at times because the admin/nursing staff are so busy. This is based on my overall impression of mine and my partners surgeries. However, my overall experience with Mr Allan was excellent and I can thoroughly recommend.
Clare Lynch
Amazing! Love my eyes and Mr Allen was fantastic!
Amar Singh
I was thoroughly impressed by the whole process the team at Moorfields in particular Mr Allan who explained the procedures and carried out the surgery with great care and attention, he was always available to answer any questions. The cleanliness of the hospital also impressed me aswell as the friendliness of the staff. I would thoroughly recommend Mr Alan to others and have done to members of my own family.
Varun
I began with a consultation with Mr Angunawela, which was thorough, reassuring and honest. He explained the procedure in detail, and was anything but pushy, outlining without prejudice the pros and cons of laser eye surgery. Convinced that I wanted to proceed, the booking process was straightforward, and the procedure itself entirely straightforward. Mr Angunawela inspired confidence, as indeed did the support staff around him, and the operation itself was quick, almost entirely painless, and two weeks after the event, entirely successful. I can see perfectly, have had little to no irritation, and simply have to put in my eye-drops frequently (for which clear instructions are given). All in all, I couldn't be happier and though Moorfields is without doubt at the expensive end, you are certain to receive the highest level of care, the latest technology and top quality surgeons. You only have two eyes...
Piran Thillainathan
Great treatment - hospital and surgeon were very clear and helpful and the pre-screening was very reassuring. There was more to the surgery from a surgeon's perspective than I initially expected (thinking everything was done with a machine) so I was happy I had gone with a clinic and surgeon of Mr. Maurino's standing. After-care excellent. Highly recommended.
Giancarlo Castelli
I was doubtful about the laser operation as few years ago another Doctor (with no corneal expertise) advised against Lasik. Then I saw Vincenzo Maurino at Moorfields who is an expert of laser refractive surgery and also cornea. I felt safe from being treated by a Senior Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon in a world renewed eye hospital with expertise beyond laser surgery alone. He explained very clearly the pros and cons of the operation and as such my expectations were fully met. One of the immediate positive effect of my now great vision is that my sport life has grown and I now practice regularly swimming, cycling and football without having to bother with glasses or lenses. I wish I did such operation years before! I fully recommend Mr Maurino at Moorfields without any doubt!
