Cataract surgery · London
cataract surgery in London: what it costs, and the NHS wait
Prices checked 9 Nov 2026
Cheapest nearby
from£2,000
Optical Express - Great Portland Street Hospital, London · under 1 mile away
Typical price
£2,512
The middle of the 30 published prices within 25 miles.
Range £2,000 to £3,470.
NHS wait in London
10 weeks
Half the people on the NHS eye care list at Imperial College Healthcare had waited longer than this so far (August 2026).
Covers all eye care, not only cataracts.
In short
None of the London providers we profile publishes a price for cataract surgery that we could verify, so this page shows “price on request”. Checked 9 November 2026.
In August 2026, the median wait for NHS eye care (ophthalmology) ranged from 9.6 weeks at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to 12.2 weeks at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, against 10.4 weeks across England.
The health regulator (CQC) lists 1317 independent healthcare places in London, including 27 with overnight beds and 168 diagnostic or screening services.
Where to get cataract surgery near London
Sort by
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Optical Express - Great Portland Street Hospital
London · under 1 mile away
from£2,000cataract surgery (per eye)
What’s included: A “from” price per eye. Optical Express says the first consultation is free. Check with the clinic what’s included for your lens choice.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Optical Express - Great Portland Street Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included Free -
Optical Express - London (Harley Street) Hospital
London · 1 miles away
from£2,000cataract surgery (per eye)
What’s included: A “from” price per eye. Optical Express says the first consultation is free. Check with the clinic what’s included for your lens choice.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Optical Express - London (Harley Street) Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included Free -
Optical Express - London (White City) Hospital
London · 4 miles away
from£2,000cataract surgery (per eye)
What’s included: A “from” price per eye. Optical Express says the first consultation is free. Check with the clinic what’s included for your lens choice.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Optical Express - London (White City) Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included Free -
Optical Express - Dartford Hospital
Dartford · 17 miles away
from£2,000cataract surgery (per eye)
What’s included: A “from” price per eye. Optical Express says the first consultation is free. Check with the clinic what’s included for your lens choice.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Optical Express - Dartford Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included Free -
The London Independent Hospital
London · 4 miles away
£2,035cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, The London Independent Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1,835 · Not included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
The Blackheath Hospital
London · 7 miles away
£2,035cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, The Blackheath Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1,835 · Not included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
Hendon Hospital
London · 7 miles away
£2,035cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Hendon Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1,835 · Not included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
Syon Clinic
Brentford · 9 miles away
£2,035cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Syon Clinic Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1,835 · Not included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
The Sloane Hospital
Beckenham · 9 miles away
£2,035cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, The Sloane Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1,835 · Not included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
Shirley Oaks Hospital
Croydon · 9 miles away
£2,035cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Shirley Oaks Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1,835 · Not included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
The Cavell Hospital
Enfield · 11 miles away
£2,035cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, The Cavell Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1,835 · Not included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
The Kings Oak Hospital
London · 11 miles away
£2,035cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, The Kings Oak Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1,835 · Not included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
Chelsfield Park Hospital
Orpington · 15 miles away
£2,035cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Chelsfield Park Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1,835 · Not included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
The Runnymede Hospital
Chertsey · 19 miles away
£2,035cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £ 200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, The Runnymede Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £ 200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1835 · Not included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
Practice Plus Group Hospital, Ilford
Ilford · 11 miles away
£2,099cataract surgery – standard monofocal lens
What’s included: A fixed treatment price. The first consultation costs £145 on top; Practice Plus says that includes a nurse assessment, any blood tests and swabs needed, and an X-ray if required.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Ilford Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Not included £145 (charged separately) -
Ashtead Hospital
Ashtead · 16 miles away
from£2,924cataract surgery
What’s included: Ramsay calls this a guide price (a “from” price). Its page doesn’t list what’s included, so check with the hospital.
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Optegra Eye Hospital London
London · 1 miles away
£2,995standard cataract treatment (per eye)
What’s included: A fixed price per eye. Optegra says the package includes a free consultation and eye tests, the surgery, and aftercare with follow-up appointments and any medicines needed; laser treatment for clouding (YAG) within one or two years if needed, depending on the package.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Optegra Eye Hospital London Stage In the price? As published Surgery and follow-up aftercare Included -
Optegra London
London · 8 miles away
£2,995standard cataract treatment (per eye)
What’s included: A fixed price per eye. Optegra says the package includes a free consultation and eye tests, the surgery, and aftercare with follow-up appointments and any medicines needed; laser treatment for clouding (YAG) within one or two years if needed, depending on the package.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Optegra London Stage In the price? As published Surgery and follow-up aftercare Included -
Optegra West London
Hounslow · 10 miles away
£2,995standard cataract treatment (per eye)
What’s included: A fixed price per eye. Optegra says the package includes a free consultation and eye tests, the surgery, and aftercare with follow-up appointments and any medicines needed; laser treatment for clouding (YAG) within one or two years if needed, depending on the package.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Optegra West London Stage In the price? As published Surgery and follow-up aftercare Included -
Spire Gatwick Park Hospital
Horley · 24 miles away
from£3,000cataract surgery with eyesight correction
What’s included: Spire’s fixed self-pay package. Spire says it covers tests before your operation, the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, nursing, medicines and food during your stay, and any standard implant, plus aftercare: follow-up appointments, stitches, dressings and up to 14 days of medicines. The first consultation is £219 on top.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Spire Gatwick Park Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £219 Treatment Included from £2,781 Aftercare Included Included -
Bishops Wood Hospital
London · 16 miles away
£3,181cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Bishops Wood Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £1,892 · Included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
North Downs Hospital
Caterham · 16 miles away
from£3,185cataract surgery
What’s included: Ramsay calls this a guide price (a “from” price). Its page doesn’t list what’s included, so check with the hospital.
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Spire St Anthonys Hospital
Sutton · 10 miles away
from£3,218cataract surgery with eyesight correction
What’s included: Spire’s fixed self-pay package. Spire says it covers tests before your operation, the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, nursing, medicines and food during your stay, and any standard implant, plus aftercare: follow-up appointments, stitches, dressings and up to 14 days of medicines. The first consultation is £233 on top.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Spire St Anthonys Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £233 Treatment Included from £2,985 Aftercare Included Included -
Spire Harpenden Hospital
Harpenden · 24 miles away
from£3,231cataract surgery with eyesight correction
What’s included: Spire’s fixed self-pay package. Spire says it covers tests before your operation, the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, nursing, medicines and food during your stay, and any standard implant, plus aftercare: follow-up appointments, stitches, dressings and up to 14 days of medicines. The first consultation is £228 on top.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Spire Harpenden Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £228 Treatment Included from £3,003 Aftercare Included Included -
The Clementine Churchill Hospital
Harrow · 10 miles away
£3,240cataract removal & lens implant - one eye
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £200). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, The Clementine Churchill Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £200 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £3,040 · Included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
Spire Thames Valley Hospital
Slough · 19 miles away
from£3,259cataract surgery with eyesight correction
What’s included: Spire’s fixed self-pay package. Spire says it covers tests before your operation, the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, nursing, medicines and food during your stay, and any standard implant, plus aftercare: follow-up appointments, stitches, dressings and up to 14 days of medicines. The first consultation is £243 on top.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Spire Thames Valley Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £243 Treatment Included from £3,016 Aftercare Included Included -
Spire Hartswood Hospital
Brentwood · 19 miles away
from£3,275cataract surgery with eyesight correction
What’s included: Spire’s fixed self-pay package. Spire says it covers tests before your operation, the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, nursing, medicines and food during your stay, and any standard implant, plus aftercare: follow-up appointments, stitches, dressings and up to 14 days of medicines. The first consultation is £231 on top.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Spire Hartswood Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £231 Treatment Included from £3,044 Aftercare Included Included -
Spire London East Hospital
Ilford · 9 miles away
from£3,314cataract surgery with eyesight correction
What’s included: Spire’s fixed self-pay package. Spire says it covers tests before your operation, the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, nursing, medicines and food during your stay, and any standard implant, plus aftercare: follow-up appointments, stitches, dressings and up to 14 days of medicines. The first consultation is £248 on top.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Spire London East Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £248 Treatment Included from £3,066 Aftercare Included Included -
Nuffield Health Woking Hospital
Woking · 22 miles away
£3,405cataract surgery - one eye - standard lens
What’s included: Nuffield’s guide price for the treatment. Nuffield says tests before treatment are charged separately, and you get a fixed, all-inclusive price after your first consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Nuffield Health Woking Hospital Stage In the price? As published Diagnostic Investigations Not included Charged separately Main treatment Included £3,405 -
Spire Bushey Hospital
Bushey · 13 miles away
from£3,470cataract surgery with eyesight correction
What’s included: Spire’s fixed self-pay package. Spire says it covers tests before your operation, the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, nursing, medicines and food during your stay, and any standard implant, plus aftercare: follow-up appointments, stitches, dressings and up to 14 days of medicines. The first consultation is £250 on top.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Spire Bushey Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £250 Treatment Included from £3,220 Aftercare Included Included
Prices the hospitals and clinics publish on their own websites, not quotes. Nobody pays to be listed. Distances are straight-line miles from London city centre.
Hospital list prices nearby
8 hospitals within 25 miles of London publish a self-pay list price for cataract surgery, ranging from £2,000 to £2,995. They belong to Circle Health Group, Optegra and Optical Express. These are the hospitals’ own published figures, read from each source page on 9 November 2026; what a list price covers differs between groups.
Optical Express - Great Portland Street Hospital (Westminster), in the city itself, lists cataract surgery (per eye) from £2,000; it has no published CQC rating yet.
Optical Express - London (Harley Street) Hospital (Westminster), in the city itself, lists cataract surgery (per eye) from £2,000; CQC rates the hospital good (report published November 2022).
Optegra Eye Hospital London (Westminster), in the city itself, lists standard cataract treatment (per eye) at £2,995; CQC rates the hospital good (report published November 2022).
The London Independent Hospital (Tower Hamlets), about 4 miles from the centre of London, lists cataract removal & lens implant - one eye at £2,035; CQC rates the hospital good (report published September 2019).
Optical Express - London (White City) Hospital (Hammersmith and Fulham), about 4 miles from the centre of London, lists cataract surgery (per eye) from £2,000; CQC rates the hospital good (report published January 2023).
The Blackheath Hospital (Lewisham), about 7 miles from the centre of London, lists cataract removal & lens implant - one eye at £2,035; CQC rates the hospital good (report published May 2019).
Hendon Hospital (Barnet), about 7 miles from the centre of London, lists cataract removal & lens implant - one eye at £2,035; CQC rates the hospital good (report published September 2026).
Optegra London (Barnet), about 8 miles from the centre of London, lists standard cataract treatment (per eye) at £2,995; CQC rates the hospital good (report published April 2023).
Private or NHS?
- Cost. Free on the NHS. Privately £2,000 to £3,470 across 30 published prices within 25 miles.
- Wait. Half the people on the NHS eye care waiting list at Imperial College Healthcare had waited longer than 10 weeks so far (August 2026).
Not sure which is right for you? Your GP can refer you on the NHS and talk through your options.
The NHS wait for eye care
| NHS trust | Median wait | Under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | 9.6 wks | 75.7% |
| Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust | 12.2 wks | 66.0% |
| England | 10.4 wks | 72.2% |
In August 2026, the median wait for NHS eye care (ophthalmology) ranged from 9.6 weeks at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to 12.2 weeks at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, against 10.4 weeks across England.
At Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, 0 of the 5,384 people waiting had waited more than a year, and nine in ten had waited 30 weeks or less. At Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, 0 of the 7,362 people waiting had waited more than a year, and nine in ten had waited 34 weeks or less.
Ophthalmology covers all eye conditions, not only cataracts. NHS England does not publish cataract waits separately. Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times, August 2026 data, published 8 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. See the full local picture on Waiting Times UK.
Where else to look in London
These 5 providers in the London area are on the CQC register. We list providers alphabetically and say why each is listed. Nobody pays to appear.
Cromwell Hospital
Cromwell Road, London SW5 0TU
Hospital registered for surgical procedures. Cataract surgery not confirmed: ask.
King Edward VII’s Hospital
5-10 Beaumont Street, London W1G 6AA
Hospital registered for surgical procedures. Cataract surgery not confirmed: ask.
HCA Healthcare UK London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street, London SE1 2PR
Hospital registered for surgical procedures. Cataract surgery not confirmed: ask.
The London Clinic
20 Devonshire Place, London W1G 6BW
Hospital registered for surgical procedures. Cataract surgery not confirmed: ask.
Spire London East Hospital
Roding Lane South, Ilford, Essex IG4 5PZ
Hospital registered for surgical procedures. Cataract surgery not confirmed: ask.
22 other registered clinics in London that may be relevant
Their names and registrations suggest they may be relevant. We haven’t checked their services or prices.
- Accuvision Eye Care Clinic - London SW6 4LS · rated Good
- Community Health and Eyecare Limited (CHEC - New Cross) SE14 6BW · rated Good
- David Gartry Eye Surgery Ltd W1G 8SD · rated Good
- Elan Laser Clinics W1H 6AZ · not yet rated
- Eye Clinic London Ltd W1W 5DY · not yet rated
- Harley Street Eye Centre W1G 9BP · rated Good
- Harley Street Eye Clinic W1G 7HP · rated Good
- Infinity Eye Clinic Limited W1G 9PF · rated Good
- Laser Eye Clinic London SW3 1PY · not yet rated
- London Vision Clinic W1G 7LA · rated Good
- Moorfields Private Eye Centre W1G 8TL · rated Good
- OCL Vision W1G 9TF · rated Good
- OCL Vision Kensington W14 8NS · not yet rated
- Optegra Eye Hospital London W1G 9HT · rated Good
- Optegra London NW9 6BX · rated Good
And 7 more on the register.
Before you book
With 27 independent locations with overnight beds on the CQC register, London offers more choice than anywhere else in the UK, and prices vary widely between hospitals and consultants.
Ask whether a quote is per eye, which lens it includes and whether the assessment and follow-up checks are in the price.
More in London and elsewhere
Where these figures come from
Prices: read from each provider’s own website on the date shown next to each price. We store the price, what the page says it includes, the link and the date.
Provider details are from the CQC register (downloaded 9 November 2026), under the Open Government Licence. A CQC rating describes the whole location, not a particular treatment.
Ophthalmology covers all eye conditions, not only cataracts. NHS England does not publish cataract waits separately. Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times, August 2026 data, published 8 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. See the full local picture on Waiting Times UK.
Typical price is the middle (median) of the published prices within 25 miles, shown only when there are at least four.
Independent. We’re not part of the NHS or any hospital, we’re not clinicians, and nothing here is medical advice. Hospitals can’t pay to appear or to change their position.
