.svg)
What’s the Cost of Cataract Surgery in Australia?
What’s the Cost of Cataract Surgery in Australia?
Written by
Tina Sendin
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Andres GutierrezCompare Health Insurance Policies
Save time and effort by comparing a range of Australia’s health funds with iSelect
What is cataract surgery?
Long story short
Cataract surgery is a quick, sight-restoring procedure
In about 30 minutes, this common day surgery replaces your natural lens with a new, clear artificial one.
Public waiting lists can stretch over a year
Medicare covers the full cost in a public hospital, but the trade-off is a significant wait time.
For private hospital patients, typical specialist fees could be over $2,000
But Medicare and private health insurance could cover a portion.
You’ll usually need a gold hospital policy, although certain plus policies might work
To be covered for cataract surgery in a private hospital, your policy must include the ‘Cataracts’ clinical category.
What is cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is a day procedure designed to restore vision clouded by cataracts.
Think of a cataract as a frosted-over camera lens; the surgery simply swaps that frosted lens for a crystal-clear one. An ophthalmologist (a specialist eye surgeon) makes a small incision in your eye to remove the clouded natural lens and replaces it with an artificial one, known as an intraocular lens or IOLs.
The procedure usually takes about 30 minutes. Since it’s performed as day surgery, you should be able to head home on the same day. If both of your eyes need surgery, they’ll usually be treated on different days. That way, the first eye has a chance to recover before the second gets tackled.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures in Australia. In fact, more than 250,000 Aussies undergo this eye surgery every year.1Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care – New standard to improve care for Australians with cataract It’s considered safe, painless, and highly successful at restoring clear vision and improving eye health – and overall quality of life.
How much does cataract surgery cost?
The cost of cataract surgery really comes down to whether you go through the public system or the private system. Your decision will have an impact on both your wallet and your calendar.
The total dollar figures can also differ based on the type of lens used.
For instance, monofocal lenses – set to focus on a fixed distance – are the most common. They’re usually covered by Medicare and private health insurance, and you might still need glasses after having them inserted. Meanwhile, a premium lens (like a multifocal) could mean you can throw your glasses in the bin. But you might also have to pay extra for the greater flexibility and customisation.
Does Medicare cover cataract surgery?
Yes. If you choose to have the procedure in a public hospital, Medicare will cover the cost of the surgery. You won’t have to pay the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, or for your hospital stay.
The catch? You’ll be placed on a public waiting list. For a procedure like cataract surgery, this can mean waiting several months, or even over a year, before your turn comes up. You also don’t get to choose your surgeon.
Does private health insurance cover cataract surgery?
Going private is the fast track. You get to pick your own ophthalmologist and schedule the surgery at a time that works for you, usually within weeks. While the up-front costs are higher, this is where having an adequate private health insurance policy becomes a game-changer.
Private cataract surgery costs, 2023–24
| General cataract surgery | Cataract surgery with glaucoma stent | |
| Typical specialist fee | $2,100 | $2,400 |
| Medicare rebate | $810 | $940 |
| Insurer typically paid | $860 | $910 |
| Typical out-of-pocket cost | $480 | $570 |
| Percentage of patients with an out-of-pocket cost | 58% | 63% |
Source: Medical Costs Finder – Cataract surgery; Cataract surgery with glaucoma stent
Note: These are the amounts patients typically paid for these services, rounded to the nearest dollar. They do not include hospital payments such as excesses, co-payments, or other payments. These fees may vary depending on your situation. Not all patients had out-of-pocket costs; those who didn’t aren’t included in these figures. Data retrieved January 2026.
Are there other out-of-pocket costs for cataract surgery?
Remember the table? The dollar figures in it only include the specialist fees, assistant surgeon fees, and anaesthetist fees. They don’t cover hospital fees – which are typically $2,500 for a general cataract surgery and $4,000 for one with glaucoma stent. Private health insurance can help cover some or all of these costs.
Are there other costs after cataract surgery?
The spending doesn’t always stop once the surgery is over. Recovery is usually quick, but it’s worth factoring in some post-operative factors that could add to the total cost.
- Follow-up appointments: You’ll need to see your ophthalmologist after the procedure to make sure your eye is healing correctly.
- Medications: Your surgeon will likely prescribe eye drops to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. These are usually subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), but you’ll still have a small co-payment (what you pay for the cost of your medicine while the government covers the rest).
- New glasses: While surgery can reduce your dependence on glasses, you may still need them for reading or driving. Your vision will take a few weeks to stabilise, so you’ll need to wait before getting a new prescription. If you happen to have an extras policy with optical cover, then your insurer can help cover a portion of the cost for a new pair of specs.
Helpful tip
When your specialist recommends cataract surgery, it’s a good idea to ask for a full quote with all the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers. With this information, you can call your health fund and get a precise breakdown of what they’ll cover. You can also check if your specialist has a no-gap arrangement with your insurer.
This simple step can give you a clear picture of your total out-of-pocket expenses and provide massive peace of mind.
Andres Gutierrez
General Manager – Health
How long will I have to wait for cataract surgery?
Waiting times for cataract surgery look very different between the public and private systems.
In the public system, wait times can be lengthy, sometimes stretching beyond a year. According to 2024–25 data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 10% of patients waited more than 372 days (that’s a little over a year!) before getting admitted for cataract extraction.2Australian Institute for Health and Welfare – Waiting times by intended procedure This is a long time to live with impaired vision that affects your daily life.
As a private patient, you can bypass these long public queues. The surgery can be scheduled as soon as you and your chosen specialist are ready, which can often be within a matter of weeks.
Keep in mind that if you’re new to private health insurance or you’ve just upgraded your policy, you’ll need to serve a waiting period. This is typically 12 months if your cataracts are a pre-existing condition and two months if they’re a new condition.
What level of health insurance do I need to cover cataract surgery?
To be covered for cataract surgery in a private hospital, you’ll need a hospital insurance policy that includes the ‘Cataracts’ clinical category. Note that having ‘Eye (not cataracts)’ in your policy won’t cover cataract procedures, so it’s worth making sure the correct clinical category is included.
When it comes to the level of cover, cataract surgery is a standard inclusion in gold hospital policies. It could also be included in certain plus policies. It’s always worth checking with your health fund to make sure you’re covered.
Frequently asked questions
Is cataract surgery bulk-billed?
In the public system, cataract surgery is covered by Medicare, meaning you won’t have out-of-pocket costs. In the private system, it typically isn’t bulk-billed. You’ll have costs related to the surgeon, anaesthetist, and hospital, which private health insurance can help cover.
Do pensioners get free cataract surgery?
Pensioners with a Medicare card can receive free cataract surgery in a public hospital. However, they’ll be subject to the public system’s waiting lists.
Is it worth getting cover for cataract surgery?
If you value choosing your own surgeon and having the procedure done quickly, then private health insurance is definitely worth considering. It gives you control over your healthcare and less of a wait before you can see clearly.
Get a clear picture of your hospital cover
Understanding what you’ll pay for cataract surgery – and how private health insurance can make things clearer – means no more cloudy budgeting.
At iSelect, we help you cut through the fog by comparing private health insurance policies side by side. Use our online comparison tool or give our friendly team a ring on 1800 784 772.
Compare health insurance policies the easy way
Save time and effort by comparing a range of Australia’s health funds with iSelect
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
Need help with health insurance?
We can help you find a suitable product for your needs
Health Insurance & Tax
Tax Implications on Health Insurance
The Medicare Levy Surcharge
About the Life Time Health Cover Loading
The Private Health Insurance Benefit Codes
iSelect does not compare all health insurance providers or policies in the market. The availability of policies will change from time to time. Not all policies available from its providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, your stated needs and circumstances, not all policies compared by iSelect are available to all customers. Some policies and special offers are available only from iSelect’s contact centre or website. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers