Average Cost of Cataract Surgery & Prices Explained

Average Cataract Surgery Costs & Pricing Varies by Region

Cataract surgery cost can vary based on several factors, including the procedure type, the intraocular lens (IOL) that will be implanted in your eye, how the incision is created (manually by the surgeon or utilizing a laser) and the region in which you live.

In 2012, the average cost of regular cataract surgery in the United States was $3,429 per eye if you paid for everything out of pocket.  This price is up approximately $700 per eye compared to 2011 prices. Many people have some type of health insurance that will cover the basic cataract procedure which is considered medically necessary for the patient to recuperate their vision.  The basic cataract procedure will range in price but often will be $500-$600 per eye.  Insurances such as Medicare will usually cover the basic cost of cataract surgery.

In cataract surgery, the natural lens of your eye has to be removed during the surgical procedure; your surgeon will use an artificial replacement lens to restore your vision. Implanting a standard monofocal IOL (single vision) would be considered the standard of care and medically necessary. 

Besides the standard monofocal lens, there are two additional options you can choose from for your cataract lens replacement. In the past, patients who had astigmatism had no option for correcting their astigmatism and would be required to utilize glasses or contacts after their cataract surgery.  Today, Toric lenses have the ability to correct astigmatism often resulting in improved distance vision without the need for glasses or contacts.  With a Toric implant, you will likely have very good distance vision, but will require reading glasses for near vision. 

The other option is often referred to as a “Multifocal IOL” or premium IOL.  These lenses will normally correct both distance and near vision, resulting in freedom from glasses and contacts.  Most insurance companies do not consider correcting astigmatism or presbyopia (inability to read up close) necessary.  As a result, many insurance providers consider both Toric and Multifocal lenses a "premium" lens and medically unnecessary.  Any additional costs that go along with these types of lenses will be paid out-of-pocket.  

If you choose a Toric or Multifocal lens, you may end up paying as much as $3,000 per eye in addition to what Medicare will cover.  This cost will depend on the type of lens you choose and whether the incision is created manually by your surgeon or utilizing a laser.

Before having cataract surgery, you should speak in-depth with your insurance provider or Medicare representative to understand exactly how much of your procedure is covered and what you ultimately may need to pay out-of-pocket.

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