Eye surgery in China

Cataract, glaucoma and vitreous floater procedures are all routinely performed in China, at costs typically 60–75% below US self-pay prices. The specialist eye hospitals run these as daily operating lists rather than occasional cases, and high surgical volume is one of the better-established predictors of outcome in ophthalmology.

Why volume matters

Cataract surgery is among the most performed operations in the world, and China performs it at enormous scale. At the specialist eye hospitals — the ones that appear in China’s national hospital ranking as dedicated ophthalmology centres — these are daily operating lists, not occasional cases. A surgeon there will have done more of your procedure in a month than many will do in a year elsewhere.

That is not a marketing point. The relationship between surgical volume and outcome is one of the better-established findings in the literature, and it holds particularly well for high-repetition procedures like phacoemulsification, where technique is refined through repetition and complication rates fall as case numbers rise.

It also explains the waiting times. A centre running full lists can usually offer a date within weeks, which is a different proposition from a queue measured in seasons.

The three conditions

• Cataract

  白内障báinèizhàng

  The eye's natural lens clouds with age, and vision dims, yellows or hazes. It is the single most commonly performed operation in ophthalmology worldwide.

  How it is treated: Phacoemulsification: the clouded lens is broken up by ultrasound through a small incision and replaced with an intraocular lens. Usually a day case under local anaesthetic, one eye at a time.

  Lens choice matters and changes the price. Monofocal lenses are standard; multifocal and toric lenses cost more and suit some eyes and not others. A surgeon who does these daily will have a clear view on which fits yours.

• Glaucoma

  青光眼qīngguāngyǎn

  Pressure inside the eye damages the optic nerve, taking peripheral vision first and often without symptoms until sight is already lost. Damage already done cannot be reversed, which is why timing matters more here than with cataract.

  How it is treated: Treatment aims to lower pressure and hold it there — laser (SLT), minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, trabeculectomy, or a drainage device, depending on type and stage. Some need a short inpatient stay.

  This is the one of the three where waiting has a real cost. If you are on a long queue at home with pressures that are not controlled, that is worth raising with us early.

• Vitreous floaters

  飞蚊症fēiwénzhèng

  Strands and specks drifting across your vision, caused by clumping in the vitreous gel. Usually harmless and often ignored by clinicians at home, but for some people they are genuinely disabling — a constant obstruction in the centre of sight.

  How it is treated: YAG laser vitreolysis breaks up individual floaters without entering the eye. Vitrectomy removes the vitreous gel altogether and is more definitive, and carries more risk. Which is appropriate depends on the type, position and density of the floaters.

  A sudden shower of new floaters, especially with flashes, can signal a retinal tear and is an emergency. See someone locally straight away rather than planning a trip.

What it costs

Floater treatment is priced case by case, because YAG vitreolysis and vitrectomy are very different procedures. Both eyes are usually done on separate days, which affects how long you stay. See all indicative costs and how paying works in China.

Where eye surgery sits

China’s national ranking lists dedicated eye hospitals separately from general hospitals. Among the cities we coordinate in:

• Shanghai — a national eye centre, and 18 of China’s top 100 hospitals overall.
• Guangzhou — a national eye centre, and 10 of China’s top 100 hospitals overall.

All the areas we coordinate

What to send us

A recent eye examination, including intraocular pressure readings if glaucoma is in question, visual field tests, and any OCT imaging. Bring your current glasses prescription. Our records guide covers how to request these from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.