Cataract surgery

Cataract Surgery costs vary based on your individual treatment plan, clinical requirements and insurance cover.

Rather than quoting one price that may not apply to everybody, we will confirm your consultation fee and provide a clear treatment quote following your assessment.

Optilase is a VHI-approved cataract provider. Whether your treatment is covered, and to what extent, depends on how developed your cataract is, your individual VHI policy, and any required pre-authorisation.

Our team can help you understand the steps involved before scheduling treatment.

Some temporary blurred vision, grittiness, watering or light sensitivity can occur while the eye heals. You will normally use prescribed eye drops and attend follow-up appointments so your recovery can be monitored.

Contact the clinic if you develop symptoms that differ significantly from what your team has told you to expect.

You should not place a contact lens in the operated eye during the early healing period unless specifically advised by your eye-care team.

Once your eye has healed your visual needs can be reassessed, and your clinical team can advise whether any additional correction is required.

Where possible it is best to avoid alcohol during the first week after surgery, as it can contribute to dryness and slow your recovery.

Your clinical team will give you personalised advice based on your procedure, medication and general health, so always follow the specific instructions you receive on the day of surgery.

Flying is possible after the first few weeks following uncomplicated Cataract Surgery, but you should discuss travel plans with your clinical team.

Consider your follow-up appointments, access to prescribed eye drops, and how you would obtain medical advice if a problem developed while you were away.

You can normally shower after surgery, but take care to avoid getting water, shampoo or soap directly into the treated eye during the early healing period. Your clinical team will give you specific aftercare instructions.

You should not drive home after surgery. Most patients can return to driving locally within 24 to 48 hours, once your vision meets the legal driving standard and you have been advised that it is safe to do so. The timing varies between patients.

Vision may be blurred initially after surgery, but many people begin to notice improvement within the first few days. Your vision can continue to change and settle over the following weeks as the eye heals.

Cataract Surgery is usually performed under local anaesthetic while you are awake. Your clinical team can discuss this with you if you have concerns about being awake during surgery.

The procedure is normally carried out using local anaesthetic to numb the eye. You may notice unusual sensations or pressure, but the eye will be numb during surgery.

Some mild soreness, grittiness or irritation can occur afterwards while the eye heals.

For many patients, Cataract Surgery improves the vision that has become blurred or cloudy because of the cataract. However, the final result also depends on the health of the retina, optic nerve, cornea and other parts of the eye.

Your assessment will help establish what improvement you can realistically expect.

You do not need to wait until a cataract becomes extremely advanced. Surgery is generally considered when the cataract begins to interfere with activities that matter to you, such as reading, driving, working or enjoying hobbies.

Your consultation can help determine whether surgery is appropriate now or whether monitoring remains the better option.

Cataract Surgery removes the cloudy natural lens inside the eye and replaces it with a clear artificial intraocular lens. The aim is to improve the vision affected by the cataract and restore clearer focusing.

Potentially, yes. The artificial lens implanted during Cataract Surgery can be selected with your visual goals in mind, but not every lens type is suitable for every patient. Your surgeon will assess your eye health and discuss whether a multifocal or monofocal option is best suited to you.

At present, we only accept VHI health insurance for Cataract Surgery.

Eligible VHI patients who have cataracts can access rapid consultation and surgery scheduling, without the lengthy waiting lists often experienced elsewhere.