Phacoemulsification Cost in Germany

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

Phacoemulsification is the standard method of cataract surgery. Ultrasound breaks up the cloudy lens through small cuts, and a new artificial lens is implanted. In Germany, the total depends on:

• Lens implant: standard or premium lens.
• One or both eyes: usually priced per eye.
• Anaesthesia: local drops or injection.
• 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 phacoemulsification uses ultrasound to break up the cloudy lens through small cuts, without a laser. It is done under local anaesthetic drops or an injection in about 30 minutes as a day case.

A permanent plastic lens is implanted, and the second eye is usually done a few weeks later, although some people can have both eyes on the same day.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals reports that clouding behind the new lens (posterior capsule opacification) affects 5 to 30% within five years. Swelling at the centre of the retina occurs in 1 to 5%, and loss of sight or the eye in less than 0.03%.

The risk of retinal detachment is higher in very short-sighted people.

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.