NHS Cataract Surgery Waiting Time
NHS cataract surgery waiting times vary significantly between trusts. Find the eye unit treating patients fastest near you.
Data source: Ophthalmology waiting times — the NHS specialty that covers Cataract Surgery.
10w
Avg treatment wait
3w
Shortest wait
15w
Longest wait
200
Hospitals reporting
Find the shortest Cataract Surgery wait near you
Enter your postcode to get a ranked list of every NHS Ophthalmology provider in England.
About Cataract Surgery on the NHS
Cataract surgery (phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implant) is the most common elective operation performed on the NHS. It falls within the Ophthalmology specialty. Many NHS-commissioned independent providers offer significantly shorter waits than NHS hospital trusts.
Shortest Ophthalmology waits in England
Cataract Surgery is treated within the Ophthalmology specialty. These are the trusts with the shortest current waits.
| # | Hospital | Region | Avg treatment wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Berkshire Independent Hospital - Ramsay | South East | 3w |
| 02 | Southampton Practice Plus Group | South East | 4w |
| 03 | Bromsgrove Newmedica | Midlands | 4w |
| 04 | Luton Spamedica | East of England | 5w |
| 05 | Benenden Hospital | South East | 5w |
| 06 | St Marys Portsmouth Practice Plus Group | South East | 5w |
| 07 | Gillingham Practice Plus Group | South East | 5w |
| 08 | Worcester Newmedica | Midlands | 5w |
| 09 | Plymouth Practice Plus Group | South West | 5w |
| 10 | Brighton Spamedica | South East | 6w |
Average Cataract Surgery wait by region
Your right to choose where you are treated
Under the NHS Constitution and the Health Act 2009, you have a legal right to choose which NHS or NHS-commissioned independent sector provider sees you for your first outpatient appointment.
Your GP must refer you via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) and offer you at least five choices. If you were referred to a hospital with a long wait, you can ask your GP to re-refer you to a provider with a shorter wait — this is your legal right.
Research shows the average extra distance to a significantly shorter wait is just 13 miles.
Ready to find a shorter Cataract Surgery wait?
Search every NHS hospital by postcode. Free, no sign-up required.