Medically reviewed by Krishna Surapaneni, MD, board-certified ophthalmologist and cataract, cornea, and refractive surgeon at SuraVision in Houston.
Not everyone who needs cataract surgery has insurance that covers it. Some patients have no coverage, some have plans that leave cataract surgery out, and some are traveling to Houston from places where the procedure or the lens they want simply is not available. If that is you, the most useful thing we can do is tell you what cataract surgery actually costs here, plainly and in advance.
Our Cash Price: Starting at $5,000 Per Eye, All-Inclusive
At SuraVision, cash-pay cataract surgery starts at $5,000 per eye. That starting price is all-inclusive and covers:
- The surgeon fee
- The facility fee
- Topical anesthesia, the numbing-drop approach we use instead of needles
- Your post-operative care
- A premium upgrade that treats astigmatism, designed to reduce your dependence on glasses for distance vision
One number, one bill. The astigmatism correction included in that starting price is an upgrade many practices charge separately for, because a standard lens leaves astigmatism uncorrected and most patients with astigmatism still need distance glasses afterward.
Why All-Inclusive Pricing Matters
Cataract surgery quotes are notoriously hard to compare. Some practices quote a surgeon fee and leave the facility fee, anesthesia, and follow-up visits as separate bills that arrive later. When you compare prices between practices, ask the same question everywhere: what exactly does this number include? Our answer is everything listed above.
What Costs More
Presbyopia correction is the one meaningful add-on. If your goal is to reduce dependence on glasses at near and intermediate distances too, not just distance, that involves presbyopia-correcting lens technology such as trifocal, extended depth of focus, or the Light Adjustable Lens, and those options cost more. We compare them honestly in our premium lens comparison and will tell you at your evaluation whether your eyes are suited to them at all.
Who Cash-Pay Pricing Is For
Our cash pricing exists for patients without insurance coverage for cataract surgery: the uninsured, those whose plans exclude it, and patients traveling to Houston for surgery from regions where premium lens options are hard to find. If you have insurance that covers cataract surgery, your situation is different: insurance typically covers the standard procedure, and upgrades are what you would pay out of pocket. We will walk you through exactly how that works for your plan at your evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the $5,000 starting price include astigmatism treatment?
Yes. The starting price includes a premium astigmatism-correcting upgrade intended to reduce dependence on distance glasses, along with the surgeon fee, facility fee, topical anesthesia, and post-operative care.
Why do cataract surgery prices vary so much between practices?
Mostly because quotes include different things. A low headline number often covers only the surgeon fee, with facility, anesthesia, and follow-up billed separately. Comparing all-inclusive totals is the only fair comparison.
What if I also want to reduce my need for reading glasses?
That is presbyopia correction, and it uses different lens technology at additional cost. Whether it fits your eyes depends on your evaluation; not everyone is a good candidate, and we will tell you honestly.
Get an Exact Quote for Your Eyes
A starting price tells you where the conversation begins; your evaluation tells you the exact number for your eyes and your goals. Learn more about cataract surgery in Houston, or call 713-730-2020 to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Surapaneni.