Cataract Surgery Cost

How Much Does Cataract Surgery Cost?

	With Insurance: Both Eyes $1,000 or more
	Without Insurance: Both Eyes $10,000-$20,000

Cataract surgery is used to correct a clouding of the lens of the eye that affects vision and usually is caused by aging. Surgery sometimes is recommended when cataracts have caused blurring of vision too severe to be improved with new glasses, better lighting, anti-glare sunglasses or a magnifying glass.

Typical costs:

• For patients not covered by health insurance, cataract surgery typically costs $5,000 to $10,000 per eye, for a total of $10,000 to $20,000 for both eyes. For example, at Park Nicollet, a hospital in Minneapolis, Minn., it costs about $4,365 per eye -- a total of $8,730 for both eyes. At Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center[1] in New Hampshire, with an uninsured discount, it costs about $7,140 per eye -- a total of $14,280 for both eyes.

• Cataract surgery is covered by most health insurance plans. Many patients who need cataract surgery are 65 or older, and Medicare covers cataract surgery.
• For patients covered by insurance, typical out-of-pocket costs would consist of coinsurance of 10 to 20 percent or more -- or $1,000 or more for both eyes. However, a supplemental Medicare policy could cover those costs.

What should be included:

• The Mayo Clinic[2] has an overview of cataract surgery.

• Special artificial lenses that block ultraviolet light or have multifocal capability can cost as much as $1,000 more than standard lenses.
• Prescription eye drops usually are required after cataract surgery.
• Within five years after cataract surgery, one in four patients develop cloudiness on part of the lens capsule that remains in the eye after surgery; to correct this, a five-minute procedure, called YAG laser capsulotomy, is needed. This typically costs $250 to $450 and usually is covered by insurance.

• Cataract surgery generally is considered safe and effective. However, risks include swelling of the retina, infection, new astigmatism, development of glaucoma and an increased risk of retinal detachment.
• The National Eye Institute[3] , part of the National Institutes of Health, recommends that surgery be considered only when cataracts interfere with everyday activities such as reading, driving or watching TV, and that you consult a doctor to make the decision.
• It is important to look for a doctor who is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and who specializes in cataract surgery. It is a good idea to ask how many years of experience a doctor has and how often the doctor performs cataract surgery.