I operate at four hospitals across Surrey and Buckinghamshire. To read about the operation itself, see my cataract surgery page; other treatments are on my treatments page.
What is included: what should the price cover?
Each hospital I work at gives you its own package price, so the figure for the same operation can differ between Woking, Chertsey, Guildford and High Wycombe. Before you agree to one, ask exactly what it includes. With me, the care around your operation includes:
- A consultation where I explain the operation and what happens before and after it
- Measurements of your eye to calculate the power of the new lens
- The operation itself, usually as a day case under local anaesthetic
- Written aftercare instructions and follow-up appointments
It is worth asking each hospital whether its package also includes your eye drops, your chosen lens and any extra treatment if a problem arises later.
Questions worth asking each hospital about a quote:
- Is the price per eye or for both eyes?
- Are the lens, eye drops and follow-up visits included?
- What happens, and what does it cost, if a problem needs treating later?
- How long is the quote valid for?
Cataract symptoms and when to get help quickly
Most cataract changes are slow and can wait for a planned appointment. A few symptoms cannot, as the NHS red eye guide explains.
| Your symptom | Possible cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Gradual blur, glare or faded colours | Cataract | Book a consultation |
| Red, painful eye or worse sight after surgery | Inflammation or infection | Call my practice the same day |
| New floaters, flashes or a dark curtain | Possible detached Retina | NHS 111 or eye casualty today |
| Clouding months or years after surgery | Capsule clouding | Book a review with me |
| Sudden loss of sight | Serious eye problem | Call 999 or go to A&E |
| Fever, confusion or fast breathing after surgery | Possible signs of infection | Call 999 or go to A&E |
Conditions cataract surgery treats
The operation treats a cataract, and it can correct short sight, long sight or astigmatism at the same time with the right lens. Complex eyes, such as a dense cataract or a small pupil, may change the price because they need extra planning. My premium lens implants page explains the lens choices.
Your options for paying, and what changes the private cataract surgery cost
- The lens: premium lenses such as EDOF, multifocal or toric are priced differently from a standard monofocal lens
- One eye or both: eyes are usually treated on separate days, so ask whether the quote is per eye
- Complexity: a dense cataract, small pupil, pseudoexfoliation or previous eye surgery may need extra planning or equipment
- Anaesthetic: sedation or a general anaesthetic, if you need one, involves an anaesthetist
- The hospital: Nuffield Health Woking, The Runnymede Hospital, Mount Alvernia and VISIO Health each set their own prices
Can I use health insurance?
Yes. I see insured patients as well as self-pay. These steps help avoid surprises:
- Check your policy for cover, exclusions and any excess you would pay yourself.
- Get a GP or Optometrist referral if your insurer asks for one, even though I do not need one.
- Obtain pre-authorisation before surgery. I can help with the paperwork.
- Submit your claim promptly with your referral, pre-authorisation code and receipts.
I am recognised by most major UK insurers, including Bupa (fee assured), AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Cigna, Aetna, Allianz, The Exeter, General & Medical, Healix, Saga and Benenden.
Can I spread the cost?
Finance is available through the hospitals if you would rather not pay in one go. Ask for the terms with your package price, and check the total you would repay before you sign. If anything in a quote is unclear, call my practice and I will talk it through with you before you decide.
Why patients choose me for private cataract surgery
I explain the price options before you commit, and I am the surgeon you see before, during and after the operation.
- Complex cataract surgery: my subspecialty, with over 10,000 cataract operations performed.
- Training: BM (2005) at the University of Southampton, then FRCOphth (2012).
- Consultant since 2014: NHS consultant posts at West Hertfordshire and Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals.
- One doctor throughout: no call centre, so you reach me directly before and after treatment.
Alternatives: NHS or private?
Cataract surgery is available on the NHS, usually after an Optometrist refers you. NICE says access should not be restricted on the basis of a visual acuity measurement alone. The NHS page on cataracts in adults notes there will be a waiting list, and it is important to ask the ophthalmologist how long this would be.
Going private mainly changes the timing, who operates on you, and the lenses available, as the NHS does not provide EDOF or multifocal lenses.
How you get a fixed price, step by step
01
Consultation
I examine your eyes and decide with you whether surgery would help.
02
Lens plan
Measurements and a long discussion with regards to the lens options available to you guide the lens choice.
03
Quote
The hospital sends a package price for your operation and lens.
04
Surgery
You go ahead only when you are happy with the plan and the cost.
Recovery and risks after surgery
You go home the same day, use drops for about 4 weeks and can usually drive after 2 weeks. Complications are uncommon; the NHS names infection, bleeding, inflammation, retinal detachment and lens position problems. Ask whether your package covers treatment if one happens.
| Treatment | Hospital stay | Example risk |
|---|---|---|
| Routine cataract surgery | Day case | Infection, bleeding or inflammation (rare) |
| Complex cataract surgery | Day case | Detached Retina, higher if very short-sighted |
| Premium lens | Day case | Glare or haloes with some lenses |
| Capsule clouding later | Outpatient laser | About 20 in 100 eyes within 3 years |
When to contact me straight away
Cost should never delay urgent care. Sudden loss of vision, a dark curtain across your sight, or flashes with new floaters need help the same day from an Optometrist, NHS 111 or eye casualty.
Where I carry out cataract surgery
| Location | Address |
|---|---|
| Nuffield Health Woking (Wednesday mornings and evenings) | Shores Road, Woking GU21 4BY |
| The Runnymede Hospital (Tuesday afternoons, Wednesdays, Thursday mornings) | Guildford Road, Ottershaw, Chertsey KT16 0RQ |
| Mount Alvernia Hospital (Wednesday afternoons, Thursday mornings) | Harvey Road, Guildford GU1 3LX |
| VISIO Health (Fridays) | Unit 3, 4 The Courtyard, Riverside West, Wooburn Green, High Wycombe HP10 0DG |
Fees: what I charge
These are my 2026 consultation fees. The operation and lens are priced by the hospital as a package.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New consultation | £260 |
| Follow-up consultation | £195 |
| Cataract surgery and lens | Hospital package price, quoted after your assessment |
| Finance | Available through the hospitals |
Private cataract surgery cost FAQs
How much does private cataract surgery cost in the UK?
It varies by hospital, lens and eye, so I do not publish a single figure that might not apply to you. Each hospital gives a package price after your assessment. My new consultation fee is £260 and a follow-up is £195 (fees may vary slightly by hospital).
Is the consultation fee part of the package?
Ask the hospital when you receive your quote, as each sets its own package. The consultation itself covers my examination, a discussion of whether surgery would help, and an explanation of your lens options.
Do I need a GP referral to go private?
No. You can contact me directly without a GP referral. If you are using insurance, check your policy first, because some insurers ask for a referral from a GP or Optometrist before they will cover treatment.
Will my insurer pay for a premium lens?
Policies differ, so ask your insurer about the specific lens before surgery. Pre-authorisation confirms what is covered and what you would pay yourself, including any excess. I can help you with the paperwork.
How long will I need to recover, and does that affect the cost?
Drops continue for about 4 weeks, and heavy lifting and swimming wait for 6 weeks. Aftercare visits may or may not be in the package, so ask.
Is a private cataract operation major surgery?
It is a short day-case operation, usually under local anaesthetic. Sedation or a general anaesthetic, if needed, adds an anaesthetist to the cost.
Can a cataract come back after I have paid for surgery?
No, the cataract itself cannot return. Clouding of the lens capsule can develop months or years later; ask whether laser for this is part of the package.
Is there a cheaper alternative?
NHS surgery is free, usually after a wait. A standard monofocal lens also costs less than a premium lens.
When can I drive after surgery?
Usually after 2 weeks, once your sight meets the DVLA standard.
Does the price include follow-up appointments?
Ask the hospital. Some packages include follow-up visits after surgery and others charge them separately. My follow-up consultation fee is £195.
Can I get a price before my consultation?
Only a guide. The hospital needs your eye measurements and lens choice before it can quote a firm package price.
Is each eye priced separately?
Usually, because eyes are treated on separate days. Ask the hospital whether its quote is per eye or for both.
Book a consultation: a direct line to your surgeon, before and after surgery
There is no call centre or switchboard. Call my practice, email enquiries@soniamall.co.uk or request an appointment online. I aim to reply within 24 hours.
For an urgent eye problem that cannot wait, contact your GP, an Optometrist or NHS 111. Call 999 or go to A&E for sudden loss of sight, a serious eye injury, or signs of infection after a procedure.
