Know the costs, recovery process, and whether your dog is a candidate for cataract surgery.
Cataracts are one of many eye problems dogs can develop. They’re often a genetically inherited trait or a result of an illness, but they can also develop during the aging process or after an injury to the eye. Cataracts can be inconvenient to your pet, and unfortunately, they need surgery to fully resolve.
The exact cost of surgery depends on factors such as how far the cataract has progressed, but the general price ranges between $2,700 and $4,000. Here’s what you need to know about the surgery, and how to tell if your dog might be a good candidate for the procedure.
Generally speaking, pet owners can expect to pay between $2,700 and $4,000 per eye for their dog’s cataract surgery. The exact price depends on how far the cataracts have progressed, as well as your geographical location, since vet care costs vary depending on where you live. Luckily, many pet insurance plans cover some or all the costs of cataract surgery.However, that most policies won’t cover cataracts as a pre-existing condition—and if you sign up for a new insurance plan while your pet has cataracts, they likely won’t be covered for surgical removal later on.
👉 If your pup is predisposed to cataracts, it’s best to get them signed up for insurance early on so you’ll be covered in the long term.
In addition to the actual operation, you may be charged for other costs related to the surgery. For example:
👉 Pet insurance may or may not cover follow-up costs depending on your plan. It’s worth asking about post-operative cost factors so you know what to expect when it’s time to pay.
Depending on the company and plan you select, pet insurance may cover cataract surgery as long as it isn’t a pre-existing condition. Unlike human insurance, most pet insurance plans require you to pay the entire vet bill upfront.
Once you submit a claim, you’ll be reimbursed between 75% and 90% of the total cost in most cases. However, you’ll also have to meet your annual deductible before getting reimbursed.
👉 If pet insurance isn’t an option, ask your vet about financing your pet’s surgery through a CareCredit credit card or see if they offer a payment plan.
Dog cataract surgery isn’t cheap and the actual cost can vary considerably based on your dog’s breed, size, and progression of their cataracts. Your location can also influence the total price you pay.
Certain dog breeds are more likely to need cataract surgery than others due to inherited genetic mutations. Keep in mind that while genetic testing before breeding may help reduce inherited causes, any dog can develop cataracts without reason or due to trauma or illness. Some breeds that are more likely to inherit cataracts include:
👉 Some pet insurance companies don’t cover congenital or inherited diseases. If your dog’s breed belongs to a high-risk group, make sure to ask if hereditary cataracts are covered before enrolling them in a policy.
While the cost of the actual surgery stays the same, your dog’s size generally determines how much medication and anesthesia they’ll need. If you have a large dog, you’ll also likely pay more for any post-op medications.
Surgeries on early-stage cataracts tend to have better outcomes—and less expensive prices—than mature cataracts. The price also depends on whether the condition is in one or both eyes.
Your area’s cost of living can influence your dog's cataract surgery price. Calling a few local veterinary hospitals to ask for an estimate can help you find the most affordable option.
Cataracts are surgically removed by a veterinary ophthalmologist using a technique called phacoemulsification to break up and remove the cloudy lens from the eye. In some cases, the lens is removed through a larger incision, known as a lens extraction.
Once the old lens is removed, the surgeon replaces it with an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens, or IOL) that provides clearer vision. However, if your dog’s cataracts have progressed to a certain point, the surgeon may not be able to replace the lens. Your dog will still be able to see, but may have difficulty seeing well up close.
Unfortunately, not all dogs with cataracts are suitable for surgery. If your pup has a pre-existing eye condition, such as retinal degeneration or glaucoma, surgery might not be a viable option for them.
If they aren’t eligible for surgery, your pup will remain blind, but they can have a good quality of life, as long as their eye is not painful. When the eye becomes painful, enucleation (surgical removal of the eye) should be considered.
👉 According to Dr. Lawrence Galle, DVM, DACVO, about 5% to 10% of canine eyes that undergo phacoemulsification—with or without lens replacement—develop secondary issues like glaucoma. There’s no cure for glaucoma, so your pet may need lifelong eye drops to manage the condition.
There are many ways for owners to support their blind dog to help them adjust and continue to live their best life. Many trainers and veterinary professionals recommend keeping furniture in the same spots so that they learn the layout of the house. You can also train them with verbal versus visual cues, too.
👉 Lenticular sclerosis (or nuclear sclerosis) resembles a cataract but leaves a transparent, bluish tint on your dog’s eyes instead of a dense film. Unlike cataracts, lenticular sclerosis is a common aging change and doesn’t usually lead to blindness.
Knowing what to expect on the day of the surgery can soothe surgical jitters for both you and your pet. Here’s what you should know for the upcoming big day.
🚨 If your vet finds any issues during this testing phase, your pup may not be able to undergo cataract surgery.
👉 You will need to administer eye drops and oral medications to promote healing and prevent infection. Some dogs remain on eye drops for six months to a year or longer after surgery.
Your dog’s vision may be partially restored as early as the day after surgery, but typically it’ll take a few weeks for the eye to adjust to the artificial lens before vision is fully restored. Cataract surgery for dogs has a success rate of about 90% a year after surgery and around 80% after two years.
In addition to restoring your dog’s vision, cataract surgery also reduces their risk of developing painful secondary glaucomas.
While cataract surgery holds high success rates, some dogs aren’t suitable candidates for the procedure. For example, diabetes mellitus causes cataracts in 75-80% of dogs within a year of their diagnosis. Some of these cases are so severe that they result in glaucoma, so veterinarians may recommend removing the eye instead of the cataract.
🚨Your vet may also decide that cataracts have progressed too far for them to make a full recovery, especially if your dog is old or has medical conditions like kidney disease that would make surgery a risky endeavor.
Complications from cataract surgery in dogs are rare, but all surgical procedures can come with risks. Post-surgery complications include corneal ulcers, pressure elevations within the eye (glaucoma), and retinal detachment. Pet owners need to take their dog for a follow-up exam with the surgeon to help identify and prevent issues from developing after surgery.
Surgery is the only proven cure for cataracts, and the sooner your dog can get the procedure, the more likely they’ll have a good long-term prognosis.
While some pet parents claim natural remedies like eye drops may help their dog’s cataracts, at the moment, surgery is the only known and proven cure. If surgery isn’t an option, talk to your vet about ways you can treat them at home.
In most cases, yes. Assuming that the rest of your dog’s eye is in good working order, cataract surgery in dogs is a very successful treatment with approximately 85-90% of dogs regaining vision as soon as they recover. The sooner, the better, however, since surgery is more successful—and less expensive—at earlier stages.
Yes. Cataracts aren’t fatal, but there can be complications associated with cataracts that may be uncomfortable. These include vision loss, uveitis (severe inflammation of the eyes), development of glaucoma, or lens luxation. Cataract surgery might not be an option for older dogs with certain medical conditions.
The average for cataract surgery in dogs is around $3,500, but it can range from $2,700 to $4,000.
Your dog’s breed, genetics, and medical history all play a role in determining whether they will develop cataracts. Trauma also causes the condition, which often happens beyond the pet parent’s control. While it’s not possible to guarantee that your dog won’t develop cataracts, taking them to regular visits to the doctor and maintaining their overall health can play a crucial role in early detection and prevention of this progressive condition.
