Cost is the first question most families ask me, often before they ask whether surgery is needed at all. Fair enough. Cataract surgery is one of the few operations where the patient chooses a part of the implant, and that choice moves the bill more than anything else.
The short answer
For a straightforward age-related cataract in Mumbai in 2026, the amount quoted per eye generally falls in the ranges below. These are the ranges you will see across the city, from trust hospitals to corporate chains. They are not a price list. Your own figure depends on your eye, the lens you choose and where the surgery is done.
| Lens option | What you get | Typical Mumbai range, per eye |
|---|---|---|
| Monofocal, Indian-made | Clear distance vision. Reading glasses afterwards. | ₹25,000 to ₹45,000 |
| Monofocal, imported | Same design, from manufacturers with decades of long-term data. | ₹45,000 to ₹70,000 |
| Toric monofocal | Distance vision plus correction of astigmatism (cylinder number). | ₹60,000 to ₹95,000 |
| Multifocal or trifocal | Distance, computer and reading distance with minimal dependence on glasses. | ₹85,000 to ₹1,50,000 |
| Trifocal toric or EDOF | Range of focus plus astigmatism correction. | ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,80,000 |
| Femtosecond laser (add-on) | A laser makes the incisions and softens the cataract before removal. | Adds roughly ₹30,000 to ₹60,000 |
If you take one thing from this table, take this: the surgery itself is the same operation in every row. The lens is what changes.
What you are actually paying for
A cataract surgery bill has six parts. Most quotes bundle them, which is convenient but makes comparison hard. Here they are separately.
- The surgeon's fee. Varies with experience and with the complexity of your eye. A dense brown cataract in a small pupil takes more skill and more time than an early one.
- Operating theatre and hospital charges. The day-care theatre, sterile consumables, the viscoelastic gel used inside the eye, and the anaesthetist if one is needed. This is where the difference between a well-run theatre and a cheap one hides.
- The lens. The single biggest variable. An imported trifocal costs the hospital many times what a basic monofocal does.
- Pre-operative measurements. Biometry (the scan that calculates your lens power), keratometry, and where the retina needs checking, an OCT of the macula. Sometimes billed separately, sometimes not.
- Medicines. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops for about four weeks. Usually ₹800 to ₹2,000 from the chemist.
- Follow-up visits. Day one, week one and week four are standard. Some centres include them, some charge per visit. Ask.
A note on biometry. This is the measurement that decides the power of the lens going into your eye. If it is done carelessly, or on outdated equipment, the lens power can be off and you pay for it in thicker spectacles for the rest of your life. It is the last place to save money.
Why the lens moves the bill so much
The optical design of a trifocal or an extended-depth-of-focus lens is patented, the manufacturing tolerances are tighter, and the volumes are smaller. That is the honest reason they cost more. What a higher price does not mean is that the lens is better for you.
I put patients with macular degeneration, diabetic changes at the macula, or advanced glaucoma on a monofocal lens whatever their budget, because a multifocal splits the incoming light and those eyes cannot afford to lose any. The same applies to people with significant dry eye or an irregular cornea. For everyone else, the choice comes down to how much you want to be free of glasses and how you feel about some halos around lights at night.
I have written a separate guide on how I help patients choose between monofocal, multifocal and toric lenses. If you are weighing that decision, read it before you look at any price.
Does the technique change the cost?
Phacoemulsification, where the cataract is broken up by ultrasound through a 2 to 3 millimetre incision, is the standard in every good centre in Mumbai. No stitches, usually no injection, and a clear shield rather than a bandage, with vision that is usually usable the next day. If a centre quotes you for a large-incision surgery with stitches, ask why.
Micro-incision (MICS) is phaco through an even smaller cut. It is a refinement of the same technique and is rarely priced separately.
Femtosecond laser-assisted surgery uses a laser for the incisions and to pre-soften the cataract before phaco. It adds a meaningful amount to the bill. The large published comparisons show equivalent visual outcomes to standard phaco for routine cataracts in experienced hands. Where it can help is in specific situations: a very dense cataract, weak supporting fibres around the lens, or certain corneal conditions. If your eye is one of those, I will tell you. If it is not, you do not need to pay for it.
What insurance covers, and the sub-limit trap
Cataract surgery is covered by almost every Indian health policy as a listed day-care procedure. Two clauses catch people out.
The first is the waiting period. Most policies will not pay for cataract surgery in the first one to two years after you buy the cover. If you bought or ported your policy recently, check.
The second is the per-eye sub-limit. Many policies, especially older ones and lower-premium plans, cap cataract at a fixed amount per eye, commonly somewhere between ₹20,000 and ₹50,000, or at a percentage of the sum insured. Everything above that cap is paid by you. This matters most if you are considering a premium lens: the policy may cover the surgery and leave the lens upgrade entirely on your side.
For a cashless claim, the hospital sends a pre-authorisation to your insurer's TPA with the diagnosis, the recommended lens and the estimate. Approval takes one to three working days, so start it as soon as the date is fixed. Carry your policy document, a photo ID and the doctor's recommendation. If the surgery is at a centre outside your insurer's network, you pay first and claim reimbursement, so ask about network status before booking.
For patients eligible under PMJAY (Ayushman Bharat) or Maharashtra's MJPJAY, cataract surgery with a standard lens is covered at empanelled hospitals. Ask the hospital where your surgery is scheduled whether it is empanelled and what the scheme includes.
Costs people forget to plan for
- The second eye. Cataracts usually develop in both eyes. The second surgery is typically two to four weeks after the first, and the cost repeats.
- Spectacles afterwards. With a monofocal lens set for distance, you will need reading glasses, usually prescribed three to four weeks after surgery. With a multifocal, some people still use a light pair for very fine print.
- YAG capsulotomy. Months or years after surgery, the thin capsule that holds the new lens can turn cloudy in a fair number of patients. A five-minute laser procedure in the clinic clears it. In Mumbai it usually costs a few thousand rupees per eye.
- Time and travel. The patient needs a day for the surgery and a day for the first follow-up, and someone should accompany them both times.
Why the cheapest quote can end up costing more
There is nothing wrong with asking for the lowest price. Just ask what has been taken out to reach it. The usual candidates are the quality of the biometry, the lens (an unbranded or copy lens looks identical in the box), follow-up visits, a macular scan that would have caught a problem before surgery, and sterility standards in the theatre.
Infection inside the eye after cataract surgery, called endophthalmitis, is rare in well-run centres, well under one in a thousand cases. It is not rare in centres that cut corners on sterilisation. That is the one saving that is never worth it.
Questions to ask before you pay
- Is this quote per eye or for both eyes?
- Which exact lens model and manufacturer is included? Can I see the lens box sticker after surgery?
- Is biometry included, and which instrument is used?
- Are the drops and the first month's follow-up visits included?
- What happens to the price if my insurance has a sub-limit?
- Is there a separate anaesthetist charge?
- If I choose a premium lens, what is the additional amount, and can I change my mind before the surgery date?
- Who is actually doing the surgery, and how many cataract surgeries have they done?
How I quote at the clinic
I quote after I have examined the eye, not before. The quote is itemised, names the exact lens, and includes the follow-up visits for the first month. If you are eligible for insurance, we tell you at that visit what the sub-limit is likely to leave on your side so there are no surprises at discharge.
And if your cataract is not ready and your vision is still serving you well, I will say so. Some people who come to me asking about surgery leave with a new spectacle prescription and a date to come back in six months. That is a good outcome too.
Questions patients ask me about cost
What is the lowest cost of cataract surgery in Mumbai?
With a standard Indian-made monofocal lens and phacoemulsification, private centres in Mumbai generally quote somewhere between ₹25,000 and ₹45,000 per eye. Trust hospitals and government schemes such as PMJAY and MJPJAY bring this lower for eligible patients. The operation is the same; the lens and the setting are what change the figure.
Is cataract surgery covered by health insurance in India?
Yes, almost every Indian health policy covers cataract surgery as a day-care procedure, usually after a waiting period of one to two years. Many policies carry a per-eye sub-limit, and anything above that, including the extra cost of a premium lens, is paid by you. Read the sub-limit clause before choosing a lens.
Is a multifocal or trifocal lens worth the extra money?
For the right patient, yes: someone with a healthy macula, no significant glaucoma, minimal dry eye and a genuine wish to be free of glasses. For someone with retinal disease, advanced glaucoma or a job that involves a lot of night driving, a monofocal is usually the better lens regardless of budget. The decision should follow the examination, not the price list.
Does the quoted price cover both eyes?
Almost always the quote is per eye. Most people eventually need both eyes done, usually two to four weeks apart, so plan for roughly double the figure over a few months. Ask the centre directly if the quote is per eye or for both.
What does the price usually include?
A fair package covers the surgeon's fee, the operating theatre and consumables, the lens, and the routine follow-up visits for the first month. Pre-operative biometry and eye drops after surgery are sometimes included and sometimes billed separately. Ask for an itemised quote so you can see exactly what is inside the number.
Are there hidden costs after cataract surgery?
Three come up regularly: spectacles after surgery (reading glasses with a monofocal lens), the second eye, and a small laser procedure called YAG capsulotomy that some patients need months or years later if the lens capsule turns cloudy. None of these are large, but it helps to know about them in advance.
Can I pay for cataract surgery in EMI?
Many hospitals in Mumbai offer instalment options through card providers or medical finance partners. Ask at the time of booking. If you have health insurance, cashless approval from your TPA usually takes one to three working days, so start the paperwork as soon as the surgery date is fixed.
About the author
Dr. Shirish Patel is a Consultant Eye Surgeon at Advanced Eyecare Centre, Goregaon West, Mumbai. He trained at Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital (MBBS) and at PBMA's H.V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune (DNB Ophthalmology), and holds the FICO (A+B). Over nine years of practice he has performed more than 8,000 cataract surgeries and 400+ refractive procedures. He also consults at Apex Hospitals, Kandivali and Envision Eye Hospital.
This guide is general information written to help you ask better questions. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an examination. Price ranges reflect what is commonly quoted in Mumbai at the time of writing and will vary by hospital, lens and individual case. For sudden vision loss, severe eye pain or injury, contact the clinic or your nearest emergency department immediately.