Cataract Surgery
What is Cataract Surgery ?
Cataract surgery, specifically phacoemulsification, is a procedure to remove a clouded lens (cataract) from the eye and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore clear vision. It is the most common and advanced technique for cataract treatment. In India, cataract surgery is performed in ophthalmology departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) is essential for patients in India to make informed decisions.
Why do you need Cataract Surgery ?
Phacoemulsification is indicated for:
- Cataracts causing vision impairment:
- Blurred or cloudy vision: Difficulty reading, driving, or seeing details.
- Glare or halos: Sensitivity to bright lights, especially at night.
- Faded colors: Colors appear less vibrant.
- Double vision: In one eye, due to lens opacity.
- Functional impact:
- Affects daily activities (e.g., reading, driving) or quality of life.
- Visual acuity <6/12 (Snellen chart) or worse, depending on patient needs.
- Other conditions:
- Secondary cataracts: Due to diabetes, trauma, steroids, or radiation.
- Mature cataracts: Risk of complications like glaucoma if untreated.
The procedure aims to remove the clouded lens, implant an IOL, and restore clear vision, typically improving visual acuity to 6/6 or 6/9 (normal or near-normal vision).
Why Do Cataract Surgery Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹20,000 to ₹1.5 lakh per eye:
- Procedure Type/IOL: Basic phaco with monofocal IOL (₹20,000–₹40,000); premium IOL (multifocal/toric) or FLACS (₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS, ₹5,000–₹15,000; often free under schemes like Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced ophthalmologists charge more.
- Additional Costs: Pre-op tests (₹2,000–₹5,000), anesthesia (₹2,000–₹5,000), post-op medications (₹1,000–₹3,000).
- Insurance: Covered under most plans, including government schemes; confirm with your provider.
Cataract Surgery Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- Slit-lamp exam: Confirms cataract severity and type (e.g., nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular).
- Visual acuity test: Measures vision impairment.
- Biometry: Measures eye length and corneal curvature (using IOLMaster or A-scan) to calculate IOL power.
- Fundus exam: Checks retina/macula health (e.g., rules out macular degeneration).
- Blood tests: Blood sugar (for diabetics), blood pressure, and infection screening.
- Medications: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe; antibiotic eye drops (e.g., moxifloxacin) 1–2 days pre-surgery.
- Consent: Risks, including infection, are explained.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Phacoemulsification:
- Performed under local anesthesia (topical eye drops or peribulbar injection), lasting 15–30 minutes.
- Outpatient procedure; patient is awake but sedated if needed.
- A small incision (2–3 mm) is made in the cornea.
- A probe (phacoemulsifier) uses ultrasound waves to break the cloudy lens into tiny fragments, which are suctioned out.
- An artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted into the lens capsule:
- Monofocal IOL: Corrects distance vision (most common).
- Multifocal/Toric IOL: Corrects distance and near vision or astigmatism (costlier).
- The incision is self-sealing (no stitches usually needed).
- Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS) (less common):
- Uses a laser for corneal incision, capsulotomy (lens capsule opening), and lens fragmentation; more precise but costlier.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Phacoemulsifier: Breaks and removes the lens.
- IOL: Restores focusing power.
- Operating microscope: Enhances precision.
- Phacoemulsification:
- After Surgery:
- Observation: 1–2 hours in the recovery area; same-day discharge.
- Eye care: Protective eye shield for 1–2 weeks (esp. at night); antibiotic/steroid drops (e.g., prednisolone, moxifloxacin) for 4–6 weeks.
- Pain management: Mild discomfort managed with acetaminophen if needed.
- Instructions: Avoid rubbing the eye, heavy lifting, or water exposure for 1–2 weeks.
Recovery After Cataract Surgery
- Immediate Recovery: Same-day discharge; vision may be blurry for 1–2 days.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Vision: Improves within 1–2 days; stabilizes in 4–6 weeks (monofocal IOL); glasses may be needed for near vision.
- Activity: Avoid heavy lifting, bending, or strenuous activity for 1–2 weeks; normal activities (e.g., reading) within 2–3 days.
- Eye care: Use prescribed drops (antibiotic/steroid) for 4–6 weeks; avoid water, dust, or rubbing the eye for 2 weeks.
- Discomfort: Mild irritation, tearing, or foreign body sensation for 3–5 days; managed with drops or acetaminophen.
- Driving: Resume after 1–2 weeks, once vision meets legal standards (check with doctor).
3. Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 6 weeks to monitor healing and vision.
- Glasses prescription (if needed): At 4–6 weeks.
Most resume normal activities in 1–2 weeks; full visual recovery takes 4–6 weeks. Success rate: 95–98% achieve 6/9 or better vision (if no other eye conditions, e.g., glaucoma).
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Infection (endophthalmitis, <0.1%): Rare but serious; causes redness, pain, vision loss; treated with antibiotics or surgery.
- Bleeding (1–2%): Usually mild; rare severe hemorrhage.
- Posterior capsule rupture (1–3%): Lens capsule tears; may require additional surgery (e.g., vitrectomy).
- Post-Surgery:
- Posterior capsule opacification (PCO, 10–20% within 2 years): Clouding behind the IOL; treated with YAG laser capsulotomy (outpatient, ₹5,000–₹10,000 in India).
- Swelling (edema, 1–3%): Corneal or macular edema causing blurry vision; usually resolves with drops.
- IOL dislocation (<1%): Lens shifts position; may need repositioning surgery.
- Raised intraocular pressure (1–2%): Temporary; managed with drops.
- Long-Term:
- Refractive error (5–10%): Need for glasses if IOL power miscalculated or astigmatism persists.
- Retinal detachment (<1%): Higher risk in myopic patients; causes sudden vision loss; needs urgent surgery.
Report severe pain, sudden vision loss, flashes/floaters, or redness promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes cataracts?
Aging (most common, >60 years), diabetes, prolonged steroid use, UV exposure, smoking, or trauma.
Can I avoid cataract surgery?
No, if vision is significantly impaired; cataracts don’t resolve on their own. Early stages can be managed with glasses or brighter lighting.
Is phacoemulsification painful?
No, performed under local anesthesia; mild discomfort post-surgery for 1–2 days, managed with medication.
How soon can I resume activities?
Light activities in 1–2 days; normal routines in 1–2 weeks; full recovery in 4–6 weeks.
Is cataract surgery covered by insurance in India?
Yes, under most plans and government schemes (e.g., Ayushman Bharat); confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Severe pain, sudden vision loss, flashes/floaters, or increased redness.
Will I need glasses after surgery?
Monofocal IOL: Often need reading glasses; multifocal/toric IOLs reduce this need but are costlier.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Avoid rubbing the eye, use prescribed drops, wear sunglasses to protect from UV, manage chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes), and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Phacoemulsification is a safe, effective procedure to restore vision impaired by cataracts, with a high success rate and quick recovery. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable, expert care, often supported by insurance or government schemes. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult an ophthalmologist for personalized guidance and optimal outcomes.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Cataract surgery
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Ahmedabad |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Ajmer |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Aligarh |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Allahabad |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Amritsar |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Aurangabad |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Bangalore |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Bareilly |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Belgaum |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Bhopal |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Bikaner |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Chandigarh |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Chennai |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Coimbatore |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Dehradun |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Delhi |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Dhanbad |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Durgapur |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Faridabad |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Ghaziabad |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Gorakhpur |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Guntur |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Gurgaon |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Guwahati |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Gwalior |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Hyderabad |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Indore |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Jabalpur |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Jaipur |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Jalandhar |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Jamshedpur |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Jodhpur |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Kanpur |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Kochi |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Kolkata |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Kollam |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Lucknow |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Ludhiana |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Madurai |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Mangalore |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Meerut |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Moradabad |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Mumbai |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Mysore |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Nagpur |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Nashik |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Noida |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Patna |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Pune |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Raipur |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Rajkot |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Ranchi |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Surat |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Thane |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Vadodara |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Varanasi |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.