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
Selma Benattia
If you re reading this in the hope of finding the right surgeon and best clinic well you ve landed in the right place. what can i say?My prescription was -6.5 in both eyes with high astigmatism, and i ve been shortsighted since i was 5 and im 31. Glasses were making my life hell since im allergic to contact lenses and couldn't wear them for more than an hour. i couldn't jog freely, wear sunglasses whenever i wanted, couldn't swim without having to spend 30 mins trying to fix contact lenses and then use goggles on top and that's if they stay as most of the time they either got stuck underneath my top eye lid or fell out, it was awful! also when i was kid i refused to wear glasses, so i couldn't see the board and failed most of my exams because i was so behind with my education im serious!I've been thinking about this for a while but never had the courage to take it seriously and go for it! let me tell you guys, this is the best thing ive ever done,and the best 4k ive ever spent too, as i now have the perfect vision i cant be any happier i wake up in the morning not looking for my glasses,.. it s freedom! so if you re looking for a great surgeon MR Stevens in the real deal and as for a clinic you cant beat Moorfields, you only have one pair of eyes, don't get taken by discounts and ads with Accuvision and Optical express they re rubbish so many people had problems.!So thank you soo much Mr Stevens for giving my sight back and improving my quality of life and for your patience despite my constant moaning.Also a big thank to Janet for putting up with all my questions and concerns.Selma
Lisa
I had Wavefront Intra-Lasik surgery performed on both eyes at the start of December and I can honestly say it’s one of the best decisions I have made. Although I had worn contact lenses for many years they were becoming less comfortable working in an office. With a very short sighted prescription (-8 and -7.5) and astigmatism I found that any glasses I chose always looked good at the outset but once my prescription lenses were fitted they never looked as nice. Thinner lenses helped the appearance a bit but no glasses ever seemed to fit properly.I chose Moorfields because of its established reputation and reviewed the profiles of its eye surgeons via the hospital website as well as carrying out extra on-line research. Of the many reviews I found, most seemed to lead to Mr Julian Stevens. I also found some newspaper and magazine articles describing Mr Stevens’ work and these together with his experience, the clear information his practice provided and his excellent record of results, made up my mind.The testing I had at my initial consultation was very thorough and I had plenty of opportunity to ask questions. Thanks to a cancellation I was in surgery 4 days later. On the day I was very nervous and Mr Stevens was just fantastic – so reassuring and completely in his element that my nerves pretty much disappeared. I was in the laser room for about 30 mins in total including pre and after checks. The procedure was completely painless and when I sat up I could see the time on the clock on the wall. Before I wouldn’t have been able to even see the wall! For the next 4 or 5 hours it was like looking through a misted up mirror with a hole in the centre. My distance vision was good (I could even read the ‘ticker tape’ on the BBC news from across the room!) but my near vision was poor. This improved hour on hour and when I woke up the next morning I could see my alarm clock and bottles in the shower for the first time in 34 years ……Since then my vision has continued to improve. It’s like having the best contact lens vision but all the time. I drove the day after surgery and other than having to change the brand of artificial tears I used (because I was allergic to the original), I have had no problems. At worst my eyes have felt like I had a bad case of hayfever but the post-surgery drops resolved that and even then it was only for the first few days.For anyone considering laser surgery I would say to be realistic with your expectations, do your research and pick the best surgeon you can afford who is experienced, highly skilled and has a proven track record of success. In my opinion you can do no better than Mr Julian Stevens who easily meets all of these criteria. Electing to have laser surgery is a big decision and you need to feel confident in your surgeon – I certainly had that confidence in Mr Stevens and his team. Thank you Mr Stevens for giving me my eyesight back – it’s the best Christmas present ever!Also, a big thank you to Janet, Mr Stevens’ PA, who was fantastic at answering questions, a mine of information and soooo good at dealing with nervous patients. Janet – you are a star!
Tom McDermott
I am yet another of the wealth of delighted customers for Mr Stevens. As an active army officer with fairly bad short sight (-3.75 in both eyes) I had debated the risks and benefits of eye surgery for a number of years, but had never had sufficient faith in the process. How wrong could I be. Mr Stevens was recommended to me by a number of sources, and following research on the internet it become clear he was by far the best option. The process from start to finish was seamless. His staff were courteous, helpful and more than happy to accommodate some fairly specific requirements (and pressing military timelines!). The waiting list was relatively short, and the care I received at Moorfields both pre and post surgery was second to none. On Mr Stevens advice (due to my active lifestyle) I had bilateral wavefront LASEK. The procedure was entirely painless and while the recovery period was uncomfortable, the support provided was more than ample to control this. So, what of the results. Within 10 days my eyesight was better than with lenses and now, 3 months down the line, it is quite simply incredible. My vision is now better than 20 / 20, and continues to improve. The freedom from glasses and lenses is noticeable daily ... from mowing the lawn, to swimming, to more ambitious pursuits such as skiing and surfing. I have experienced no after effects; no dry eye, no loss of night vision and no haloing. The process was not even overly expensive (!), and on my calculation it will only take 3 years of not paying for lenses for it to be recouped. A truly remarkable experience. My only regret is that I did not receive the recommendation for Mr Stevens years ago ... my thanks to him and his excellent team. Unreservedly recommended.
Sinem Sirri
I chose Moorfields because of its established reputation. I have colobomata in both my eyes as well as having astigmatism and poor eye sight and I was referred to Mr.Stevens by my father who is a GP. Initially I was rather worried about having laser refractive surgery due to my coloboma. However, during my consultation with Mr. Stevens I was assured that it would be fine and due to his helpful staff I felt very much at ease.Due to the technical issues of the eccentric optics of both eyes, Mr. Stevens had to make a custom calculation in order to counteract the high coma functions. After the surgery, I was passed onto other staff who guided me through the eye drops that I had to take and they were very precise and helpful towards the ‘homecare’ treatments.I had my surgery on the 14/07/2010, and 6 months later I have 6/6 part vision and my vision now exceeds my previous vision with spectacles. I was told that my eyesight can improve even more in the next few months. The aftercare was fantastic. Mr. Stevens is very professional and I am very grateful to him for customising my surgery to suit my eyes.I would like to thank Janet and Nunu for all their help as they were very supportive and insightful during the aftercare. Lastly I would like to thank Mr. Stephens, not only in his professionalism and for the perfect results but for his hospitality and making me feel as if I was his only patient. Thank you.
Sabin M Brooks
It is difficult to praise Julian Stevens and his team highly enough. I had always wanted laser surgery but was somewhat reticent and nervous about the procedure, particularly following detached retina surgery 6 years earlier. With my history and prescriptions of around -4 & -5 he advised me to undergo LASEK surgery. He and his team were patient, professional and kind...I truly felt like I had opted for the best surgeon at the best hospital in the world. The results bore this out - I am better than 20/20 in both eyes and delighted with the results. I had no hesitation recommending Julian to friends, family and work colleagues who are interested in a life without glasses :)
Sabin M Brooks
It is difficult to praise Julian Stevens and his team highly enough. I had always wanted laser surgery but was somewhat reticent and nervous about the procedure, particularly following detached retina surgery 6 years earlier. With my history and prescriptions of around -4 & -5 he advised me to undergo LASEK surgery. He and his team were patient, professional and kind...I truly felt like I had opted for the best surgeon at the best hospital in the world. The results bore this out - I am better than 20/20 in both eyes and delighted with the results. I had no hesitation recommending Julian to friends, family and work colleagues who are interested in a life without glasses :)
Peter C
Another satisified customer! Dr. Stevens and his team made all feel very routine and straightforward. My procedure and recovery were quick and as described to me beforehand. I'm now free of glasses and delighted with the results
Denise
I would highly recommend Julian Stevens if you are deciding on having laser eye surgery. His team make you feel so at ease and that you are without doubt in the safest hands. The whole procedure is over so quickly with no pain or no soreness, just a tad of discomfort.. My eyes are now better than 20/20 vision after having my 3 month check up. It amazing to be able to see after having -5.75 vision for ever!! I cannot praise Julian Stevens enough and felt totally comfortable and so pleased that i decided to go through him at Moorfields, there was really nothing for me to be worried about.
Mr Neil Dawson
I had Lasek eye surgery to both eyes in October 2010 following months of debating whether I should have it done. I had been wearing glasses and contact lenses for the last 15 years and was getting fed up with the inconveniences wearing them bring. I was a little apprehensive at having Laser surgery at first however, Julian put my mind at rest from the moment I met him at my first consultation - especially when he told me that the procedure would be pretty much straight forward in my case - He was 100% correct. I am very impressed (and relieved) with the results and wished I'd had it done sooner. Following surgery, I was expecting a couple of weeks of discomfort due to known after effects of having Lasek surgery. However, I must say that following surgery I only experienced a couple of days of discomfort although no need for any pain killers. This was probably more down to the standard of aftercare and amount of eye drops which had to be taken religiously for the 2 weeks following surgery.If anyone is thinking of having Laser Surgery, I would recommend that you go to Julian Stevens to have it done - I have recommended Julian to my sister who had her consultation earlier this week and has booked herself in to have her eyes done in March. Having surgery with Julian is not the cheapest but, you get what you pay for!!!!
Sadhna Naik
Amazing! I have been wearing glasses since the age of about 8 years old and I have just turned 40. I had quite a high prescription together with a very high astigmatism in one eye. I had laser eye surgery at the end of October 2010 and just had my 3 month consultation in January 2011 which confirmed that I had 20/20 vision...Fantastic. It took me over 12 months from reading the documentation received from Mr Julian Stevens to actually go ahead with the procedure. Best thing I ever did. I just wish I'd had the courage to undergo this surgery with Mr Stevens sooner. I most definitely recommend Mr Stevens and his team. They made me feel at ease with the whole procedure from beginning to end.
