How much does cataract surgery cost?

The cost of cataract surgery includes the consultation with the surgeon and the post-operative procedures, as well as the whole assessment for the patient for cataract surgery.

The typical cost is over £2,000 for a standard lens but can go up to over £3,000 with special lenses. What we try and do is by assessing the patient and trying to decide what they want from cataract surgery, which may simply be a visual improvement, or they may be striving to become independent from glasses as well, that can change the cost. And the reason for that is, much more assessment is required if patients are seeking to be free from glasses. We need to do extra tests to analyze the eye, to work out exactly what lens they might need.

What will increase the cost of cataract surgery?

In some cases, we might have to have special lenses custom made for patients, which of course adds to the cost.
Other patients are seeking a multi-focal solution, so they want to try and be as independent of glasses as possible, so they don’t wear glasses for distance vision, intermediate vision or reading vision. And all of these things can add to the costs.

And the reason for that increased cost is largely the technology involved in these lenses, particularly if they’re custom-made.

So, I think what I’m trying to say is that we’re trying to provide the right solution for the patient. And depending on what the patient is trying to achieve will affect the cost of the procedure.

About the Author

Mr Robert Morris

BSc(Hons), MB BS (Hons), MRCP, FRCS, FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon

Robert Morris trained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital part of the University of London. He graduated with Honours in his final examinations. Robert completed his post-graduate ophthalmic training at the renowned units in Oxford Eye Hospital and London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital. Within the NHS, he has had a high volume cataract surgery practice and performed over 12,000 cataract procedures. He has an interest in squint surgery and is a national expert in this field. In addition to his NHS work, Robert manages a successful independent private practice. He continualy updates his training to keep abreast with the latest technology and techniques in refractive surgery.