Skip to main content
THE TREATMENT REGISTRY
Patient journey

This page contains health-related information for reference only. It is not medical advice. Read full disclaimer

ophthalmology

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery, also called lens replacement surgery, is the removal of the natural lens of the eye that has developed a cataract, an opaque or cloudy area. The eye's natural lens is usually replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) implant.

By The Treatment Registry

Quick Facts

Price range
Varies by clinic
Recovery
Varies
Sessions
Varies
Category
ophthalmology
Anaesthesia
Varies
Min. stay abroad
Varies
Price Range (International)
Varies by clinic
Average Recovery
Varies
Typical Sessions
Varies
Category
ophthalmology

Overview

Cataract surgery, also called lens replacement surgery, is the removal of the eye's natural lens once it has developed a cataract — an opaque or cloudy area that impairs vision. Over time, metabolic changes in the fibres of the crystalline lens, and the accumulation of clumped proteins or yellow-brown pigment, reduce the amount of light reaching the retina; early symptoms can include glare from lights (especially at night), faded or blunted colours, blurred or double vision, halos around lights and reduced vision in low light. Once glasses no longer help, surgery is the only effective treatment. During the operation the cloudy lens is removed from the posterior chamber, either by emulsification in place or by manual extraction, and an intraocular lens (IOL) implant is usually put in its place to restore focus. It is performed by an ophthalmologist, generally as a day (out-patient) procedure under local anaesthetic injection or topical anaesthetic drops, and is usually quick with little or no pain. The most common technique worldwide is phacoemulsification, in which an ultrasonic probe fragments the lens so it can be removed by suction through a small, often self-sealing incision; a femtosecond laser-assisted variant and manual small-incision extracapsular techniques are also used. Well over 90% of operations successfully restore useful vision, with a low complication rate, and recovery sufficient for most daily activities usually takes only a few days.

Key Considerations

    Reported outcomes

    Detailed outcomes →

    Complication rate

    8.98%

    Range 8.55–9.40%

    n=2 studies

    Aggregated from peer-reviewed systematic reviews on PubMed. How we extract these rates.

    Common Risks

    • problems with your vision, such as cloudiness, blurriness, dark shadows or areas of light
    • your vision gets cloudy or blurry
    • you're finding it hard to focus your vision
    • your eye becomes red or painful
    • you see light or dark areas in your vision
    • it becomes uncomfortable or painful to look at bright light
    Detailed risk profile →

    Alternative treatments

    Other clinically reasonable options for the same condition. The right alternative depends on the patient's specific anatomy, comorbidities, and goals — discuss with a treating clinician rather than self-selecting from this list.

    Credentials a clinic should hold

    Specialty-board certifications and facility-level accreditations relevant to this procedure. Verify on the issuer's public register before booking — most issuers publish a searchable directory.

    • National ophthalmology board

      Issuer Country-specific (e.g. ABO in US, FRCOphth in UK, EBO in Europe)

      Specialty-board certification in ophthalmology covering medical and surgical eye care.

      Verify on the issuer's register →

    Authors cited in the outcome data

    Attribution — the named first authors of the systematic reviews whose reported rates feed the outcome figures above. Listed for transparency, not as endorsement; the registry has not solicited review or comment from these authors.

    Current clinical trials

    Ongoing research studies registered on ClinicalTrials.gov whose intervention involves cataract surgery. This is a neutral pointer to public research — not an endorsement, not a recruitment drive, and not medical advice. Trial status changes often; confirm eligibility and current status with the study team via each record.

    Showing 6 recent ongoing studies. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov — all matching trials (U.S. National Library of Medicine, public domain). Retrieved 2026-08-02.

    Recovery Timeline

    Average recovery for Cataract Surgery is 0 days. Individual recovery varies — always follow your surgeon’s specific guidance.

    1. 01Day 0–1

      Immediate

      First 24–48 hours post-procedure. Monitoring, anaesthesia recovery, initial pain management. Most clinics expect you to remain on-site or nearby.

    2. 02Day 2–2

      Early recovery

      Wound care, swelling or bruising peaks, restricted activity. Typical window for follow-up visits and drain removal if applicable. Travel is usually not advised.

    3. 03Day 3–3

      Intermediate recovery

      Gradual return to non-strenuous daily activity. Many international patients fly home during this window. Surgeon may require medical clearance for long-haul travel.

    4. 04Day 4–0

      Full recovery

      Return to full activity, exercise, and work. Final results may still be settling. Final follow-up with local doctor recommended.

    Most people recover quickly after cataract surgery. Your surgeon will talk to you about what to expect and what you should do. They'll check your eye and talk to you about when to remove the dressing. They'll also tell you about pain relief you can take while you recover. You'll be given eye drops to help your eye to heal and prevent infection. You'll usually need to take these eye drops for about 4 weeks. After cataract surgery: - your vision may be blurry for a few hours – this is because of the eye drops used to widen your pupils - your eye may hurt for a few days - you may need to use a plastic shield to protect your eye at night while your eye is healing - it may take several days for your vision to improve - you may feel more tired than usual but you'll start to feel normal again aft

    *Reference text adapted from NHS UK under the Open Government Licence v3.0.*

    Questions to Ask Your Clinic

      Browse all destinations offering Cataract Surgery →Detailed cost breakdown →

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Why cataract surgery is done?

      Cataract surgery is done to improve your vision if you have cataracts.

      How to prepare for cataract surgery?

      Before you have cataract surgery, you'll have an appointment with a specialist who will examine and measure your eye.

      What happens during cataract surgery?

      You'll have cataract surgery in a hospital.

      What are cataracts?

      A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens inside your eye. This cloudiness blocks light from reaching the back of the eye, making it harder to see clearly. A cataract can affect one or both eyes, but it doesn't spread from one eye to the other.

      What causes cataracts?

      Most cataracts develop as part of the normal aging process. This happens when the protein in the lens of your eye clumps together. Over time, these protein clumps grow larger and thicker, making it harder to see. The lens may turn yellow or brown, which can affect how you see colors.

      Who is more likely to develop cataracts?

      Cataracts are very common in older adults. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. Your risk for developing cataracts increases as you get older. You may also be at an increased risk if you:

      Conditions treated

      Clinical conditions for which cataract surgery is a treatment-ladder option.

      Cataracts

      Related Procedures

      Other ophthalmology procedures in our registry

      LASIK Eye SurgeryPRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)Premium Intraocular LensesRefractive Lens ExchangeGlaucoma SurgeryRetinal Surgery

      Related tools