Find out everything you need to know about getting private cataract surgery in the Manchester area here.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries that people choose to have done privately in the UK. Our data shows more than 2,800 private cataract procedures were carried out in and around Manchester last year.
So, what hospitals offer private cataract surgery in the Manchester area, and how can you find a consultant? Here we take a look at what’s on offer.
Cataract surgery in and around Manchester
Our data shows there are 19 hospitals offering private cataract surgery within 25 miles of Manchester. Two of these – Manchester Royal Eye and Optegra Eye Hospital– are within a few miles of Manchester city centre. Several more are located in Greater Manchester, while options slightly further afield include hospitals in Macclesfield, Blackburn and Huddersfield. The majority of these are independent hospitals, while one Warrington Hospital – is an NHS hospital with a Private Patient Unit on site.
The hospital performing the most private cataract surgeries in the Manchester area is The Wilmslow Hospital. There were 495 private admissions for cataract surgery at this hospital past year, which has an outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission and a patient satisfaction score of 99%.
PHIN’s data shows 42 consultant surgeons performing cataract surgery within a 25-mile radius of Manchester. Consultants often practise across a number of different hospitals. Of those with data available, Mr Say Aun Quah, who practises at The Wilmslow and Spire Regency hospitals, performs the most private cataract surgeries in the area. Mr Dan Nguyen, has the next highest number of private cataract surgery admissions. Mr Nguyen is associated with several Manchester-based hospitals, and also offers remote consultations. We list details for all consultants performing private cataract surgery in the Manchester area for whom we hold data on our website.
Cost of your initial consultation
If you’re considering cataract surgery, your first step is to have an initial consultation with a surgeon. They can assess whether cataract surgery is appropriate for you. If you have private health insurance, check whether you are covered for the initial consultation.
According to our data, the average fee for an initial consultation for cataract surgery in the Manchester area is £221. This varies from £100 to £350, depending on your surgeon and factors individual to you. You can find out the fee for individual surgeons through the consultants’ profiles.
Self-funding cataract surgery
If you decide to go ahead with cataract surgery, there are two ways of paying for private treatment. The most common method for cataract surgery is to self-fund your treatment directly. You may be charged for this in two different ways.
- A ‘fee-per-service’ arrangement. This is the traditional way of paying for treatment. It means you’ll receive separate invoices from the surgeon, the anaesthetist and the hospital. You often won’t know the full costs until you receive the invoices – it can be difficult to get an exact price beforehand.
- An all-inclusive ‘package price’. With this option, you’ll be given a full guide price including all the fees, before undergoing treatment. Not all consultants and hospitals offer this.
All but 12 of the 19 hospitals in the Manchester area advertise guide package prices for cataract surgery on their websites. At the time of writing, the average guide package price was around £2,806. They range from £1,995 to £3,295.
It’s important to know that package prices vary in what they cover – including the initial consultation fee, any tests you may need and any aftercare. Be sure to check this. Also, guide prices are approximations only. The actual price will vary depending on who your consultant is and any individual differences in your treatment.
Hospitals often offer finance options to spread the cost of your treatment over a period of time. Ask the hospital where you’re seeking treatment whether this is available.
For more information about self-funding treatment, see our guide to self-pay.
Paying through insurance
The other way of paying for private treatment is through private medical insurance, or PMI. Most insurance policies cover cataract surgery, unless it’s a pre-existing condition. But it’s important to check with your own insurer exactly what they will cover and whether you will need to pay any excess. Read our guide on paying for treatment through insurance for more information.
Important notes
The information in this article is based on hospitals within 25 miles of the centre of Manchester, and the consultants that treat private patients at each hospital. This is available to search through PHIN’s website. If a hospital or consultant is not searchable on our website, this may be because they are in breach of legal duties set out by the Competition and Markets Authority.
The data is based on PHIN’s data on patient admissions that took place between 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023. The costs of initial consultant fees were provided directly by consultants to PHIN. Information on guide package prices was collected through an internet search of local hospitals.
This article was last updated on 19 March 2024, and some details may have changed since.
