Eye surgery · Maidstone
Cataract surgery in Maidstone: what it costs, and the NHS wait
Prices checked 9 Nov 2026
Cheapest nearby
£175
Southend Private Hospital, Westcliff-on-Sea · 21 miles away
Typical price
£3,007
The middle of 12 published cataract surgery prices within 25 miles.
NHS wait so far
9 weeks
Half the people on the ophthalmology list at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells 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 Maidstone
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Southend Private Hospital
Westcliff-on-Sea · 21 miles away
£175Cataract Surgery
What’s included: Circle’s guide price. Circle says it covers your first consultation, the operation and care after you go home (first consultation £175). Circle confirms the final price after your consultation.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Southend Private Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £175 Diagnostic Investigations N/a Yes Main treatment Included £3,165 · Included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
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 -
Chelsfield Park Hospital
Orpington · 18 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 Sloane Hospital
Beckenham · 25 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 -
Practice Plus Group Hospital, Gillingham
Gillingham · 8.0 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, Gillingham Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Not included £145 (charged separately) -
Optegra Maidstone
West Malling · 5.5 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 Maidstone Stage In the price? As published Surgery and follow-up aftercare Included -
Spire Alexandra Hospital
Chatham · 4.0 miles away
from£3,019Cataract 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 £188 on top.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Spire Alexandra Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £188 Treatment Included from £2,831 Aftercare Included Included -
Spire Wellesley Hospital
Southend-on-Sea · 22 miles away
from£3,297Cataract 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 £216 on top.
Price breakdown, as published
Published price breakdown, Spire Wellesley Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £216 Treatment Included from £3,081 Aftercare Included Included -
KIMS Hospital, Maidstone
Maidstone · 1.9 miles away
from£3,348Cataract Surgery
What’s included: KIMS calls this a guide “from” price. Its page doesn’t list what’s included, so check with the hospital.
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Chaucer Hospital
Canterbury · 24 miles away
£3,475Cataract Surgery
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, Chaucer Hospital Stage In the price? As published Initial consultation Included £250 Diagnostic Investigations Not included Not included Main treatment Included £3,225 · Included Post discharge care Included Included · Included -
Optegra Maidstone
West Malling · 5.5 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 Maidstone Stage In the price? As published Surgery and follow-up aftercare Included -
Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital
Tunbridge Wells · 14 miles away
£4,030Cataract 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 Tunbridge Wells Hospital Stage In the price? As published Diagnostic Investigations Not included Charged separately Main treatment Included £4,030
Prices the hospitals publish on their own websites, not quotes. Nobody pays to be listed. Distances are straight-line miles from the centre of Maidstone.
Hospital by hospital
KIMS Hospital, Maidstone, Maidstone, 1.9 miles away (KIMS Hospital; CQC Good, report October 2019). Cataract surgery from £3,348 (single guide figure, no breakdown), £3,173 above the local lowest.
Spire Alexandra Hospital, Chatham, 4.0 miles away (Spire Healthcare; CQC Requires improvement, report September 2017). Cataract surgery from £3,019 (first consultation £188 included; aftercare included), £2,844 above the local lowest.
Optegra Maidstone, West Malling, 5.5 miles away (Optegra; CQC Good, report October 2026). Cataract surgery £2,995 (Standard Cataract Treatment (per eye)) or £3,695 (Enhanced Cataract Treatment (per eye)), £2,820 above the local lowest.
Practice Plus Group Hospital, Gillingham, Gillingham, 8.0 miles away (Practice Plus Group; CQC Good, report November 2022). Cataract surgery £2,099, £1,924 above the local lowest.
Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, 14 miles away (Nuffield Health; CQC Good, report July 2017). Cataract surgery £4,030 (tests before treatment not included), £3,855 above the local lowest.
Optical Express - Dartford Hospital, Dartford, 17 miles away (Optical Express; CQC Good, report June 2022). Cataract surgery from £2,000, £1,825 above the local lowest.
Chelsfield Park Hospital, Orpington, 18 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report December 2016). Cataract surgery £2,035 (first consultation £200 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £1,860 above the local lowest.
Southend Private Hospital, Westcliff-on-Sea, 21 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Outstanding, report August 2022). Cataract surgery £175 (first consultation £175 included; aftercare included), the lowest locally.
Spire Wellesley Hospital, Southend-on-Sea, 22 miles away (Spire Healthcare; CQC Good, report October 2026). Cataract surgery from £3,297 (first consultation £216 included; aftercare included), £3,122 above the local lowest.
Chaucer Hospital, Canterbury, 24 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report April 2026). Cataract surgery £3,475 (first consultation £250 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £3,300 above the local lowest.
How the prices compare
Cataract surgery: 12 local prices span £3,855, from £175 to £4,030; the UK median across 187 published prices is £2,995. The nearest, KIMS Hospital, Maidstone, is £3,173 dearer than the cheapest.
Within 5 miles of central Maidstone: KIMS Hospital, Maidstone (1.9 miles) and Spire Alexandra Hospital (4.0 miles).
5 to 10 miles of central Maidstone: Optegra Maidstone (5.5 miles) and Practice Plus Group Hospital, Gillingham (8.0 miles).
10 to 25 miles of central Maidstone: Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital (14 miles), Optical Express - Dartford Hospital (17 miles), Chelsfield Park Hospital (18 miles), Southend Private Hospital (21 miles), Spire Wellesley Hospital (22 miles), Chaucer Hospital (24 miles) and The Sloane Hospital (25 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 £175 to £4,030 at 11 hospitals. Free on the NHS.
- Wait. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells: half had waited over 9 weeks; 9 in 10 within 30 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 Maidstone
| NHS trust | Median wait | Under 18 weeks | Over a year | 9 in 10 within | On the list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 9.4 wks | 74.7% | 0 | 30 wks | 5,934 |
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 13.4 wks | 60.7% | 163 | 42 wks | 5,544 |
| England | 10.4 wks | 72.2% | 5,022 | 33 wks | 625,063 |
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, 1.6 miles from Maidstone: 5,934 people on the ophthalmology list, 74.7% within 18 weeks, 0 over a year, nine in ten within 30 weeks.
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, 24 miles from Maidstone: 5,544 people on the ophthalmology list, 60.7% within 18 weeks, 163 over a year, nine in ten within 42 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: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust on Waiting Times UK, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust on Waiting Times UK.
Other clinics nearby
The CQC register lists 6 independent eye clinics and hospitals registered with the CQC to do surgery within 16 miles: 2 good, 4 not yet rated. 1 of them publish a price we could check here; ask the others directly.
The 6 nearest
| Location | Distance | Rating (CQC) | Price shown above? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimax Laser Eye Clinics - Maidstone | 0.2 miles | Not yet rated | No |
| Eye 2 Eye Opticians | 1.5 miles | Not yet rated | No |
| Kent Eye Care Limited | 4.0 miles | Not yet rated | No |
| Optegra Maidstone | 5.5 miles | Good | Yes |
| SpaMedica Sittingbourne | 8.3 miles | Good | No |
| Tunbridge Wells Eye Centre | 15 miles | Not yet rated | No |
Questions to ask before booking
- Ask Chaucer Hospital, Chelsfield Park Hospital and Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital what tests before treatment would cost: their published breakdown lists them as not included.
- Ask KIMS Hospital, Maidstone for an itemised quote, as its price is published as a single figure.
- For cataract surgery, weigh Southend Private Hospital (21 miles) against KIMS Hospital, Maidstone (1.9 miles): the £3,173 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
- Southend-on-Sea 21 miles
- Crawley 32 miles
- Brighton and Hove 40 miles
- Colchester 46 miles
- Watford 48 miles
- Slough 51 miles
- Luton 59 miles
- Ipswich 61 miles
Other treatments near Maidstone
- Hip and knee replacement
- Knee arthroscopy and carpal tunnel surgery
- MRI scans
- Colonoscopy and gastroscopy
This page also covers 13 nearby places with the same hospitals and NHS trust: Gillingham, Hastings, Chatham, Rochester, Larkfield, Snodland, Kings Hill, Coxheath, Bearsted, Tenterden, Paddock Wood, Staplehurst, Pembury.
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: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust on Waiting Times UK, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation 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.