A cataract is a clouding of the natural crystalline lens in the eye. It causes blurred vision, increased glare sensitivity, reduced brightness and colour perception, and difficulties driving at night. Cataracts most commonly occur in people over 50 due to natural age-related changes.

What is involved in cataract surgery?

During cataract surgery, the patient is sedated and the eye is numbed with local anaesthesia. A small micro-incision is made in the eye, and the cloudy lens is broken up using phacoemulsification (ultrasound) and removed. A new biocompatible artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is then inserted. The surgery usually takes less than 30 minutes and most patients go home the same day.

What are the types of cataract surgery available at OKKO?

OKKO offers three types: Standard cataract surgery (for patients happy wearing glasses after surgery), Lifestyle cataract surgery (uses EDoF lenses to reduce dependence on glasses for distance and intermediate tasks), and Refractive cataract surgery (uses multifocal or EDOF lenses to potentially eliminate the need for glasses for most activities).

What is the recovery time after cataract surgery?

You cannot drive for 24 hours after surgery to allow sedation to clear. Most normal activities can be resumed immediately. Strenuous activities such as heavy lifting, gardening and swimming should be avoided for two weeks. Vision is usually brighter immediately after surgery and continues to improve over the following days.

Is cataract surgery covered by Medicare or private health insurance?

Medicare rebates are available for cataract surgery. For private health insurance, you generally require a Gold level of hospital cover for cataract surgery. Your specialist's fees may include a GAP payment depending on the type of surgery chosen. See the fees page at https://okko.com.au/services/cataract-surgery-brisbane/fees/ for full pricing.

Cataract Surgery in Brisbane | OKKO Eye Specialist Centre

Comparing types of
Cataract Surgery

Your specialist may offer 3 types of cataract surgery, depending on whether (and how much) you wish to reduce your need for glasses afterwards.

	Standard cataract surgery	Lifestyle cataract surgery	Refractive cataract surgery
Removal of cataract
Reduced dependence on glasses for distance and mid-range vision
Reduced dependence on glasses for all activities
Who is this suitable for?	People who are happy wearing glasses after surgery	People who would prefer to use glasses for certain tasks only after surgery	People who would like to reduce dependence on glasses for all tasks after surgery
Precise enhancement procedures after cataract surgery	Not required (vision after surgery is corrected with glasses)	Occasionally required if there is greater-than-expected dependence on glasses*	Can be performed and is included in original surgery costs
	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More
Download Brochure	Standard Brochure	Lifestyle Brochure	Refractive Brochure

Vision getting worse?

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Our consulting OKKO eye specialists

These doctors are highly experienced in the diagnosis, treatment and management of eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular diseases.

Dr Matthew Russell

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Dr Delia Wang

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Dr Eve Hsing

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Refractive cataract surgery

Refractive cataract surgery treats your cataracts and may eliminate the need for glasses. It uses special intraocular lenses that offer a range of focuses from distance, intermediate and near. Refinement procedures such as LASIK laser vision correction may be required to “fine tune” the focus of the eye after cataract surgery and to improve vision quality.

The Lenses

Intraocular lenses vary considerably. Scans of your eye are used to calculate the best possible lens and target focus for you.

At your initial assessment, your ophthalmologist will explore your lifestyle and vision needs and discuss which lens options are most suitable for you based on a comprehensive eye examination.

Types of Intraocular Lenses

Multifocal Lens Implants

May reduce your dependence on glasses (including reading glasses and bifocals) for most day-to-day tasks

EDOF Lens Implants

May reduce your dependence on glasses, however prescription glasses are likely to still be required for reading and other near tasks

Astigmatic / Toric Lenses

May correct any astigmatism you currently have in your glasses or contact lenses

Private Pricing

Your specialist’s Fee: $3000 GAP payment
Post Operative Eye Drops: $69.80
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $3069.80 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee excess or Anaesthetist Fee.

Pensioner Pricing

Your specialist’s Fee: $3000 GAP payment
Post Operative Eye Drops: $56.10
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $3056.10 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee excess or Anaesthetist Fee.

Private Pricing

Your specialist’s Fee: $3000 GAP payment
Post Operative Eye Drops: $69.80
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $3069.80 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee excess or Anaesthetist Fee.

Specialists consulting from OKKO Eye Specialist Centre operate independently and bill under their own ABN, and at their own discretion. For fee enquiries, please ask your specialist at the time of your consultation or enquire with reception who can provide this information on your specialist’s behalf.

The pricing shown below is a guide only.

Book your consultation

Lifestyle cataract surgery

In lifestyle cataract surgery, special intraocular lenses are used to try and reduce your dependence on glasses. For example, extended-depth-of-focus IOLs (or EDoF lenses, for short) can correct your distance vision and your intermediate vision so that you may see clearly from 50cm to far away without glasses.

This can be useful if you enjoy activities like swimming, surfing or going to the movies or theatre. You will probably still need to wear glasses for reading.

Potential Benefits of an EDOF lens

Clearer vision from 50 cm to the far distance
Very natural vision quality

The likelihood of achieving excellent distance vision without glasses depends on:

Your age
Whether you wear glasses at the moment
Whether or not you want to wear glasses after your surgery.

You may still need low-strength glasses to

Read small print

Read for a long time

Browse on your phone

Read in dim light

Participate in detailed up-close work

Private Pricing

Your specialist’s Fee: $500 GAP payment
Post Operative Eye Drops: $69.80
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $569.80 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee excess or Anaesthetist Fee.

Pensioner Pricing

Your specialist’s Fee: $500 GAP payment
Post Operative Eye Drops: $56.10
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $556.10 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee excess or Anaesthetist Fee.

Private Pricing

Your specialist’s Fee: $2000 per eye
Post Operative Eye Drops: $69.80
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $2069.80 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee or Anaesthetist Fee.

Pensioner Pricing

Your specialist’s Fee: $1700 per eye
Post Operative Eye Drops: $56.10
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $1756.10 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee or Anaesthetist Fee.

A small proportion of patients may need limited use of glasses for specific activities such as driving at night. Some patients choose to wear progressive glasses for convenience.

Specialists consulting from OKKO Eye Specialist Centre operate independently and bill under their own ABN, and at their own discretion. For fee enquiries, please ask your specialist at the time of your consultation or enquire with reception who can provide this information on your specialist’s behalf.

The pricing shown below is a guide only.

Book your consultation

Standard cataract surgery

In standard cataract surgery, a single-focus intraocular lens is inserted into the eye. This aims to improve vision clarity, particularly for distance vision.

Specialists consulting from OKKO Eye Specialist Centre operate independently and bill under their own ABN, and at their own discretion. For fee enquiries, please ask your specialist at the time of your consultation or enquire with reception who can provide this information on your specialist’s behalf.

The pricing shown below is a guide only.

Book your consultation

You should still expect to wear spectacles for activities like reading, using a mobile phone and working on the computer.

Private Pricing

Your specialist’s Fee: directly billed to your Health Fund
Post Operative Eye Drops: $69.80
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $69.80 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee excess or Anaesthetist Fee.

Pensioner Pricing

Doctor’s Fee: directly billed to your Health Fund
Post Operative Eye Drops: $56.10
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $56.10 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee excess or Anaesthetist Fee.

Private Pricing

Your specialist’s Fee: $1600 per eye
Post Operative Eye Drops: $69.80
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $1669.80 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee or Anaesthetist Fee.

Pensioner Pricing

Your specialist’s Fee: $1300 per eye
Post Operative Eye Drops: $56.10
No charge for post operative follow ups for 90 days.
Total Fee per eye: $1356.10 – please note this does not include your Theatre Fee or Anaesthetist Fee.

Public vs. private care for Cataract Surgery

Public and private ophthalmic care brings many important considerations for your Cataract Surgery, including wait times and costs.

	Public care	Private care
Personal costs	Free or low	Known gap for insured
Wait times	Longer with high demand	1-3 weeks for Consultation and Surgery
Surgeon choice	Anyone including trainee	Choice of experienced surgeon
Intraocular lenses	Basic Lens	Choice of premium lenses
Equipment	Usually core equipment	Flexible, personalised treatment
Ease of Parking	Fees may apply	Onsite Free Parking
Same Treating Doctor	No	Yes
Theatre	Public Hospital	Private Day Hospital

We’ve got you covered, your specialist consulting from OKKO is pleased to work with all the insurers below

Book your consultation

Our Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have cataract surgery?

Which lens is best for me?

How can you reduce my dependence on glasses after cataract surgery?

Once your specialist has removed your cataract at the time of surgery, your specialist will replace it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). It is possible in most cases to choose an IOL that can correct the prescription you wear in your glasses or contact lenses.

To do this, your specialist will perform a series of scans at your initial visit which gives precise measurements of your eye. These include measurements of the length of the eye and the curvature of the front of the eye. These measurements are then used in a mathematical formula to calculate the required IOL power.

It is important to understand that no intraocular lens can completely replicate the vision that you may have experienced in early adult life. Additionally, despite extensive measurements and calculations, your specialist cannot guarantee that the lens will achieve the exact focus that you and your doctor aim for.

Your ophthalmologist will discuss the range of intraocular lens options with you as well the target focus for your eye after surgery. By working through this process, the best IOL implant and focus target that most suits your needs is likely to be achieved. Some possibilities include, but are not limited to:

Distance vision for both eyes is where your specialist plans for no or minimal distance prescription however, correction is expected to be required for intermediate and near vision.
Blended monovision describes a mix of distance and intermediate/near vision. Your specialist does this by correcting the dominant eye to improve distance vision and the non-dominant eye for intermediate vision. The brain generally adapts naturally and quickly to this configuration. You may still require spectacles for reading (especially in dim light, with small writing, and for long periods) and night driving.
Full monovision describes a mix of distance and near vision. Your specialist will correct the dominant eye to improve your distance vision and correct the non-dominant eye to improve near vision. There is a greater difference in the prescription between the two eyes compared to blended monovision. Adapting to full monovision can take longer. You may still require spectacles for intermediate vision and other activities.
Multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) contain concentric ‘rings’ or separate segments that enable the lens to provide distance and near vision to reduce your dependency on glasses. These lenses will give you good postoperative distance, and near vision however, you may require spectacles for long periods of intermediate vision tasks (e.g. computer). Multifocal IOLs can also cause significant halos around lights at night time.
Distance vision for both eyes is where your specialist plans for no or minimal distance prescription however, correction is expected to be required for intermediate and near vision.
Blended monovision describes a mix of distance and intermediate/near vision. Your specialist does this by correcting the dominant eye to improve distance vision and the non-dominant eye for intermediate vision. The brain generally adapts naturally and quickly to this configuration. You may still require spectacles for reading (especially in dim light, with small writing, and for long periods) and night driving.
Full monovision describes a mix of distance and near vision. Your specialist can correct the dominant eye to improve your distance vision and correct the non-dominant eye to improve near vision. There is a greater difference in the prescription between the two eyes compared to blended monovision. Adapting to full monovision can take longer. You may still require spectacles for intermediate vision and other activities.
Multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) contain concentric ‘rings’ or separate segments that enable the lens to provide distance and near vision to reduce your dependency on glasses. These lenses will give you good postoperative distance, and near vision however, you may require spectacles for long periods of intermediate vision tasks (e.g. computer). Multifocal IOLs can also cause significant halos around lights at night time.

Cataract surgery at OKKO Eye Specialist Centre

What is involved in Cataract Surgery?

Comparing types of Cataract Surgery

Vision getting worse?

Our consulting OKKO eye specialists

Dr Matthew Russell

Dr Delia Wang

Dr Eve Hsing

Refractive cataract surgery

The Lenses

Types of Intraocular Lenses

Multifocal Lens Implants

EDOF Lens Implants

Astigmatic / Toric Lenses

Private Pricing

Pensioner Pricing

Private Pricing

Lifestyle cataract surgery

Potential Benefits of an EDOF lens

You may still need low-strength glasses to

Private Pricing

Pensioner Pricing

Private Pricing

Pensioner Pricing

Standard cataract surgery

Private Pricing

Pensioner Pricing

Private Pricing

Pensioner Pricing

Public vs. private care for Cataract Surgery

We’ve got you covered, your specialist consulting from OKKO is pleased to work with all the insurers below

Our Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have cataract surgery?

Which lens is best for me?

How can you reduce my dependence on glasses after cataract surgery?

What can I expect during cataract surgery?

What can I expect after cataract surgery?

What happens if the desired focus is not achieved?

Will insurance cover the cost of cataract surgery?

If you are concerned about any aspect of your vision

at OKKO Eye Specialist Centre

VSON Laser Vision Specialists

Comparing types of
Cataract Surgery