How much is private cataract surgery

[johnnyb47]

Hi,
My dad is being referred to having his Cataracts removed but he's been advised there's a waiting list of at least 2 years on the NHS.
He's really getting on in his years and waiting two years at his age is going to be a large chunk of what's left of his life.
I really want him to enjoy his last few years to the full as he's young minded and full of energy and positivity plus I love him to bits and just want the best for him.
If he was to go private how much does it cost, because I'm thinking of helping him out with the cost.
All the very best,
Johnny

 

[sheddy]

Locate a local private hospital - Nuffield, Spire etc, then try emailing them

 

[rualexander]

Around £2k+ per eye by the looks of it.
https://lp.opticalexpress.co.uk/cataract-v1-0/

 

[dicko]

That seems a rather long wait perhaps it’s his location that is the problem.
In August 2019 after my Retinopathy exam I was referred to Derby Royal for a cataract to be done on my right eye. After the measurements were taken I had my surgery in January 2020 just prior to Covid.
Edit. In 2022, my brother in law he’d two cataract surgeries privately paid for by NHS. The first was done within six weeks of diagnosis the second a few months later. This one wasn’t successful so was operated on again three months down the line. His location is close to Peterborough.

 

[johnnyb47]

@dicko
That sounds interesting.
Maybe they were giving the worst case scenario to him regarding waiting times.
I was quite surprised and taken back when he said it was going to be around two years.
My first thought was that time is in short supply when you're "shall we say" getting on ,so getting something like this sorted out quickly by going private would be the way to go.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

Waiting lists for a lot of conditions are much longer than ever and, with NHS budgets being constrained, many are cutting back on private referrals and bank staff that would enable them to begin to catch up or, at least, stand still.

 

[vickster]

Locate a local private hospital - Nuffield, Spire etc, then try emailing them

Or phone 👍🏻

 

[PaulSB]

Around £2k+ per eye by the looks of it.
https://lp.opticalexpress.co.uk/cataract-v1-0/

A friend went private recently on the basis she'd rather pay than wait a year. She paid +/- £2000 per eye.

I'm a very strong supporter of the NHS but if I needed this type of surgery or knee, hip, etc. I would go private rather than wait. At 70 I want quality of life, money in the bank won't give me that........unless I spend it.

 

[fossyant]

That's not right. SIL has just had both eyes done. They were only discovered in a routine eye checkup (she couldn't see very well) as a previously didn't need glasses. She was referred and had the first eye done within a week and the second a few weeks later.

 

[dicko]

May I suggest you accompany your father to his doctors and explain the situation, ask for a NHS referral .
I was 71 when I had my cataract removed I was the youngest in the waiting room. It was like a conveyor belt surgery 15 mins in and out. When I was collected by my son there were others arriving for their cataract removal too.
Best of luck.

 

[vickster]

Hi,
My dad is being referred to having his Cataracts removed but he's been advised there's a waiting list of at least 2 years on the NHS.
He's really getting on in his years and waiting two years at his age is going to be a large chunk of what's left of his life.
I really want him to enjoy his last few years to the full as he's young minded and full of energy and positivity plus I love him to bits and just want the best for him.
If he was to go private how much does it cost, because I'm thinking of helping him out with the cost.
All the very best,
Johnny

Is this in Wales? I think wait times are pretty bad there generally.
If you have access to a specialist eye centre locally, probably quicker, similar to around here where there's a dedicated joint replacement centre

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Is this in Wales? I think wait times are pretty bad there generally.
If you have access to a specialist eye centre locally, probably quicker, similar to around here where there's a dedicated joint replacement centre

The recent series Saving Lives in Cardiff featured one of Wales' eye specialists who was running very long waiting lists for surgery, I recall.

 

[vickster]

A friend went private recently on the basis she'd rather pay than wait a year. She paid +/- £2000 per eye.

I'm a very strong supporter of the NHS but if I needed this type of surgery or knee, hip, etc. I would go private rather than wait. At 70 I want quality of life, money in the bank won't give me that........unless I spend it.

Agreed, if he has the money, why wait especially if impacting quality of life, can't take it with you. He'll need a gap between if both eyes need doing so best to get the ball rolling
Do some research into surgeons and then get in touch with their secretaries/hospitals for costs and dates 👍🏻

 

[johnnyb47]

Thank you all ,for all your great replies.
I will start digging around on Monday and try to get in touch with some private practices over it 👍👍

 

[mistyoptic]

That's not right. SIL has just had both eyes done. They were only discovered in a routine eye checkup (she couldn't see very well) as a previously didn't need glasses. She was referred and had the first eye done within a week and the second a few weeks later.

Varies very much from one health board to the next. Different areas also have different qualifying criteria, in terms of current level of vision, needs, first/second eye etc.