Cataract surgery has a success rate of 99% and is considered one of the safest surgeries performed today. Vision Eye Institute’s experienced cataract surgeons in Sydney offer both standard and laser cataract surgery.

Our team in Sydney includes the first surgeon in the world to perform femtosecond laser cataract surgery combined with retinal surgery. We also accept referrals for difficult or complex cataract cases.

Our highly experienced cataract surgeons offer cataract surgery as well as lens replacement surgery in Sydney.

For more information about cataract and lens surgery, visit our cataract & lens surgery services page.

The following steps are involved in cataract removal:

1. Delivering a local anaesthetic to your eye(s)
2. Making a 2–3 mm incision in the cornea, the clear window at the front of your eye
3. Creating a round, even incision in the ‘bag’ (capsule) that contains the cloudy lens
4. Using ultrasound to break the cloudy lens into smaller pieces
5. Using a vacuum to remove the pieces of lens and cleaning the ‘bag’ (capsule) by flushing it
6. Inserting the intraocular lens—the clear artificial replacement lens—and accurately positioning it.

Once inside the eye, the intraocular lens (IOL) can’t be felt. The new lens will never develop a cataract – it is not possible.

The cataract operation takes under 30 minutes and is performed in a day surgery or hospital in Sydney. At Vision Eye Institute, cataract surgery will be performed in one of our state-of-the art, accredited day surgeries equipped with the latest technology.

Traditional (manual) cataract surgery

During traditional cataract surgery, the ophthalmic surgeon manually completes all the cataract removal steps outlined above. Traditional cataract surgery is considered one of the safest surgical procedures in the world.

Laser-assisted cataract surgery

In 2010, femtosecond lasers were introduced to help ophthalmic surgeons perform some of the steps of cataract surgery. Laser-assisted cataract surgery using the femtosecond laser is offered by some of our surgeons in Sydney as their preferred method of cataract surgery (depending on your individual needs and suitability). Although serious complications are rare with cataract surgery, laser cataract surgery may reduce the risk of complications even further.

Read more about femtosecond laser surgery.

Refractive lens exchange

Also known as clear lens extraction or lens replacement surgery, refractive lens exchange uses the same technique as cataract surgery. During this procedure, the natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial IOL at one of our Sydney clinics.

Replacement lens options

IOLs are used to replace your body’s natural lens. For people with short-sightedness, long-sightedness and/or astigmatism, lens replacement can be used to correct your eyesight. Replacement lens options in Sydney include monofocal lenses, bifocal lenses, and trifocal lenses. Your surgeon will help you decide which lens is best for your needs by discussing the pros and cons of each in detail.

After carefully assessing your eyes, your ophthalmologist will help you decide which replacement lens option is most suited to your needs and lifestyle. The available lenses vary in their design, and offer clear vision at either one, two or three distances.

For people who wear glasses or contact lenses, IOLs can be customised to address short-sightedness, long-sightedness and/or astigmatism. Some people may even be able to see without their glasses after cataract surgery.

Medicare and private health insurance may cover some of the cataract surgery cost (depending on the type of private health cover you have). How much you need to pay out of pocket (the gap payment) depends on several factors, including your private health coverage and your chosen IOL.

Because of the variability in private health cover and replacement lens options, it is impossible to provide an accurate quote for cataract surgery cost online. Once you have selected your preferred replacement lens, your ophthalmologist will provide you with a comprehensive quote regarding price.

If you are not sure whether your private health insurance covers cataract surgery (and whether there is any excess), contact your insurer.

Private cataract surgery is an elective procedure and has no waiting period. Usually, we can schedule your surgery within a few weeks of your diagnosis. However, there may be a waiting period before you can claim a benefit from your private health insurer. Contact your health fund for details.

There can be substantial wait times in public hospitals. You may be waiting a year or longer for:

• your initial assessment with an ophthalmologist in a public clinic
• your first eye operation
• your second eye operation.^1,2

By contrast, private cataract surgery has minimal wait times. Typically, your surgery is scheduled a few weeks after your initial assessment. Private cataract surgery offers additional benefits, such as your choice of surgeon and access to a broader range of replacement lenses. Learn more about the benefits of private cataract surgery.

References:
1. Huang-Lung J, Angell B, Palagyi A et al. The true cost of hidden waiting times for cataract surgery in Australia. Public Health Res Pract 2022 Oct 12;32(3):31342116.
2. Australian Medical Association (AMA). Shining a light on the elective surgery ‘hidden’ waiting list. AMA; 2022. Available at <https://www.ama.com.au/elective-surgery-hidden-waiting-list> [Accessed online 8 November 2023].

We offer manual and laser-assisted cataract surgery procedures in Sydney. The steps performed remain the same in both surgeries. However, in laser-assisted cataract surgery, a femtosecond laser is used to make precise incisions that would otherwise be performed by hand. Learn more about the differences in laser cataract surgery compared to traditional cataract surgery.

All patients who have cataract surgery at Vision Eye Institute in Sydney will receive post-operative care appointments. We offer appointments on the day of or the day after your surgery, and in the weeks following your surgery. These appointments will be with your surgeon at one of our four eye clinics in Chatswood, Drummoyne, Tuggerah Lakes or Hurstville. Usually, this will be at the same eye clinic as your initial assessment. In these appointments, your cataract surgeon will check that your recovery is progressing smoothly. Learn more about what to expect after cataract surgery.

If you opt to receive private cataract surgery, you can choose your surgeon. The choice of hospital is dependent on where your surgeon operates. At Vision Eye Institute our surgeons work across four eye clinics in Chatswood, Drummoyne, Tuggerah Lakes and Hurstville, and two day surgeries in Chatswood and Hurstville. If you choose to access public cataract surgery, you will not be able to choose a surgeon or hospital.

Medicare covers some of the cost of private cataract surgery. The remaining out-of-pocket cost depends on your private health insurance coverage, whether you receive traditional or laser-assisted cataract surgery, and the type of replacement lens selected. Due to this variability, you will need an eye assessment for an accurate quote.

Unfortunately, we do not currently offer financing options for cataract surgery.

All our Sydney clinics offer state-of-the-art facilities, a broad range of replacement lens options, and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS). In FLACS surgery, a laser precisely cuts into the protective membrane at the front of your eye (called the anterior capsule) and makes a circular incision into your natural lens (called a capsulotomy). Next, an ultrasound breaks apart your cataract-affected lens into small pieces (a process called phacoemulsification). A small vacuum suctions these pieces away. Finally, a new artificial lens is placed inside the eye.

Before we can book your cataract surgery, you will need to schedule an initial consultation with your surgeon. This consultation is mandatory so your surgeon can assess your eyes and advise you on the lens replacement options that are most suited to you. During this consultation, your surgeon will also explain the procedure, and you will have the time to ask questions.