Cataract surgery abroad: what you should know

Facing a long wait for cataract surgery? What to understand about having it done abroad — waiting times, cost, quality, and how the process works.

Cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed planned procedures in the world, and ophthalmology waiting lists are often long. When a cataract is affecting your daily life, waiting many months can be hard. For some people, having it done abroad is a way to be treated sooner.

Why the wait can be so long

In the Netherlands, the officially agreed maximum acceptable waiting time — the "Treeknorm" — is around four weeks for a first specialist appointment and six to seven weeks for treatment. For planned procedures such as cataract surgery, actual waits frequently run longer than that norm, and they vary from one hospital to another. It is worth checking the current published waiting time at your own hospital.

What cataract surgery involves

In cataract surgery, the eye's clouded natural lens is replaced with a clear artificial lens. Whether surgery is right for you now, which type of lens suits your case, and what your recovery will look like are decisions only your treating ophthalmologist can make after assessing you. Saluvia does not give medical advice — this is general background, not a recommendation.

Why people consider having it done abroad

• Speed — being treated in weeks rather than months.
• Cost— you pay the hospital directly, the same price as going direct, and Saluvia's coordination is free to you. International patients are not charged Turkish VAT, so the total can be considerably lower than comparable private care in Western Europe. We do not publish per-treatment prices; the hospital confirms costs for your specific case.
• Quality — in Istanbul, the American Hospital and Koç University Hospital are members of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and hold JCI accreditation.

Hear from the specialist

Prof. Murat Hasanreisoglu, ophthalmologist at American Hospital, explains ophthalmology treatment and shares a patient's experience:

How it works with Saluvia

The process is the same as for any treatment we coordinate: you share your situation, the hospital's doctors review it and advise, and — if you decide to go ahead — we help you plan. Read the full walkthrough in How treatment abroad works, step by step, and if safety is on your mind, see how to judge a hospital abroad.

How to prepare

• Gather your relevant records in English — recent eye examinations, referral letters, and a current medication list.
• Write down the questions you want to ask the hospital's specialists.
• Note your availability, so planning is straightforward once the hospital advises.

Every clinical decision about your eyes is made by the hospital's own doctors. Our job is to get you to the right specialists quickly and support you through the process.

Request a free assessment to find out what treatment could look like for you.

Saluvia provides coordination, guidance, and information only — not medical advice. All medical assessment is carried out by the doctors at our partner hospitals.