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How much does dog cataract surgery cost?
CareCredit publishes the national average at $3,782 per eye, with a range of $2,995–$6,845 per eye. Because most owners face the one-eye-or-both question, this guide leads with the split sources actually publish — and labels exactly what each total includes, because here the inclusions differ more than the surgery.
| Cataract surgery — published figures | Figure |
|---|---|
| Per eye — CareCredit (average / range) | $3,782 / $2,995–$6,845 |
| One eye, bundled total — Vety (2026 guide) | $3,500–$5,600 (incl. consultation, diagnostics, meds, follow-ups, anesthesia, surgery) |
| Both eyes, bundled total — Vety | $4,300–$6,600 |
| One eye — MetLife (2026) | $4,900–$5,500 (incl. pre-op diagnostics, anesthesia, hospitalization, meds) |
| Both eyes — MetLife | $5,600–$6,700 |
| Both eyes, average — Spot internal claims data | $5,785 (single average, not a range) |
| General range — GoodRx, as cited by Spot | $2,800–$4,900 |
What the money buys besides the surgery
Only veterinary ophthalmologists perform this procedure, and the pre-surgery workup is specialized: Vety itemizes consultation with pre-surgery diagnostics at $500–$1,100, including an electroretinogram (ERG, $300–$400) and ocular ultrasound ($200–$300) to confirm the retina works before anyone operates, plus bloodwork ($200–$300) and pre/post medications ($70–$150). Vety also notes ophthalmologists typically include three to four follow-up appointments in the price. What drives the total, per the sources: your location, the dog's size and overall health, the condition and severity in each eye, and whether one eye or both are treated — the second eye costs substantially less than the first because the workup is shared.
ERG and ocular ultrasound sit inside the imaging family — see published imaging prices.
Read the imaging cost guideSources: CareCredit / Synchrony — Dog Cataract Surgery Cost Guide · Vety — How Much Does Dog Cataract Surgery Cost? (2026) · MetLife Pet Insurance — Dog Cataract Surgery Costs (2026) · Spot Pet Insurance — Dog Cataract Surgery (internal claims data). Researched October 2026 — prices change; confirm with your clinic.