How much a Cataract surgery cost in India?

There is no fixed formula to calculate the right cost of the cataract surgery, Still there are few tips that can help to understand how the pricing of the cataract surgery works. Ii will help you understand what exactly are you opting for.

CONTENT

What is a cataract surgery package?

Usual cataract surgery packages in a different type of eye hospitals

Common Surgical Techniques for Cataract

What type of lens should be implanted?

How to choose the right Hospitals for cataract surgery?

What makes a cataract surgery package expensive?

Insurance Coverage for cataract treatment

Complications and Risks with Cataract Surgery

What is a cataract surgery package?

Most of the cataract surgeons in India practice what they call surgical packages for what they charge for doing cataract surgeries. It is mainly limited to uncomplicated age-related cataract done under without giving the general anesthesia.

The cataract surgery packages usually include the following

Work-up of the patient before surgery, including the calculation if Lens power.

All medicines, disposable surgical items, Lens, and other implants used before and during the surgery.

Surgeons fee, Anesthesia charges, Nursing Charges, Operation room charges

The cataract surgery packages may not include following

Room charges, meals, etc.

Management of complication during surgery

Consultation with a specialist of other specialties

Follow up consultation after surgery

Medicines and Glasses prescribed after the surgery.

Usual cataract surgery packages in a different type of eye hospitals

Cost of cataract surgery in Government funded  hospitals

Common Surgical Techniques for Cataract

The Cataract surgery cost in India depends on many factors. None the less, type of surgery is an important one .

Phaco Cataract Surgery or Phacoemulsification –

It is the traditional cataract eye surgery. Under it, hand-held instruments used to reach the cataract. it is later broken by ultrasonic energy to remove these pieces from the eyes with gentle suction. It is stitch-free cataract surgery.

Robotic Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery –

Femtosecond Laser technology is an advanced technology for cataract surgery available throughout the world. Done with the laser it takes less than a minute.

The average cost of cataract surgery falls between 20,000 INR to 65,000 INR for each eye for Phacoemulsification.

While for the Femtosecond Laser technology can cost in between 60,000 INR to 90,000 INR.

The most common surgery done for age-related cataract is Phaco-emulsification with posterior chamber lens implantation, commonly known as Phaco. But, it’s neither required nor possible in every patient. Certain conditions in a given patient may need other surgical methods.

You should discuss with your doctor which surgery is best in your situation. At least, you should never insist on a particular type of surgery with your doctor.

What type of lens should be implanted?

 Indian Mono -focal foldable lens

The posterior chamber lens is commonly used unless it is not possible to do so due to medical reasons. The rigid and fold-able. Fold-able lenses are better. They are available by different brands, and place of manufacturing (Indian /imported). Often the imported lens is expensive.

But, I could not find a single scientific report which says that visual gain after surgery has any relation with the brand or the place of manufacturing of lens.

 Foldable lens versus non-foldable (rigid) lens?

Foldable lenses are more popular and expensive that their non-foldable (rigid) counterparts if all other parameters are the same (design, brand, country of origin).

There are only two scientific studies (one from Thailand, other from France ) which were designed to see the difference in the vision and other outcomes after the surgery, among these type of lenses.

 Neither of the two studies reported any difference between the two.

Indian versus imported lenses in cataract surgery

In the eighties and nineties, when ophthalmologists began to switch to lens implantation (rather than leaving the eye without the lens and giving the patient thick glasses).

At that time the lens needed to be imported from the US and Europe, as there were no lens manufacturers in India. Though the imported lenses were of good quality but were very expensive.

In the nineties, some Indian companies started manufacturing lenses in India. The lens manufactured was quite cheap, but the quality was not as good as those of the imported once.

Nowadays there are many Indian companies that are manufacturing the lenses in India, and also exporting it to many other countries, which include the US and Europe. Since they have to meet stringent FDA and EC guidelines for that, the overall quality of lens manufacturers in India matches with any of the manufacturers from abroad.

 So in my view, as far as the quality of the comparable lens (similar lens material and design) is concerned, there is no difference. 

The imported Lens usually cost 3 to 5 times as much as an Indian lens. Various government bodies are raising concerns about this pricing of the lens in India. Quite likely, we may have some government regulation on price control of the lens, in day to come.

Imported: Alcon, AMO, Zeiss, Bausch & Lomb, Hoya.

Indian companies: Appasamy, Omni, Aurolabs, Biotech, Care,

Monofocal Vs a multifocal lens in cataract surgery

 Another critical issue is to decide between monofocal and a multifocal lens. The latter is supposed to provide a functional vision for both near and distance, but the lens is expensive.

But that does not guarantee spectacle free life after the surgery. Some cases may still need glasses for a specific type of task, even after uneventful cataract surgery with a multi-focal lens.

Moreover, it is associated with a particular kind of vision-related complications like glare and reduced contrast of images. If you want to know more, there are many good scientific publications on this issue.

 Discussion with your doctor is the best way out. If you are still in doubt, gamble on the mono-focal lens.

How to choose the right Hospitals for cataract surgery?

Here are some steps to help you select an ophthalmologist for your cataract surgery.

Talk with your family doctor.

  If you know any doctor in your neighborhood,  he is the right person to talk to regarding the selection of eye surgeons for you.

He will guide you in selecting the best ophthalmic surgeon.

Check with family and friends in your area who have had cataract surgery. If they had a positive experience with their own cataract surgery, they will be happy to recommend their ophthalmologist.

Go online to find eye surgeons in your area. Use cataract services listing sites to find the best cataract surgery services providers around you.

 An accredited eye hospital

There is no rule of thumb to identify a good hospital from the rest, but certain general guidelines may be followed.

 Prefer a hospital/ facility recognized by some accreditation agencies like NABH in India.

Cataract surgery Hospitals/ Doctors in India

What makes a cataract surgery package expensive?

The cost of the cataract surgery procedure varies in different situations. it is usually expensive in the following situations

 A corporate hospital.

 Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery

 Imported Intraocular lens

 Multi-focal / Toric / Accommodating / Presbyopia Correcting Lens

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Simple Solutions welcomes the eye surgeon/ hospital to list their cataract surgery services so that patients can find them. If you are interested in listing your cataract surgery services with us, please contact us below.

Insurance Coverage for cataract treatment

Insurance Coverage for cataract treatment

The terms of coverage for cataract may vary from one insurer to another.

There are many health insurance companies in the market that provide coverage for cataract.

However, there are some plans that exclude cataracts from the list of covered illnesses.

You must read the policy document carefully to know whether the cataract is covered in your plan.

Before providing coverage for cataract treatment, a health insurer may set forth certain conditions.

Things to note in health insurance plans

As noted, more and more health insurers in the market have started providing coverage for cataract treatments.

Now, it is not uncommon for someone in their 40s or 50s to get cataracts. Health insurers are aware of this fact. Hence, they provide coverage for cataract only upon satisfaction of certain terms and conditions.

Cashless cataract surgery

Cashless cataract surgery a facility provided by the Insurance agency where an Insured patient can get treatment and the payment is done by the insurance company, directly to the services provider.

Waiting period: Most of the health insurers in the market have disease-specific waiting periods for certain conditions.

Typically, most insurance companies provide cataract coverage after a waiting period of 2 years.

 The waiting period clause is mainly used by insurers to discourage people from taking insurance just for the purpose of cataract surgery. If you enter a health insurance cover at a young age, you will not have any issues getting coverage for cataract surgery.

Sub-limit: For cataract treatments, the full sum insured amount of a health insurance policy may not be available. Specific sub-limits are set for cataract treatments in most health insurance covers. 

Though not common, there are some health insurance plans that do not have any specific sub-limit for this treatment. Therefore, If cataract treatment is a major requirement for you, you must choose your health insurance cover accordingly.

The extent of coverage: Cataract is not a disease that spreads from one eye to another. However, if you have a cataract in one eye, there is an increased possibility of getting cataract in the other eye also.

Hence, it is better to check whether the sub-limit available for cataract treatment is available for each eye.

Also, check for any other provisions when it comes to getting treatment for both eyes.

Complications and Risks with Cataract Surgery

Every surgery has some negative outcomes. The thing is, one should always try to balance the risks against the projected benefits. There are risks and complications with Cataract Surgery. They include but are not limited to the following.

Specific risks to eye and vision during cataract surgery

1. A cloudy cornea that may or may not settle. This may require further surgery. Corneal edema/corneal decompensation: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) premarket approval studies for intraocular lenses performed from 1978-1982 found an incidence of postoperative corneal edema of 0.06% for posterior chamber lenses, 1.2% for anterior chamber lenses, and 1.5% for iris fixated lenses. George Corrent, MD PhD Ophthalmology & Neurophysiology, Washington Univ/BPEI (1989)
2. An acute inflammatory reaction causing pain. This may need further treatment. A fragment of the cataract may fall into the back of the eye. This may require further surgery.
3. Vitreous loss: If the posterior capsule is ruptured during surgery, there is a high chance that the posterior vitreous will prolapse, necessitating additional surgery (vitrectomy). This usually necessitates and change in the planned lens implant, and increases the risks of endophthalmitis, CME, inflammation, and retinal detachment. George Corrent, MD PhD Ophthalmology & Neurophysiology, Washington Univ/BPEI (1989)
4. Infection of the eye which could cause loss of vision or loss of the eye. Endophthalmitis: Usually bacterial infection of the interior of the eye. Sterile endophthalmitis does occur but is rarely as devastating. The risk runs from about 0.1% to 0.03% depending on the study, the population being studied, the surgeons, and the use of antibiotic prophylaxis. Corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less is a result of about 30–40% of cases. About 50% of cases will recover to 20/40 or better George Current, MD PhD Ophthalmology & Neurophysiology, Washington Univ/BPEI (1989
5. Glaucoma (eye disease). This may need further treatment.
6. Macular edema (collection of fluid); and retinal hemorrhage (bleed). This usually settles with time.
7. CME (cystoid macular edema): older studies show a high incidence (30–40%)[2]of angiographic CME. Many of these patients do not notice that their vision is affected by the swelling, and the fluid goes away without additional treatment. Other forms of CME following cataract surgery (associated with diabetes and diabetic macular edema, or with inflammation/uveitis-iritis) can have more deleterious and long lasting effects on vision.George Corrent, MD PhD Ophthalmology & Neurophysiology, Washington Univ/BPEI (1989)
8. Retinal detachment may occur. This will require further treatment.

Any of these complications may occur but these complications are now rare. Moreover, Any of these complications may permanently damage sight. Also, Any of these complications may involve a second operation being necessary.

General risks associated with Cataract Surgery.

1. Infection can occur, requiring antibiotics and further treatment.
2. Bleeding could occur and may require a return to the operating room. It is more common if you have been taking blood-thinning drugs such as Warfarin, Asprin, Clopidogrel (Plavix or Iscover) or Dipyridamole (Persantin or Asasantin).
3. Small areas of the lung can collapse, increasing the risk of chest infection. This may need antibiotics and physiotherapy.
4. Increased risk in obese people of wound infection, chest infection, heart and lung complications, and thrombosis.
5. Heart attack or stroke could occur due to the strain on the heart.
6. A blood clot in the leg (DVT) causing pain and swelling. In rare cases, part of the clot may break off and go to the lungs.
7. Death as a result of this procedure is possible.

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