Private cataract surgery for patients in Canterbury costs roughly £2,900–£4,300 per eye in 2026: from £2,900 for a monofocal lens, rising to around £3,800–£4,300+ for premium EDOF, multifocal or toric lenses. Most self-pay patients in Canterbury and East Kent are seen within 1–4 weeks, against NHS cataract waits that commonly exceed 18 weeks across Kent. Almost all providers quote a single all-inclusive price covering consultation, biometry, surgery, the lens and aftercare.
How much is private cataract surgery in Canterbury?
Price depends mainly on the lens implant you choose. As a 2026 guide for Canterbury and East Kent:
Most providers serving Canterbury quote a single all-inclusive package price. Before you commit, always confirm in writing exactly what the quote covers — and compare it against our national cataract surgery cost guide. If you're weighing up lens types, our guide to trifocal vs EDOF lenses explains the trade-offs in plain English.
What an all-inclusive quote should cover
- Initial consultation and biometry — the scans that measure your eye and set the lens power (typically £200–£350 if charged separately).
- The surgery itself — surgeon, theatre and hospital fees.
- Your intraocular lens — with any premium-lens upgrade priced clearly.
- Post-operative drops and at least one follow-up review.
- Management of routine complications — ask specifically whether YAG laser treatment for posterior capsule opacification is included or charged later.
To understand the operation itself — what happens on the day, lens options in detail and week-by-week recovery — see our full guide to private cataract surgery and the honest answer to whether you'll still need glasses afterwards. Having the second eye done later? See second-eye cataract surgery cost.
Want a like-for-like quote? Tell us your prescription and preferences and we'll give you a clear all-inclusive price with no obligation.
Request a quoteNHS cataract waiting times in Canterbury and Kent
Cataract surgery on the NHS around Canterbury is provided mainly through East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, along with neighbouring providers. Referral-to-treatment times vary through the year, but across Kent NHS cataract waits commonly run 18 weeks or more from referral, and longer once second-eye surgery is counted. Our regularly updated guide to NHS cataract waiting lists in 2026 covers the national picture and your right to choose an alternative provider.
The NHS fits monofocal lenses only. If you want an EDOF, multifocal or toric lens — or simply want the same consultant at every visit and surgery within weeks — private treatment is the route.
How to be seen quickly from Canterbury
We're a consultant-led network with partner clinics across South England, including nearby Sussex — so we'll be straight with you: for many Canterbury patients a local East Kent provider is the practical choice, and the prices above are what you should expect to pay locally. That said, patients travel to us for premium lens expertise, named-consultant continuity, and all-inclusive pricing they can see up front.
The easiest first step either way is a free online video consultation — a consultant-team review of your symptoms and prescription from home, useful even if you go on to have surgery locally. We can also spread the cost with 0% finance over 12 months; see our finance options for details.