Eye Doctors Push $1,000-to-$3,000 Laser Cataract Add-Ons as Medicare Fees Fall 20%
Updated
Updated · Kaiser Health News · Aug 19
Eye Doctors Push $1,000-to-$3,000 Laser Cataract Add-Ons as Medicare Fees Fall 20%
2 articles · Updated · Kaiser Health News · Aug 19
Summary
Nearly 12% of the 5 million cataract surgeries done annually in the U.S. are now laser-assisted, with doctors charging patients about $1,000 to $3,000 per eye on top of standard Medicare-covered care.
Medicare pays about $520 for a standard cataract procedure—down roughly 20% over the past decade—pushing some ophthalmologists to use laser options and premium lenses to recoup revenue.
Research cited by the American Academy of Ophthalmology shows laser-assisted surgery does not improve outcomes or reduce complications versus the traditional scalpel method for standard cataract cases.
Patients can still face bills of $1,000 to $4,000 for premium lenses, and some said they felt steered toward laser treatment, while other surgeons argued the technology offers more precision and more vision-correction options.
The trend reflects a broader tension in Medicare-funded care: cataract surgery remains safe and common, but shrinking reimbursement is increasing reliance on elective upgrades paid directly by older patients.