Threading a needle was the first thing to go. Then faces across the room, then night driving. Cataract creeps in so slowly that many people blame their glasses for years. The good news: cataract surgery is one of the quickest, most effective operations in medicine — and India performs more of it than almost anywhere.
What a cataract is
Inside your eye sits a clear lens that focuses light. With age, diabetes, steroid medicines or sun exposure, its proteins cloud over. Vision turns hazy, colours fade, lights glare at night and glasses stop helping. WHO calls cataract surgery one of the most effective and affordable ways to prevent blindness, yet it says nearly half of people facing cataract-related blindness still lack access to surgery.
In the operation, the surgeon removes the cloudy lens through a tiny cut and folds a clear artificial lens — an intraocular lens, or IOL — into its place. Most patients go home the same day.
Choosing your lens
This is the decision that matters most, and the one people are least prepared for. Your surgeon measures your eye and talks through lifestyle — reading, screens, driving at night.
- Monofocal: sharp vision at one distance, usually far. You will probably need reading glasses. Reliable and the most affordable.
- Toric: corrects astigmatism as well. Useful if your cornea is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football.
- Multifocal or extended-depth-of-focus: aims for good distance and near vision with fewer glasses. Some people notice halos around lights at night; not every eye is suitable.
Lens brand and type are the biggest reason prices vary. Ask for the exact lens in writing, and whether the estimate is per eye.
A few honest points help people decide. A premium lens cannot fix other eye problems: if you have glaucoma, macular degeneration or diabetic changes in the retina, your surgeon may advise a simpler lens. If you already wear glasses happily and read a lot, a monofocal lens set for distance is often a very good choice. And if you have had LASIK in the past, tell the surgeon — it changes the lens calculations.
Bring your current glasses, a list of your eye drops and medicines, and any old eye reports. They make the measurements more accurate and the conversation shorter.
Why India is strong at cataract surgery
Volume builds skill. India’s National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment has scaled cataract surgery fast since the pandemic, according to figures given to Parliament.
| 2020–21 | 35.5 |
|---|---|
| 2021–22 | 62.0 |
| 2022–23 | 83.4 |
| 2023–24 | 90.3 |
| 2024–25 | 98 |
National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment. 2024–25 is the ‘over 98 lakh’ headline figure. Written reply in the Rajya Sabha, reported by THIP Media, July 2025.
Private eye hospitals offer phacoemulsification (ultrasound) and femtosecond-laser-assisted surgery, with a wide choice of lenses. Published ranges in India run from about ₹30,000 to ₹2.15 lakh for phaco surgery and ₹50,000 to ₹1.6 lakh for laser-assisted surgery, depending on hospital and lens.
Your plan: about one week per eye
- Day 1: full eye examination, lens measurements (biometry), blood sugar and blood pressure checks.
- Day 2: surgery under numbing drops, usually with light sedation. You go home with a shield.
- Day 3: first check-up. Many people already see more clearly.
- Days 4–7: eye drops on a schedule, a second check, then clearance to fly.
- Second eye: often done a few days to a week after the first if both need it — your surgeon decides.
Many patients plan 10 to 14 days for both eyes, which leaves time for a gentle trip — Chandigarh is about an hour from Delhi by air.
A companion helps. You will not drive for a few days, eye drops are easier when someone else puts them in, and bright sunshine feels harsh at first, so pack good sunglasses. If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar steady in the days before surgery; a high reading on the morning of the operation can mean a delay. Indian eye hospitals are used to international patients and usually send the discharge report in English, with the lens details and power that your eye doctor at home will want to see.
If you are travelling from a hot, dusty climate, or flying straight back to work, tell the surgeon — the drop schedule and protection advice can be adjusted to your plans.
Flying home and the weeks after
Flying after routine cataract surgery is generally possible within days, once your surgeon has checked the eye. Cabin pressure does not harm a normal cataract operation; the exception is if a gas bubble was used in a retinal procedure, which is different.
- Use your drops exactly as prescribed, including on the plane.
- Wear the shield at night for the first week, and avoid rubbing the eye.
- No swimming or eye make-up for a few weeks.
- See a doctor urgently for increasing pain, redness or a sudden drop in vision.
- Get new glasses about a month after surgery, once the eye has settled.
Read our eye care guide and eye, dental and cosmetic costs, plan your trip with tickets, or book a consultation — a US$99 consultation includes two calls with the eye specialist.
Independent research. Figures are quoted from the official and published sources listed below, as they stood when we checked them (October 2026). BookMedTrip is an independent facilitator and is not affiliated with any government body, hospital, charity or organisation named here, and receives no commission from them. If anything here is out of date or inaccurate, please write to care@bookmedtrip.com and we will correct it.
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How much does cataract surgery cost in India?
Published ranges run from about ₹15,000 to ₹2 lakh per eye (about US$160–2,100), depending on the technique and the lens chosen.
Which lens is best for cataract surgery?
It depends on your eyes and lifestyle. Monofocal lenses are reliable and affordable, toric lenses correct astigmatism, and multifocal lenses reduce the need for glasses but can cause halos.
How soon can I fly after cataract surgery?
Usually within a few days, after your surgeon checks the eye. Plan about a week in India per eye.
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- The Star / WHO — WHO calls for improved access to cataract surgery (12 Feb 2026)
- THIP Media — Over 98 lakh cataract surgeries performed in FY25 (Rajya Sabha reply, Jul 2025)
- CARE Hospitals — cataract surgery cost in India (published range, 2026)
- WHO — Blindness and visual impairment fact sheet
- USD/INR exchange rate history, 2026 (Pound Sterling Live)
