Self-pay prices · checked 26 September 2026
Private cataract surgery cost in the UK
The main UK private hospital groups publish self-pay prices for cataract surgery from £2,000 to about £5,381. On the NHS it is free: half of the ophthalmology patients on the waiting list in July 2026 had waited longer than 10.2 weeks. Cataract surgery NHS waiting times by hospital.
Published prices by hospital group
Prices as shown on each group’s own website. Where a group lists different prices at each hospital we show the lowest and highest.
| Provider | From | Up to |
|---|---|---|
| Optical ExpressPrice list | £2,000 | – |
| Practice Plus GroupPrice list | £2,099 | – |
| Circle Health GroupPrice list | £2,375 | £3,200 |
| SpaMedica (Freedom Vision)Price list | £2,395 | £4,350 |
| Spire HealthcarePrice list | £2,551 | £5,381 |
| Ramsay Health Care UKPrice list | £2,559 | £4,047 |
| Nuffield HealthPrice list | £2,870 | £4,210 |
| OptegraPrice list | £2,995 | £4,195 |
| One HealthcarePrice list | £4,500 | – |
Prices change and depend on your consultant’s assessment. Always get a fixed quote. NHSQueue is independent and is not paid by these providers.
Before you pay: a shorter NHS wait may be free
Many of these hospitals also treat NHS patients. When you are referred you can usually choose the provider with the shortest list.
Questions about the cost of cataract surgery
How much does a private cataract surgery cost in the UK?
Published self-pay prices at the main UK private hospital groups start from about £2,000 and go up to about £5,381, depending on the hospital and what is included. Prices were checked on 26 September 2026.
Can I have cataract surgery at a private hospital on the NHS?
Often, yes. Many private hospitals treat NHS patients for free under an NHS contract. When your GP refers you, you can usually choose one of them under your NHS right to choose, which can mean a shorter wait at no cost.
Will health insurance pay for cataract surgery?
Private medical insurance usually covers new conditions after the policy starts. Conditions you already have, or have had symptoms of, are normally excluded, so a new policy is unlikely to pay for treatment you are already waiting for.
What should a private price include?
Ask for a fixed, all-inclusive price in writing. Check whether it covers the initial consultation, scans and tests, the surgeon's and anaesthetist's fees, the hospital stay, follow-up appointments and treatment of complications.
Prices collected from provider websites on 26 September 2026. This is general information, not financial or medical advice.
Sources: NHS England statistics on referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times (July 2026), A&E attendances (August 2026), diagnostic waiting times (DM01) and cancer waiting times, published 10 September 2026; hospital sites from the nhs.uk organisation data. Figures are checked against the official national totals before every update.
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