If having good eyesight is important to you, there are new options for people with cataracts who don’t want to wait for better vision.
For the thousands of Australians living with cataracts, the impact on daily life can be profound.
The vision impairment caused by cataracts has obvious consequences, such as difficulty reading or driving. But there are other, more insidious, outcomes too – for example, diminished confidence, loss of independence, social withdrawal, and an increased risk of falling.
The good news is that it’s easily fixed. Cataract surgery for Australians over 60 offers a simple and proven path to restoring sight – and regaining quality of life.
Cataracts occur when the normally clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, often with age. Symptoms of cataracts include blurry vision, colours appearing faded or yellow, difficulty seeing at night or in low light, seeing halos, and sensitivity to bright lights or glare.
While some cases are linked to trauma, diabetes, or prolonged use of certain medications, the condition is overwhelmingly age-related. By age 80, more than 70 per cent of Australians have some degree of lens clouding, according to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Cataract surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon), who removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens made of soft, flexible plastic. Lens selection is important as it dictates what your vision will be like after surgery, including whether you will need to wear glasses.
The operation is performed as a day procedure, with the surgery itself taking just 15 to 30 minutes per eye. Patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity and follow a regime of prescribed eye drops post-operatively. Driving can often resume within days, once the patient is cleared by their ophthalmologist. Many people report clearer vision within 48 hours, and full healing typically occurs within four to six weeks.
Cataract surgery is one of the most effective and life-changing procedures available. It is also one of the safest and most commonly performed procedures in the country. According to AIHW, over 300,000 cataract extractions were carried out between 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. Of these, more than 70% were performed in private hospitals.
But what if you don’t have private health insurance?
Australians without private health insurance who need cataract surgery generally have two options.
The first is to join the public hospital queue. While the public system typically covers the procedure via Medicare, wait times can be lengthy – often stretching beyond 12 months in metropolitan areas, and longer in some regional locations. Public patients don’t usually have a say in which ophthalmologist they are treated by (the consulting and operating doctor may be different) and which lens they receive.
The other, less commonly known option is to pay for surgery out-of-pocket at a private hospital.
Unlike the public system, private hospital patients have much more flexibility when it comes to the surgeon and lens selection. As a private patient, your surgeon will discuss your various options and help you select the lens that best suits your eye health, lifestyle and preferences, ensuring you achieve the best possible visual outcome – and the freedom to enjoy life again.
For example, if freedom from glasses is a priority, premium multifocal lenses may be a good option as they are designed to give clear distance, intermediate and near vision. Monovision is another option to achieve spectacle independence. This involves having one replacement lens correcting for distance vision, while the other lens corrects for near vision. The brain then ‘blends’ the two images together to produce a clear image, which is why monovision is also known as blended vision.
It is also much quicker to have cataract surgery privately – usually within a few weeks – and the benefits of early intervention are significant.
Despite its routine nature, cataract surgery can become more technically demanding to perform the longer it is delayed. This is because advanced cataracts can harden, making their removal more difficult and potentially increasing the risk of surgical complications.
Beyond the medical risks, there are also social and psychological consequences.
Vision impairment can lead to an increased risk of falls, dependence on others, and social isolation, particularly among older Australians. According to the AIHW, vision impairment is strongly linked to reduced quality of life and poorer mental health outcomes.
More importantly, delaying surgery also delays the opportunity to enjoy life with clear sight – whether that be spending time with loved ones, travelling, participating in hobbies, or being more independent.
To address this gap in access to cataract surgery, Vision Hospital Group launched SurgeryAssist.
The SurgeryAssist program helps uninsured patients access treatment easily and quickly through Vision Hospital Group’s national network of private day hospitals, all of which were designed specifically for cataract surgery and other eye procedures.
Self-funded patients are provided with transparent, bundled pricing for cataract surgery with the flexibility to choose from the latest, premium lens options and repay costs over time. By doing so, the program also eliminates many of the uncertainties patients face when navigating the private system, including unexpected costs for the anaesthetist, hospital theatre fees, or lens upgrades.
What the SurgeryAssist program offers
*Terms and conditions apply.
As Australia’s population ages, the demand for cataract surgery is expected to rise. With more than 9 per cent of Australians aged 55 and over showing indicators for cataract surgery, according to the AIHW, the pressure on public waiting lists will only increase.
Alternative solutions like SurgeryAssist are helping bridge this gap – giving patients more control, better outcomes, and the opportunity to see clearly, sooner.
For more information about SurgeryAssist and your cataract surgery options as a self-funded patient, visit: visionhospitalgroup.com.au/surgeryassist
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