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
Rob Giovanelli
Hi, I'm considering LASIK with Mr Tuft. Has anyone had this procedure done with him and if so could you advise me how things went. Many Thanks!!!!!
John Clark
Just been for an initial consultation with Dr Garty at Moorfields. I'm very impressed so far and keen to go ahead. However, I was told I would need LASEK (as opposed to the more usual LASIK)surgery. My understanding is that the recovery period from this is much longer than with LASIK and just wondered if anyone had had recent experience with this ?
KERRY
I am having lasik performed on Wednesday 31st October, I can't wait as I have struggled with contact lenses being uncomfortable and dry for many years and i find glasses annoying to wear, I have wanted to have laser eye correction for many years but have always been too scared, but i am taking the plunge! my initial consultation with Mr Stevens and the team at Moorfields was very reassuring and he took all the time I needed to answer my questions of which I had many! I will keep you posted as to how the surgery was!
Clare
I have a question. I have just had the initial consultation for laser treatment. Owing to thin and steep corneas and being over 50, the consultant has recommended Refractive Lens Exchange. Has anyone had the same experience?
Nazleen Karim
My treatment was truly life-changing. As the weeks and months go on my sight is improving all the time. I only suffered from a 'haze-effect' or 'light-scatter' at night in the first few weeks after my treatment (which is normal) and now I have no problems. I don't even suffer from dry eyes, which as a contacts wearer before, was always an issue. Nothing can prepare you for that wonderful moment when you wake up the day after your surgery and you can see for the first time, without scrambling for your glasses. If you are considering surgery then I'm sure you've done a lot of research and I can wholeheartedly encourage you to go ahead with it. I was so nervous on the day of my surgery but Mr Allan put me at ease and calmly talked me through the whole procedure. He was fantastic. Now, three months on I have 20:20 vision and I'm still banging on to anyone who'll listen about how amazing it was to have laser eye surgery. If you follow the rules, and are religious about administering your drops after surgery you'll have a speedy recovery. I can't thanks Mr Allan enough.
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.
Bharat Mulani
hi my son who is 5 yrs old his has no left eye(eye not developed) right eye is ok vision is ok i am interested in installing artifical eye in left eye pl advise me. bharat.
SL
I wish I had found this site before my laser surgery. I had my Lasik last summer to treat myopia & astigmatism. I chose Moorfields because of its reputation and because I felt that cost should take a backseat where my eyes were concerned. My surgeon was Miss Ficker. The procedure was quick and straightforward enough. However, the aftercare has been sadly wanting. It took some weeks for my sight to really start to improve. My vision was blurry. My ability to read print and see the textures of things was dramatically affected and I was completely unprepared for this. My vision in artificial light was poor. Information about what to expect during the weeks following surgery was poor. Although there was every opportunity to ask questions prior to surgery, this was not the case afterwards and when you are experiencing difficulty you really need to know what is normal etc. The junior doctor who I saw (very briefly and after having waited well over an hour - several staff had to 'track him down') at my follow-up appointment was unable to answer any of my questions - he just didn't seem to know whether I could expect any improvement in my sight and reflected that I may need to wear glasses for longsightedness. He exited the meeting with the words that he was only there 'as a favour' to Miss Ficker. I left the appointment feeling unsettled and anxious. Over the next few days I tried to contact the 'help number' - it later transpired that this was the wrong number. It was also very difficult getting through to the John Saunders suite. Eventually I did have a follow up a week later with a different surgeon as mine was away. I was advised that although my result was 'unusual' hopefully my eyes would 'settle'. Since that time attempts to arrange a 3 month follow-up as advised proved impossible. Both my husband & I tried. Calls weren't returned and promises to 'get back to me' were never kept. The whole admin side was shambolic! I did eventually receive a written apology for this. Although my eyes have now 'settled' my customer experience has been poor because of the after care aspect. Hence the customer service rating. I can only contrast it with my husband's experience with an alternative organisation earlier this year.
s.ajaylokeshwar
master s.ajaylogeshwar an 18 years old boy frum india tamilnadu state compliants of night blindness and defective visions in both eyes of 4 years duration on examination his best- corrected visualacuity was 6/24 in the right eye and 6/60 in the left eye. anterior segment examination showed post G3R keratoconus in both eyes.fundus examination revealed features of coe rod dystrophy in both eyes diagnosis was confirmed by electroretinogram.
Bert
Had bilateral lasik wavefront surgery this morning under Dr Gartry. Early days, but so far so good. I hadn’t really given laser surgery any serious consideration until earlier this year when I realised that the NHS had been carrying out the procedures for some time, albeit privately. I contacted Moorfields via their website for more info, but had to follow-up with phone calls before I received a pack. At the same time I carried out research online, including trawling a huge number of posts on this site, which I found very useful. I had a consultation with Dr Gartry in October and I’d agree with some of the earlier posts here – i.e. he’s not particularly forthcoming, but responded in a straightforward and professional manner to all my questions (which I had prepared beforehand). There was no pressure to go ahead with surgery but I was left with the impression that given my moderate prescription (-2.50 & – 2.25 no astig) and ave pupil/cornea measurements, I was a pretty routine case for such an experienced surgeon. Despite some lingering doubts/concerns I decided to go ahead with the surgery. I’m sure success rates will improve and complications diminish with every passing year, but now in my mid-thirties I concluded that I should take the opportunity to enjoy the potential benefits now rather than waiting another 5-10 years for more data/better technology. And from my research/consultation I was satisfied that the risks – although very real – were pretty clearly set out and small enough to make it worthwhile. Op was postponed from Sat, which was a annoying when you have childcare etc arranged, but it did give me 2 more days to prepare and I actually felt quite relaxed going in this morning. Procedure as described by many – not painful but not particularly pleasant. Dr Gartry was very reassuring throughout talking calmly through the procedure which is incredibly quick (20 mins). Second eye was a little more uncomfortable – partly because you know what’s coming and partly, as Dr Gartry explained, because your body has used up a lot of its adrenalin dealing with the first attack. I could see reasonably well straight away even though everything was a bit misty. During the 40 min car journey home my eyes streamed constantly and were stinging, but this settled once I got home, and improved again after the first set of drops. A few hours on, the mild pain/stinging I had earlier has abated and my sight is already pretty good, if a little hazy. So far the customer experience has not exactly been 5* at Moorfields, but I had every confidence in the surgeon and his team, which for me was the most important thing. Am due to for my follow-up tomorrow afternoon and will post back.
