Eye surgery · Watford
Cataract surgery in Watford: what it costs, and the NHS wait
Prices checked 9 Nov 2026
Cheapest nearby
from£2,000
Optical Express - London (White City) Hospital, London · 12 miles away
Typical price
£3,206
The middle of 12 published cataract surgery prices within 25 miles.
NHS wait so far
14 weeks
Half the people on the ophthalmology list at West Hertfordshire Teaching 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 Watford
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Optical Express - London (White City) Hospital
London · 12 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 -
Hendon Hospital
London · 8.6 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 · 12 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 -
Optegra London
London · 7.6 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 · 12 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 -
Bishops Wood Hospital
London · 2.8 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 · 13 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 · 6.5 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 · 10 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 Bushey Hospital
Bushey · 3.3 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 · 7.6 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 -
Optegra West London
Hounslow · 12 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 West 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 Watford.
Hospital by hospital
Bishops Wood Hospital, London, 2.8 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.
Spire Bushey Hospital, Bushey, 3.3 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.
The Clementine Churchill Hospital, Harrow, 6.5 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report December 2019). Cataract surgery £3,240 (first consultation £200 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £1,240 above the local lowest.
Optegra London, London, 7.6 miles away (Optegra; CQC Good, report April 2023). Cataract surgery £2,995 (Standard Cataract Treatment (per eye)) or £3,695 (Enhanced Cataract Treatment (per eye)), £995 above the local lowest.
Hendon Hospital, London, 8.6 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report September 2026). Cataract surgery £2,035 (first consultation £200 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £35 above the local lowest.
Spire Thames Valley Hospital, Slough, 10 miles away (Spire Healthcare; CQC Good, report February 2020). Cataract surgery from £3,259 (first consultation £243 included; aftercare included), £1,259 above the local lowest.
Syon Clinic, Brentford, 12 miles away (Circle Health Group; CQC Good, report May 2023). Cataract surgery £2,035 (first consultation £200 included; tests before treatment not included; aftercare included), £35 above the local lowest.
Optegra West London, Hounslow, 12 miles away (Optegra; not yet rated by CQC). Cataract surgery £2,995 (Standard Cataract Treatment (per eye)) or £3,695 (Enhanced Cataract Treatment (per eye)), £995 above the local lowest.
Optical Express - London (White City) Hospital, London, 12 miles away (Optical Express; CQC Good, report January 2023). Cataract surgery from £2,000, the lowest locally.
Spire Harpenden Hospital, Harpenden, 13 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.
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, Bishops Wood Hospital, is £1,181 dearer than the cheapest.
Within 5 miles of central Watford: Bishops Wood Hospital (2.8 miles) and Spire Bushey Hospital (3.3 miles).
5 to 10 miles of central Watford: The Clementine Churchill Hospital (6.5 miles), Optegra London (7.6 miles) and Hendon Hospital (8.6 miles).
10 to 25 miles of central Watford: Spire Thames Valley Hospital (10 miles), Syon Clinic (12 miles), Optegra West London (12 miles), Optical Express - London (White City) Hospital (12 miles) and Spire Harpenden Hospital (13 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 10 hospitals. Free on the NHS.
- Wait. West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals: half had waited over 14 weeks; 9 in 10 within 42 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 Watford
| NHS trust | Median wait | Under 18 weeks | Over a year | 9 in 10 within | On the list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 14.4 wks | 61.5% | 33 | 42 wks | 3,227 |
| Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 11.8 wks | 69.5% | 3 | 34 wks | 3,863 |
| England | 10.4 wks | 72.2% | 5,022 | 33 wks | 625,063 |
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, 0.1 miles from Watford: 3,227 people on the ophthalmology list, 61.5% within 18 weeks, 33 over a year, nine in ten within 42 weeks.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 17 miles from Watford: 3,863 people on the ophthalmology list, 69.5% within 18 weeks, 3 over a year, nine in ten within 34 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: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on Waiting Times UK, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on Waiting Times UK.
Other clinics nearby
The CQC register lists 8 independent eye clinics and hospitals registered with the CQC to do surgery within 12 miles: 2 good, 2 requires improvement, 4 not yet rated. 2 of them publish a price we could check here; ask the others directly.
The 8 nearest
| Location | Distance | Rating (CQC) | Price shown above? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Health and Eyecare Limited (CHEC - Watford) | 0.7 miles | Requires improvement | No |
| SpaMedica Watford | 1.6 miles | Good | No |
| OCL Vision Herts | 4.2 miles | Not yet rated | No |
| Optegra London | 7.6 miles | Good | Yes |
| SpaMedica Wembley | 8.2 miles | Not yet rated | No |
| Newmedica Community Ophthalmology Service | 11 miles | Not yet rated | No |
| Optimax Laser Eye Clinics - London | 12 miles | Requires improvement | No |
| Optegra West London | 12 miles | Not yet rated | Yes |
Questions to ask before booking
- Ask Bishops Wood Hospital, Hendon Hospital and Syon Clinic what tests before treatment would cost: their published breakdown lists them as not included.
- For cataract surgery, weigh Optical Express - London (White City) Hospital (12 miles) against Bishops Wood Hospital (2.8 miles): the £1,181 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
- Slough 12 miles
- Luton 17 miles
- Oxford 37 miles
- Crawley 38 miles
- Basingstoke 40 miles
- Maidstone 48 miles
- Southend-on-Sea 48 miles
- Brighton and Hove 57 miles
Other treatments near Watford
This page also covers 5 nearby places with the same hospitals and NHS trust: Harrow, Bushey, Rickmansworth, Radlett, Moor Park.
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: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on Waiting Times UK, Bedfordshire Hospitals 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.