Cataract Surgery Cost Without Insurance - 2026 Pricing Guide

Updated September 24, 2026. Medicare figures are 2026 national averages from Medicare.gov, and the cash price example comes from the facility's own website, both checked on that date.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations in the United States. The National Eye Institute says that by age 80, most people either have cataracts or have had cataract surgery, and that 9 out of 10 people who have the surgery see better afterward. The surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial one called an intraocular lens (IOL).

Setting comparison: Medicare's national averages

Medicare's Procedure Price Lookup lists national averages for CPT 66984, cataract removal with insertion of a lens implant, in 2026. These are Medicare payment rates per eye, not cash prices.

Cost component (CPT 66984, per eye, 2026 national average)	Ambulatory surgical center	Hospital outpatient department
Facility fee	$1,255	$2,357
Doctor fee	$462	$462
Total	$1,717	$2,819
Medicare pays	$1,374	$2,256
Patient pays (Medicare coinsurance)	$343	$563

For a self-pay comparison, the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, which publishes cash prices, listed Cataract Surgery (one side) at $4,800 on September 24, 2026. We cite it as an example of a published price, not a recommendation.

Standard vs. premium lens implants

Lens type	What it does	Medicare coverage
Conventional (standard) IOL	Replaces the cloudy lens	Covered. You pay the Part B deductible, then 20% of the Medicare-approved amount
Astigmatism-correcting (toric) IOL	Also corrects astigmatism	Surgery covered as for a conventional lens; you pay the extra charges for the astigmatism-correcting lens and its fitting (CMS Ruling 1536-R)
Presbyopia-correcting IOL	Also corrects presbyopia, the age-related loss of near focus	Surgery covered as for a conventional lens; you pay the extra charges for the presbyopia-correcting lens and its fitting (CMS Ruling 05-01)

CMS guidance is specific: providers may charge Medicare patients only for the part of the lens charge, and the fitting and vision testing, that exceeds what a conventional lens would require. Steps that are part of standard cataract surgery, such as the incision and lens removal, may not be charged to the patient, whether the surgeon uses a blade or a laser.

After surgery that implants a lens, Medicare Part B also covers one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames, or one set of contact lenses.

How to choose a lens and a facility

1. Decide on the lens first, with your surgeon. Ask whether a standard lens will meet your needs, and whether you would still need glasses afterward.
2. If you are offered a premium lens, get the extra charge in writing, per eye. On Medicare, that extra amount is the only part you should pay beyond your normal deductible and coinsurance.
3. Compare an ambulatory surgical center with a hospital outpatient department. Medicare's averages above show the facility fee nearly doubles in the hospital setting.
4. Paying cash? Ask for an all-inclusive price per eye covering surgeon, facility, anesthesia, the lens, and follow-up visits, and request a Good Faith Estimate.
5. Ask about the second eye. If both eyes need surgery, ask whether the price for the second eye differs.

You can compare local prices on our cataract surgery cost page.

Sources

• Medicare.gov, Procedure Price Lookup, CPT 66984. 2026 national averages. Checked September 24, 2026.
• Medicare.gov, Cataract surgery coverage. Checked September 24, 2026.
• CMS, Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery and CMS Rulings 05-01 and 1536-R (PDF). Checked September 24, 2026.
• National Eye Institute, Cataracts. Checked September 24, 2026.
• Surgery Center of Oklahoma, Surgery Prices. Checked September 24, 2026.
• CMS, Good Faith Estimate guide. Checked September 24, 2026.