Eye surgery · Luton
Cataract surgery in Luton: what it costs, and the NHS wait
Prices checked 9 Nov 2026
Cheapest nearby
from£2,000
Optical Express - Milton Keynes Hospital, Milton Keynes · 18 miles away
Typical price
£2,872
The middle of 12 published cataract surgery prices within 25 miles.
NHS wait so far
12 weeks
Half the people on the ophthalmology list at Bedfordshire Hospitals had waited longer than this (August 2026).
Time waited so far by everyone on the list. It can’t tell you your own wait.
Prices near Luton
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Optical Express - Milton Keynes Hospital
Milton Keynes · 18 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 - Milton Keynes Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included Free -
The Saxon Clinic
Milton Keynes · 16 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 Saxon 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 Manor Hospital
Bedford · 17 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 Manor 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 · 21 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 -
The Cavell Hospital
Enfield · 21 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 -
Pinehill Hospital
Hitchin · 7.9 miles away
from£2,750Cataract 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 London
London · 22 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 -
The Chiltern Hospital
Great Missenden · 18 miles away
£3,146Cataract removal & lens insertion - 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 £250). Not included: tests before treatment. Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, The Chiltern Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £250 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included From £2,896 · Included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
Bishops Wood Hospital
London · 19 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 -
Spire Harpenden Hospital
Harpenden · 5.3 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 -
Spire Bushey Hospital
Bushey · 18 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 -
Optegra London
London · 22 miles away
£3,695Enhanced 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
Prices the hospitals publish on their own websites, not quotes. Nobody pays to be listed. Distances are straight-line miles from the centre of Luton.
Hospital by hospital
Spire Harpenden Hospital, Harpenden, 5.3 miles away (Spire Healthcare; CQC Good, report January 2017). Cataract surgery from £3,231 (first consultation £228 included; aftercare included), £1,231 above the local lowest.
Pinehill Hospital, Hitchin, 7.9 miles away (Ramsay Health Care UK; CQC Good, report March 2019). Cataract surgery from £2,750 (single guide figure, no breakdown), £750 above the local lowest.
The Saxon Clinic, Milton Keynes, 16 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report December 2019). Cataract surgery £2,035 (first consultation £200 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £35 above the local lowest.
The Manor Hospital, Bedford, 17 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report July 2018). Cataract surgery £2,035 (first consultation £200 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £35 above the local lowest.
Optical Express - Milton Keynes Hospital, Milton Keynes, 18 miles away (Optical Express; not yet rated by CQC). Cataract surgery from £2,000, the lowest locally.
The Chiltern Hospital, Great Missenden, 18 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report November 2021). Cataract surgery £3,146 (first consultation £250 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £1,146 above the local lowest.
Spire Bushey Hospital, Bushey, 18 miles away (Spire Healthcare; CQC Good, report December 2021). Cataract surgery from £3,470 (first consultation £250 included; aftercare included), £1,470 above the local lowest.
Bishops Wood Hospital, London, 19 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report October 2021). Cataract surgery £3,181 (first consultation £200 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £1,181 above the local lowest.
The Kings Oak Hospital, London, 21 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report August 2022). Cataract surgery £2,035 (first consultation £200 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £35 above the local lowest.
The Cavell Hospital, Enfield, 21 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report August 2019). Cataract surgery £2,035 (first consultation £200 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £35 above the local lowest.
How the prices compare
Cataract surgery: 12 local prices span £1,695, from £2,000 to £3,695; the UK median across 187 published prices is £2,995. The nearest, Spire Harpenden Hospital, is £1,231 dearer than the cheapest.
5 to 10 miles of central Luton: Spire Harpenden Hospital (5.3 miles) and Pinehill Hospital (7.9 miles).
10 to 25 miles of central Luton: The Saxon Clinic (16 miles), The Manor Hospital (17 miles), Optical Express - Milton Keynes Hospital (18 miles), The Chiltern Hospital (18 miles), Spire Bushey Hospital (18 miles), Bishops Wood Hospital (19 miles), The Kings Oak Hospital (21 miles), The Cavell Hospital (21 miles) and Optegra London (22 miles).
Typical for cataract surgery: usually a day case.
Tip: count the journeys for the consultation, the procedure and follow-up when weighing a cheaper hospital further away.
Private or NHS?
- Cost. cataract surgery £2,000 to £3,695 at 11 hospitals. Free on the NHS.
- Wait. Bedfordshire Hospitals: half had waited over 12 weeks; 9 in 10 within 34 weeks. England: 10 weeks.
Private hospitals usually ask for a referral letter or a consultation first. Not sure which is right for you? Your GP can refer you on the NHS and talk through your options.
The NHS wait near Luton
| NHS trust | Median wait | Under 18 weeks | Over a year | 9 in 10 within | On the list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 11.8 wks | 69.5% | 3 | 34 wks | 3,863 |
| East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust | 8.3 wks | 79.3% | 29 | 33 wks | 2,618 |
| England | 10.4 wks | 72.2% | 5,022 | 33 wks | 625,063 |
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2.1 miles from Luton: 3,863 people on the ophthalmology list, 69.5% within 18 weeks, 3 over a year, nine in ten within 34 weeks.
East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, 9.3 miles from Luton: 2,618 people on the ophthalmology list, 79.3% within 18 weeks, 29 over a year, nine in ten within 33 weeks.
These figures cover everyone on the trust’s ophthalmology list, not only people waiting for cataract surgery, and describe time waited so far, not how long a new referral will take.
Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times, August 2026 data, published 8 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Month-by-month figures: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on Waiting Times UK, East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust on Waiting Times UK.
Other clinics nearby
The CQC register lists 9 independent eye clinics and hospitals registered with the CQC to do surgery within 19 miles: 2 good, 1 requires improvement, 6 not yet rated. 1 of them publish a price we could check here; ask the others directly.
The 9 nearest
| Location | Distance | Rating (CQC) | Price shown above? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpaMedica Luton | 2.1 miles | Not yet rated | No |
| Community Health and Eyecare Limited (CHEC - Stevenage) | 9.5 miles | Not yet rated | No |
| Hertfordshire Newmedica Limited | 11 miles | Not yet rated | No |
| SpaMedica Watford | 16 miles | Good | No |
| Community Health and Eyecare Limited (CHEC - Watford) | 17 miles | Requires improvement | No |
| Optimax Laser Eye Clinics - Milton Keynes | 17 miles | Not yet rated | No |
| Optical Express – Milton Keynes Hospital | 18 miles | Not yet rated | Yes |
| SpaMedica Bedford | 18 miles | Good | No |
| OCL Vision Herts | 18 miles | Not yet rated | No |
Questions to ask before booking
- Ask Bishops Wood Hospital, The Cavell Hospital and The Chiltern Hospital what tests before treatment would cost: their published breakdown lists them as not included.
- Ask Pinehill Hospital for an itemised quote, as its price is published as a single figure.
- For cataract surgery, weigh Optical Express - Milton Keynes Hospital (18 miles) against Spire Harpenden Hospital (5.3 miles): the £1,231 saving comes with a longer trip, so ask each how many follow-up visits are included.
- Ask whether the price is per eye and which lens it includes.
Nearby
Cataract surgery in nearby places
- Watford 17 miles
- Slough 27 miles
- Oxford 37 miles
- Ely 45 miles
- Peterborough 47 miles
- Basingstoke 52 miles
- Southend-on-Sea 53 miles
- Crawley 55 miles
Other treatments near Luton
This page also covers 1 nearby place with the same hospitals and NHS trust: Hitchin.
Where these figures come from
Prices: from each hospital’s own price page and breakdown on the date shown next to each price. We store the price, what the page says it includes, the link and the date.
Each hospital group describes its prices differently (guide prices, fixed packages or “from” prices), so read what’s included before comparing totals.
Clinic details and ratings: CQC register (HSCA Active Locations, downloaded 9 November 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0. A rating describes the whole location, not one treatment.
Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times, August 2026 data, published 8 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Month-by-month figures: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on Waiting Times UK, East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust 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.