Extracapsular Cataract Extraction Cost in Germany

The cost of extracapsular cataract extraction in Germany typically ranges from $2,500 to $6,500 USD, depending on the hospital, city, and type of procedure.

Extracapsular cataract extraction removes the cloudy lens through a larger cut, leaving the back of the lens capsule to support a new artificial lens. Phacoemulsification is now the standard method in most countries. In Germany, the total depends on:

• Technique: extracapsular, manual small incision or phacoemulsification.
• Lens implant: standard or premium lens.
• One or both eyes: usually priced per eye.
• Day case: most people go home the same day.

Eye surgery is usually priced per eye. Check whether a quote covers one or both eyes and which lens is included.

Guy's and St Thomas' explains that the standard method is phacoemulsification, which breaks up the lens with ultrasound through small cuts. It is done under local anaesthetic as a day case in about 30 minutes, and a permanent plastic lens is implanted.

A Cochrane review found that phacoemulsification gave slightly better uncorrected vision at 3 months than manual small incision surgery, with similar vision when wearing glasses, but the evidence was of very low quality.

The second eye is usually treated a few weeks later.

Eye drops are used after surgery, and most people notice clearer vision within days.

Outpatient services for self-paying patients in Germany are billed under the physicians' fee schedule (GOÄ), which allows a doctor to charge from the single rate up to 3.5 times the listed fee.

International patients are usually treated in Germany as self-paying patients: the hospital reviews the medical reports, sends a cost estimate and asks for an advance payment before admission, then settles the final bill after discharge.