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HomeHealth TopicEye Care and Vision

How Much Does Cataract Surgery Cost?

Arnesa A. Howell
Written by Arnesa A. Howell
Published on June 21, 2022

Key takeaways:

  • The average cost of cataract surgery ranges from about $1,600 to about $2,600, according to Medicare claims.

  • Without insurance, the cost of cataract removal may be as high as $6,000.

  • Medicare beneficiaries could pay as little as $316 for this surgery.

Doctor checking patient's eyes with light.
eggeeggjiew/iStock via Getty Images

Cataracts are an eye condition in which the lens behind the pupil slowly changes from clear to foggy. If you have them, your vision gets blurrier, night driving is more difficult, and colors look less vibrant. Others who look into your eyes may notice that they look grayish or cloudy. 

Cataracts commonly develop as people age, although they can also be caused by injury, diabetes, smoking, or previous eye surgery. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness. Surgery, though, is a common and effective treatment that is usually covered by insurance. Cataract removal is usually an outpatient procedure.

How is cataract surgery done?

Cataract surgery is typically done one eye at a time, with the procedures usually taking place about a month apart.

Before each surgery, you will be given numbing, antibiotic, and dilating eye drops. These will reduce any potential pain, prevent infection, and make it easier for the doctor to perform the procedure. You’ll also be given eye drops throughout the surgery. Expect to stay awake the whole time, though an anesthesiologist will give you medicine — such as sedatives and local anesthesia, or in some cases, general anesthesia — to help you relax.

While performing the surgery, the doctor will use a special microscope, so you’ll see a bright light shining in your eyes. The doctor will remove your eye’s natural lens. The technique for removing the natural, clouded lens will depend on the type of surgery.

The doctor will then replace the natural lens with an artificial one called an intraocular lens, or IOL. The type of IOL you receive will have been selected by you and your ophthalmologist (eye doctor) well in advance.

Typically, cataract surgery takes about 10 minutes, but may take longer in some cases. Regardless, expect any discomfort during the procedure to be mild.

How much does cataract surgery usually cost?

According to a 2019 report in the journal Clinical Research In Ophthalmology, the average cost of cataract surgery in 2018 was $2,526 per eye. This figure was derived in part from the Medicare fee schedule, as cataract removal is the most widespread surgical procedure among Medicare recipients. But costs can fluctuate due to the type and location of the surgery, among other factors.

Using 2021 claims data, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) put Medicare’s national average cost of cataract surgery at $1,587 when performed at an ambulatory surgical center. That includes doctor and facility fees of $548 and $1,039, respectively. For the same procedure in a hospital outpatient setting, the average cost is $2,627. The doctor fee stays the same ($548), but the facility fee rises to $2,079.

Even so, Medicare beneficiaries can expect a cost in the hundreds of dollars rather than thousands. Since cataract surgery is covered under Medicare Part B, your coinsurance share would be 20%. There might also be a small copayment. On average, for someone with Medicare coverage, cataract surgery might cost as little as $316.

What factors affect the cost of cataract surgery?

The cost of cataract surgery can vary on such factors as:

  • Setting: Having cataract surgery in an ambulatory surgical center tends to cost less than outpatient surgery in the hospital.

  • Type of surgery: Two traditional techniques are phacoemulsification (“phaco”) and extracapsular cataract extraction surgery (ECCE). Phaco uses a small incision, while ECCE uses a larger incision. For these procedures, uninsured people can expect to pay $3,000 to $5,000, according to the University of Central Florida Health. Laser-assisted cataract surgeries, with more advanced technology, can average $4,000 to $6,000.

  • Type of lens: You and your doctor can choose the type of IOL that suits you best. The monofocal lens improves vision at one distance only and is less expensive than the multifocal lens that helps you see both near and far. A 2019 investigation found that neither Medicare nor private insurance will cover the extra cost of the multifocal lens. However, after a cataract surgery involving an artificial lens, Medicare will pay for one standard pair of eyeglasses or contacts.

  • Surgeon experience: The technology used for phaco may require the surgeon to have more extensive medical training. As a result, this technique can be more costly than other types of cataract surgery.

  • Post-surgical complications: Sometimes, the artificial lens can also become cloudy weeks or years after the surgery. Addressing the problem may call for a laser surgery known as posterior capsulotomy, which costs about $600 to $800. With Medicare, this procedure would likely cost around $100. Private health insurers may or may not provide coverage. Aetna, for example, considers this procedure medically necessary after cataract surgery — but only under certain conditions.

Does health insurance cover the cost of cataract surgery?

Yes. Private health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid (in some states) cover the procedure when it’s considered medically necessary. Among the states with Medicaid coverage are Arizona, Hawaii, Louisiana, Washington, and Wisconsin.

However, it’s important to know that the mere presence of cataracts doesn’t make cataract surgery medically necessary. The assessment involves various factors, which may include how severely your vision is impaired.

What can you expect to pay out of pocket for cataract surgery?

Your out-of-pocket costs for cataract surgery depend on:

  • The type of surgery performed

  • The type and amount of post-surgical follow-up care

  • Your insurance coverage

Medicare Part B covers medically necessary cataract surgery. After you reach your Part B deductible ($233 in 2022), Medicare will pay 80% of the procedure’s Medicare-approved cost. You’ll pay the remaining 20%. It will also pay for related expenses under very specific conditions. For instance, if cataracts are removed using laser surgery and a lens is implanted, Medicare helps pay for one pair of eyeglasses or a set of contact lenses.

Similarly, private health insurance should cover most of the cost after you meet your deductible — especially if you use in-network providers. But the surgery must be medically necessary. Among the criteria for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is that the surgery is expected to improve vision. Aetna, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive list of criteria that includes an individual’s level of functional impairment and how clearly they are able to see.

What additional care is needed after cataract surgery?

The day after surgery, you should expect a follow-up appointment with the ophthalmologist. These appointments will likely continue periodically; you may visit the doctor one week post-surgery and then again a month later.

To help control pain, infection, and other potential side effects, your doctor may prescribe a mix of eye drops that include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, and steroids, or a single eye drop that combines all three.

For protection from injury, your doctor may also ask that you wear eyeglasses, an eye shield at night, and dark sunglasses to help protect your eye from light while it heals.

Does cataract surgery last a lifetime?

Cataract surgery is designed to last a lifetime. But cataract-related eye conditions may nevertheless surface in the future.

So-called “secondary cataracts” can happen when the IOLs get cloudy; these are easy for your doctor to fix. Also, on occasion, certain IOL materials have caused patients difficulties with glistening or glare; those lenses have been recalled or discontinued.

What are the most common complications of cataract surgery?

Although cataract surgery is considered an everyday procedure and complications are unusual, it is still surgery, so there are risks involved.

Possible complications of cataract surgery include:

The bottom line

Cataract removal surgery remains the go-to treatment for cataracts, with average prices for Medicare patients ranging from $1,587 to $2,627. The expense is typically covered by both Medicare and private health insurance, lowering your out-of-pocket costs (Medicaid may or may not cover it in your state).

If you do have the surgery, the outcome is usually good. Although problems with artificial lenses may arise after surgery, the procedure is intended to last a lifetime.

View All References (22)

American Optometric Association. (2018). Billing for post-cataract glasses: What you need to know. AOA Focus.

Anthem. (2021). Clinical UM Guideline: Cataract removal surgery for adults.

Beiko, G. H. H. (2015). Intraocular lens implants: Do they come with a life time guaranty? Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology.

Boyd, K. (2022). What is a posterior capsulotomy? American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Boughton, B. (2009). Phaco and ECCE. American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Brown, G. C., et al. (2019). A cost-benefit analysis of 2018 cataract surgery in the United States. Clinical Research in Ophthalmology

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021). 2022 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles/2022 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Local coverage determination: Cataract surgery (L34413). Medicare Coverage Database. 

Gurnani, B., et al. (2021). Phacoemulsification. StatPearls.

Kaiser Permanente. (2022). Sudden changes in vision

Kumar, C. M., et al. (2019). Peri-operative considerations for sedation-analgesia during cataract surgery: A narrative review. Anaesthesia.

Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Eyeglasses & contact lenses.

Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Procedure price lookup for outpatient services: Discission of secondary membranous cataract (opacified posterior lens capsule and/or anterior hyaloid); laser surgery (eg, yag laser) (1 or more stages).

Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Procedure price lookup for outpatient services: Extracapsular cataract removal with insertion of intraocular lens prosthesis (1 stage procedure), manual or mechanical technique (eg, irrigation and aspiration or phacoemulsification); without endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation.

Moshirfar, M., et al. (2021). Cataract surgery. StatPearls.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). “Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow.” The National Academies Press. 

National Eye Institute. (2022). Cataracts.

Rae, M., et al. (2019). Tracking the rise in premium contributions and cost-sharing for families with large employer coverage. Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. 

Shekelle, P., et al. (2019). Comparative effectiveness of multifocal, accommodative, and monofocal intraocular lenses for cataract surgery and lens replacement. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Solomon, K. D., et al. (2020). Comparing combination drop therapy to a standard drop regimen after routine cataract surgery. Clinical Ophthalmology.

University of Central Florida Health Services. (n.d.). How much does cataract surgery cost?

University of Central Florida Health Services. (n.d.). What are secondary cataracts?

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