All About the Cost of Cataract Treatment Procedures
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts are a common eye condition that mainly occurs in those over 40. This condition occurs when the clear lens of your eye turns cloudy. As a result, those with cataracts will have cloudy vision throughout their day-to-day lives.
Without the proper treatment, cataracts will only get worse. This is especially true when it comes to activities such as reading or driving at night when visibility is difficult. Cataracts usually begin as worsening nearsightedness. However, over time, the person with cataracts will likely develop even blurrier vision with colors appearing faded, sensitivity to bright lights, double vision, and the appearance of halos.
While cataracts are a common condition that comes with age, the leading causes of cataracts are genetics, conditions like diabetes, and long-term sun exposure.
Types of Cataract Surgery
Thankfully, there are many procedures that provide a simple treatment for your cataracts. This includes basic cataract surgery, lifestyle cataract surgery, and custom cataract surgery. All of the cataract surgery post op instructions will be similar. Cataract surgery is a very common procedure, worldwide, and has a very successful outcome. Read more about the Evolution of Cataract Surgery.
Basic Cataract Surgery 
During basic cataract surgery, an eye doctor will use a blade, as opposed to a laser, to make an incision into your cornea. While this surgery will effectively provide you with clear vision, it will not treat other eye conditions like astigmatism.
Likewise, if you are someone who wears reading glasses, you will likely still need them after a basic cataract procedure.
Lifestyle Cataract Surgery
One of the most popular treatments for cataracts is basic cataract surgery. During this procedure, your eye doctor will use a LenSx® Custom Cataract Laser to make a small incision into your cornea.
From here, the laser will break up the cataract and remove it. Once the cataract is removed, the surgeon delicately inserts a “multifocal” or “accommodative” lens, which will give you clearer vision than a regular intraocular lens and decrease the need for reading glasses.
Custom Cataract Surgery
A custom cataract surgery is best for patients who have specific needs that basic and lifestyle procedures cannot treat. Your eye doctor will provide you with a customized plan and use a LenSx® Custom Cataract Laser for the treatment of cataracts and conditions like astigmatism.
Cost of Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery cost is dependent on certain variables. This includes the type of procedure and eye care facility you choose to work with. With that said, the average range for most cataract procedures out-of-pocket is $3,000 to $5,000 per eye.
However, with more advanced and customized procedures, the price goes up to around $4,000 to $6,000 per eye. The type of lenses used in your procedure also plays a role in the cost. For example, monofocal IOL lenses tend to be the cheapest, and toric multifocal IOL lenses are more expensive.
Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery?
When it comes to standard cataract procedures, Medicare and most private insurance companies will usually cover the costs involved. However, Medicare is only responsible for covering the costs involved with the procedure itself. This includes the removal of the cataract and the insertion of the intraocular lens.
When it comes to other fees requested by the eye doctor or any deductibles and copayments, the patient will likely be responsible for paying these costs out-of-pocket. This also applies to patients who opt for a more advanced lens replacement, such as a premium IOL, toric lens, or multifocal lens implantation.
It’s also important to note that Medicare coverage may vary depending on factors such as the specific Medicare plan or where the procedure takes place. It is advisable to review your specific Medicare coverage and speak with your healthcare provider to understand their coverage for cataract procedures, so you don’t run into any surprises.
Before choosing to undergo cataract surgery, you should ask your insurance provider about the cost of your copayment and deductible. You should also ask if your insurance plan covers any prescription glasses that may be needed following the procedure.
Schedule An Eye Exam Today at Northeast Ohio Eye Surgeons
The first step in preventing cataracts is to receive a general eye exam from a reputable eye care specialist. As the National Eye Institute says, you may not need surgery right away, ask your doctor about risks of surgery and benefits to decide if surgery is the best choice for you.
Our team at Northeast Ohio Eye Surgeons is a trusted eye care team dedicated to helping patients all across Northeast Ohio.
Call us today at a location near you.
Sources Cited
Cataract surgery (2019) National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts/cataract-surgery/
Davis, G. (2016). The Evolution of Cataract Surgery. Missouri Medicine, 113(1), 58-62. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6139750/
Cataract surgery & treatments in Michigan (2023) Specialty Eye Institute. https://www.specialtyeyeinstitute.com/services/cataract-treatment/
How much does cataract surgery cost? (2022) UCF Health. https://ucfhealth.com/our-services/ophthalmology/cataract-surgery-cost/
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