Everything you need to know before deciding where to have your cataract surgery
If your GP has referred you to an ophthalmologist for cataracts, you have two options: wait your turn in the public health system or go directly to a private clinic. The differences are significant and affect waiting times, the type of lens that will be implanted, and how you will experience the whole process. We explain the facts so you can make an informed decision.
Public or private: the key differences
| Public healthcare | Private clinic | |
|---|---|---|
| First consultation with ophthalmologist | Weeks or months of waiting | ✓ Within a few days |
| Surgery | Up to 6 months (legal maximum) | ✓ Within the following weeks |
| Second eye | New waiting list (5–6 months) | ✓ Weeks after the first |
| Choice of doctor | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Choice of date | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Included lens | Standard monofocal | ✓ All options available |
| EDOF and trifocal lenses | ✗ Not available | ✓ Available |
| Postoperative follow-up | Standard protocol | ✓ Personalised |
| Cost | ✓ Covered by social security | Variable depending on lens chosen |
How long might you wait before surgery?
The process in public healthcare does not begin in the operating theatre — it begins at your GP's surgery, and involves several chained waiting periods.
First wait: the consultation with the ophthalmologist
After the referral, the patient joins a waiting list for the first visit with the specialist. The average waiting time for a first outpatient consultation in Catalonia was 120 days in 2025 — four months before the ophthalmologist can even assess whether surgery is indicated. Ophthalmology is also the second specialty with the most waiting lists exceeding 90 days in Catalan hospitals.
Second wait: surgery
Once surgical indication is confirmed, the patient joins a second waiting list. CatSalut sets a legal maximum of 180 days for cataract surgery. In the Girona health region, the average wait for cataracts was 133 days in 2025. In some centres in the region, waits exceeded the legal limit.
If both eyes need surgery
Cataracts typically affect both eyes. In the public system, each eye follows its own circuit: once the first eye is operated on, the patient re-enters the waiting list for the second, with a typical additional delay of 5 to 6 months. At a private clinic, both surgeries are scheduled consecutively, a few weeks apart.
Step by step: public vs. private
- 1GP appointmentDetects the cataract and issues a referral to the specialist.
- 2Wait for ophthalmology consultationWaiting list for the first visit with the specialist.⏱ Average wait in Catalonia: ~120 days
- 3First visit with the ophthalmologistSurgical indication is confirmed and the patient joins the surgical waiting list.No choice of ophthalmologist
- 4Wait for surgery — first eyeSecond waiting list until the date of intervention.⏱ Average wait in the Girona region: ~133 days
- 5Surgery on the first eyeStandard monofocal lens is implanted.The ophthalmologist may be different
- 6Wait for surgery — second eyeThe patient re-enters the waiting list for the contralateral eye.⏱ 5–6 additional months
- 7Surgery on the second eyeEnd of the process. Total time from referral: between 6 months and over a year and a half.Possibly yet another ophthalmologist
- 1Appointment requestThe patient contacts the clinic directly, on their own initiative or by referral.
- 2First visit with the ophthalmologistFull preoperative assessment: optical biometry, corneal topography and OCT. Personalised lens selection.✓ Within a few days
- 3Surgery on the first eyeSurgery is performed with the chosen lens, tailored to the patient's lifestyle and visual needs.✓ Within the following weeks
- 4Surgery on the second eyeScheduled a few weeks later, with no new waiting list.✓ No additional wait
- 5Postoperative follow-upReviews with the same doctor who performed the surgery. Protocol adapted to each patient.✓ Same doctor throughout
The lens you receive is also a decision
In public healthcare, the lens used is the standard monofocal. It restores distance vision with good optical quality, but typically requires reading glasses and, in many cases, also glasses for intermediate distances such as a computer screen.
At a private clinic, the lens is chosen to suit your lifestyle and visual needs:
- Premium monofocal — maximum optical quality for distance, with glasses for near vision
- EDOF (extended depth of focus) — wider range of vision, particularly comfortable for frequent screen users
- Trifocal — functional vision at all distances, with less dependence on glasses
What does surgery at our clinic include?
- Full preoperative consultation with optical biometry, topography and OCT
- Surgery with the lens of your choice
- The same doctor throughout: consultation, operating theatre and follow-up
- Scheduling of both eyes with no new waiting list
- Postoperative reviews included
- First consultation available within a few days
Would you like to discuss your options with a specialist?
You can contact us with no obligation. We will explain which lens best suits your case and answer any questions about the process.
Request a first consultation