Ophthalmologists Embrace $1,000-$3,000 Laser Cataract Surgery as Medicare Reimbursement Keeps Falling
Updated
Updated · UCLA Newsroom · Aug 13
Ophthalmologists Embrace $1,000-$3,000 Laser Cataract Surgery as Medicare Reimbursement Keeps Falling
3 articles · Updated · UCLA Newsroom · Aug 13
Summary
Laser-assisted cataract surgery is gaining traction even though studies show it does not outperform standard surgery, making the pricier option a growing feature of routine eye care.
Declining Medicare payments are driving that shift: doctors can bill patients extra for laser procedures, creating a new revenue stream on top of shrinking reimbursement for conventional operations.
UCLA ophthalmology professor Kevin Miller called the model a "win-win," arguing it boosts physician income, funds new technology and may reduce some patients' dependence on eyeglasses.
The trend builds on a broader payment squeeze in cataract care, where standard Medicare reimbursement had already fallen about 20% over a decade while laser procedures reached nearly 12% of roughly 5 million annual surgeries.