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Cataract surgery for dogs typically costs around $4,900 – $6,700.1 These costs can vary based on your dog’s overall health, your location, vet, and the severity of your dog’s cataracts, and whether you’re treating one eye or both.1,2
While cataract surgery is expensive, it’s often one of the best ways to help your dog see again, with roughly 95% of dogs regaining vision as soon as they recover from the operation.3
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about dog cataract surgery, including how the procedure works — and how dog insurance could help you cover related costs.
The cost for dog cataract surgery is around $4,900 – $5,500 for a single eye and $5,600 – $6,700 for both eyes. These prices generally include:2,4
If your dog requires further vet visits, procedures, or other care, you may face additional costs.2
Cataracts are protein deposits in the lens of your dog’s eye that prevent them from seeing clearly. You can recognize cataracts by cloudiness or the development of spots in the eye.5
Untreated cataracts can cause inflammation in the eye, leading to significant pain.5 As the cataract spreads, your dog may start to experience some vision loss. If the cataract progresses to where it covers the lens completely, your dog may experience total blindness in the affected eye.6
Cataracts often form as a dog’s eye ages, but genetic predisposition, certain health conditions, and even trauma can play a role in their development. Some common causes include:5,6
The symptoms of cataracts can present themselves in several ways, including through physical signs and behavioral changes, such as:7
If you recognize any of these symptoms in your dog, bring them to the vet for an examination. They may refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist — an eye specialist — for a full diagnosis.
Dogs of all breeds, genders, and ages can develop cataracts. However, some breeds are more susceptible to the condition than others, including:6,7,8
If your pooch belongs to one of these breeds, you may want to bring them to your veterinarian for regular eye checkups, where your vet can screen for early signs of cataract development. It’s also a good idea to consider a dog insurance policy while they’re healthy. That way, cataracts they develop later in life are less likely to be excluded from coverage as pre-existing conditions.
Before cataract surgery, your vet will perform preoperative scans to test the retina function and make sure there’s no lens rupture or retinal detachment. After the initial exam, the veterinary surgeon will put your pooch under general anesthesia. The surgeon will then make small incisions in the cornea and lens before using high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations to break up the lens. Once the affected lens is removed, the surgeon replaces it with an artificial one called an intraocular lens.5
Cataract surgery for dogs has a long-term success rate of 85% – 90%.9 That means, for at least a year after surgery, most dogs regain their vision and experience normal intraocular pressure.
After surgery, most dogs will spend the night in the hospital.10
When they return home, they’ll have to wear an Elizabethan collar for two weeks to protect the eye. During this time, exercise should also be limited to short, relaxed walks, with longer walks gradually introduced in the following weeks. It’s also important to avoid any activities that might cause your dog to shake their head, such as tug-of-war, which could increase pressure on the eye.10
Follow your vet’s instructions for administering eye drops and any oral medications, which are typically given for 3-4 weeks after the surgery.10
While your dog’s vision should start to improve the day after surgery, it can take weeks for it to fully settle.11 During this time, have patience with your dog, help guide them as they get used to the new lens, and give them lots of love and encouragement.
Dog cataract surgery is considered the only certain way to remove cataracts.12 However, if surgery isn’t an option for your pet, some products, such as lanosterol eye drops, may slow the progress of cataracts or offer potentially positive results for some dogs.
While lanosterol may offer a more affordable, noninvasive treatment option for your dog’s cataracts, keep in mind that this product is still being studied and isn’t considered a cure for cataracts.13
If you’re considering trying lanosterol or any other cataract treatments, consult your vet first.
If your dog has cataracts, surgery is likely their best chance at restoring their vision and treating cataract pain.5 Fortunately, a MetLife Pet Insurance policy could help you offset the costs of treatments for your dog’s cataracts.
For example, when Cooper — a mixed-breed dog from Arizona — showed signs of visual impairment, his pet parents took him to the vet for a cataract exam, resulting in a bill of over $1,600. Luckily, his parents had a MetLife Pet policy that reimbursed them over $1,100.14
And when Milo — a mixed breed pup from South Carolina — needed prescription medication after his cataract surgery, his pet parents were reimbursed 90% of the cost with their MetLife Pet policy.14
Want to see how a pet insurance policy could protect your pup while also saving you money? Fetch a free quote from MetLife Pet to get started.
Dr. Hunter Finn has been paid by MetLife to discuss the importance of choosing pet insurance. He is an integrative veterinary expert first, and social media star second. America’s favorite veterinarian owns Pet Method in McKinney, Texas, where he cares for pets while prioritizing their emotional well-being. When he’s not at his clinic, he’s starring in viral videos on TikTok (2 million followers) and Instagram (500K followers) — where he’s been known to snuggle puppies and conquer the latest dance trends.
