Cataract surgery how much

How much does cataract surgery cost? Boyd, K. Cataract surgery. American Academy of Ophthamology. Updated September 8, Etiopathogenesis of cataract: an appraisal. Indian J Ophthalmol. American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Traditional cataract surgery vs. Updated Davis G. The evolution of cataract surgery. Mo Med. Harvard Health Publishing. Considering cataract surgery? What you should know. Updated October 13, Eye Consultants. Cost of cataract surgery. Lasercare Eye Center. How much does cataract surgery cost. April 20, Using a flexible spending account. Femtosecond laser-assisted versus phacoemulsification cataract surgery Femcat : a multicentre participant-masked randomised superiority and cost-effectiveness trial.

The Lancet. Visual and refractive outcomes and complications in femtosecond laser-assisted versus conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery: findings from a randomised, controlled clinical trial. British Journal of Ophthalmology. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. The best way to determine what cataract surgery will cost you is to schedule a consultation with a surgeon to discuss treatment options.

You can also speak with your insurance carrier for more specifics about what your policy covers. Medicare patients can visit Medicare. Updated: April 21, Mark R. Mandel is a board-certified ophthalmologist who has performed more than 90, surgical procedures, including 60, LASIK surgeries.

He is a cornea sub-specialist and LASIK surgeon well-trusted for his experience, expertise, surgical precision and integrity. He has advanced training in corneal transplant surgery and external eye conditions, and currently teaches at the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, San Francisco, and the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, in addition to leading the team at Optima Ophthalmic Medical Associates, Inc.

There are many factors associated with cataract surgery recovery. Many people must pay for and wear eyeglasses that correct common refractive errors such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Unless you have supplemental vision insurance, regular health insurance typically doesn't cover these kinds of vision problems.

People undergoing refractive surgery such as LASIK to correct common vision errors also must pay full costs that typically aren't covered by insurance. As with cataract surgery add-ons, surgical vision correction of this nature is considered cosmetic or medically unnecessary because you have the option of wearing much less expensive eyeglasses. While the costs of a basic cataract procedure and standard IOL usually are covered by Medicare and private medical insurance, you will need to pay the added cost of the following premium IOLs and advanced surgical techniques out-of-pocket if you want greater freedom from eyeglasses after cataract surgery:.

These advanced intraocular lenses expand your range of vision, reducing vision loss caused by presbyopia so you can read and see clearly up close without reading glasses. These astigmatism-correcting IOLs enable a person who had astigmatism prior to cataract surgery to see clearly for driving, computer use, reading and other tasks without eyeglasses after cataract surgery.

In this advanced procedure also called "laser cataract surgery" , a femtosecond laser is used to perform steps in cataract surgery that typically are performed with manual surgical tools, adding a higher degree of precision.

Laser cataract surgery also can reduce stress on the retina and other delicate tissues of the eye during cataract extraction. Laser cataract surgery usually is performed when a premium presbyopia-correcting or astigmatism-correcting IOL is implanted. The added cost of the laser procedure typically is included in the price of the premium IOL. Also called LRI or corneal relaxing incisions, this is an additional surgical procedure that can be performed during cataract surgery to correct astigmatism.

One or more small, arc-shaped incisions are made in the periphery of the cornea , and as these incisions heal without stitches , the cornea takes on a more spherical shape. This minor surgical procedure is very similar to LRI, but the incisions are made with a femtosecond laser rather than a hand-held surgical tool. In uncomplicated procedures, Medicare coverage is very straightforward in terms of standard reimbursements paid to the eye surgeon and surgical center.

Then, call your insurance provider and ask: Is cataract surgery covered or medically necessary? Is astigmatism or presbyopia correction covered? Is Refractive or Refraction technology covered? Are screening tests covered? How much is the copay at the surgery center? How much is the copay for the surgeon? How much does insurance cover the Advanced Cataract Surgery portion for the surgery center?