Updated 2nd Oct 2023
If you don’t qualify for free cataract surgery on the NHS, the cost of cataract surgery in the UK ranges between around to £1,995 – £3,150 for standard monofocal lenses and £3,495-£4,725 for multifocal lenses. Costs vary by lens type, clinic and region with London-based clinics charging relatively more compared to clinics in the north of the UK.
To give you an idea of what you will need to pay for private cataract surgery involved, here’s a table of advertised prices for some of the more well know clinics for lens replacement surgery (the most effective treatment for cataracts).
| Clinic | Consultation | Cataract Monofocal Lens (Per Eye) | Cataract Multifocal Lens (Per Eye) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimax | Free | £2,995 | £2,995 |
| Ultralase | Free | £2,995 | £2,995 |
| Optegra | Free | £2,655 | £3,795 |
| Optical Express | Free | £1,995 | £3,195 |
| Center For Sight | £475* | £3,310- £3,775 ** | £4,350 – £4,725 ** |
Prices per eye accurate as of 2nd Oct 2023
* £525 if not paid upfront
** Higher price charged for Toric lenses.
While investigating the prices of cataract surgery, always check the small print and make sure you are not looking at the laser eye surgery prices which are often cheaper. You should get prices the same as, or very close to, lens replacement surgery costs given the treatments are so similar.
Some clinics may present a great headline price but there may be added extras that haven’t been accounted for, e.g. your aftercare and subsequent appointments after the procedure.
If you’ve decided private treatment is the way forward but don’t feel you can afford to pay for the procedure in one lump sum, many clinics now offer finance options. This allows you to split the cost over 10-24 months depending on the clinic. The financing options below are based on the cheaper Monofocal Lens RLE Cataract Surgery option (Multifocal, Trifocal and Toric options will be more expensive):
If you’ve decided private treatment is the way forward but don’t feel you can afford to pay for the procedure in one lump sum, many clinics now offer finance options. This allows you to split the cost over 10-24 months depending on the clinic. The financing options below are based on the cheaper Monofocal Lens RLE Cataract Surgery option (Multifocal, Trifocal and Toric options will be more expensive):
| Clinic | Deposit | Interest Free Repayment Period | Longest Repayment Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimax | £500 | 12 months | 36 months (£85.02 at 11.5% APR) |
| Ultralase | £500 | 12 months | 12 months (£166.25 at 0% APR) |
| Optegra | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Optical Express | £500 | 10 months | 72 Months (£51.19 at 11.9%APR) |
| Center For Sight | Varies | 24 Months | 24 months |