Private cataract surgery cost

The average cost of private cataract surgery in the UK is around £2,900 to £4,300 per eye, depending on the lens you choose. At Eye Surgery Clinic, surgery starts from £2,900 per eye with a standard monofocal lens, £3,796 for an extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) lens and £4,300 for a premium multifocal lens. Every package is all-inclusive — your surgeon, the theatre, your lens and all aftercare — and 0% finance is available, with most private medical insurers accepted.

Cataract surgery prices

The cost depends on the type of intraocular lens (IOL) you choose. The lens is selected with your surgeon at your consultation based on your eyes and how you want to see afterwards.

Other related fees: an initial consultation is £240 (£340 with OCT imaging) and is credited against your surgery if you proceed. A YAG laser capsulotomy — occasionally needed months or years later if the lens capsule clouds — is £550 for one eye or £700 for both. Compare lens technology in detail on our implant lens pricing page.

What’s included in the price

Our cataract surgery prices are fixed and all-inclusive, so there are no surprises. Each package covers:

• Your consultant ophthalmic surgeon’s fees for the operation
• The hospital and theatre fees for your day-case procedure
• Your chosen intraocular lens and all surgical consumables
• Local anaesthetic and the care team on the day
• All routine post-operative appointments and aftercare
• Eye drops and a clear recovery plan to take home

The only items quoted separately are your initial consultation and, rarely, a later YAG capsulotomy.

0% finance options

You don’t have to pay for surgery all at once. We offer interest-free (0% APR) finance that lets you spread the cost over manageable monthly instalments, typically from 10 to 24 months, subject to status. For example, a £2,900 procedure can be spread over two years with no interest. Full details and an application are on our finance page.

Does health insurance cover private cataract surgery?

Yes — cataract surgery is covered by most private medical insurers when it is clinically indicated. We work with all major insurers — you simply need pre-authorisation and a referral. Note that standard insurance usually funds a monofocal lens; if you choose a premium EDOF or multifocal lens, an upgrade fee may apply. See our guidance for insured patients for how to arrange cover.

What changes the price

Three things move a cataract quotation: the lens you choose, whether your eye also needs astigmatism correcting, and whether you are treating one eye or both. Nothing else is added afterwards — the package price is fixed at your consultation.

• The intraocular lens. This is the largest single factor, and the reason prices run from £2,900 to £4,300 per eye. A monofocal lens gives excellent distance vision and is the standard choice; EDOF and multifocal lenses buy back more of your range at a higher price. Compare them on our monofocal vs multifocal cost guide.
• Astigmatism. If your cornea is not evenly curved, a toric lens corrects it during the same operation, from £3,400 per eye all-inclusive. It is not an upsell — without it, uncorrected astigmatism can leave you in glasses despite a successful cataract removal.
• One eye or both. Prices are quoted per eye. Most people with cataracts in both eyes have them treated a week or two apart, so budget for two packages. Your written quotation confirms the total before you commit to anything.
• Laser-assisted surgery, if you want it. Femtosecond laser (FLACS) automates some steps a surgeon otherwise performs by hand. It is optional, and standard manual phacoemulsification remains the technique used for the overwhelming majority of UK cataract operations.

Two costs sit outside the package and are quoted separately: your initial consultation at £240 (£340 with OCT imaging), which is credited against your surgery if you go ahead, and — occasionally, months or years later — a YAG laser capsulotomy at £550 for one eye or £700 for both, if the lens capsule clouds.

NHS or private cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is available on the NHS, and for many people that is the right route. The honest comparison is not about the quality of the operation — it is about when you are treated and which lens you can have.

• Eligibility. NHS treatment is offered when a cataract measurably affects your vision and daily life. Thresholds are applied locally, so people with early cataracts that are already troubling them — glare when driving at night, for instance — are sometimes told to wait and be re-referred later.
• Waiting times. These vary widely by nation and by trust, and are the single most common reason our patients go private. Check the current picture for your area on our NHS cataract surgery waiting times guide.
• Lens choice. The NHS funds a monofocal lens. You cannot pay the NHS a top-up to upgrade to a premium lens in England — NHS and private care for the same episode must be kept separate, so choosing an EDOF or multifocal lens means funding the whole episode privately. We explain how that works on our NHS top-up guide.
• Right to Choose. In England you can ask to be referred to any provider that meets NHS standards, which can shorten a wait without paying — see using Right to Choose for cataract surgery.

If cost is the deciding factor, it is worth reading our cataract surgery abroad vs the UK comparison before booking treatment overseas — headline prices abroad look lower, but the total changes once travel, accommodation and follow-up care are included, and aftercare for a complication is harder to arrange from another country.

Private cataract surgery cost across the UK

Private cataract surgery is priced similarly nationwide — from around £2,900 per eye for a standard monofocal lens — but NHS waiting times vary widely by region, which is the main reason many people choose to go private. See typical private costs and current local NHS waits for your area:

Frequently asked questions