Cataract Surgery in India: what it actually costs
A specialized Cataract Surgery at an accredited Indian hospital costs 65% to 80% less than Western private rates. Below is the itemized cost breakdown, accredited partner hospitals, top operating surgeons, and full trip estimates.
What the price includes
- Lead surgeon and surgical team fees
- Operating theatre charges and consumable surgical packs
- Dedicated post-operative inpatient room stay
- Routine laboratory diagnostics, scans and pre-op clearance
- In-hospital clinical medications and recovery nursing
- Pre-departure follow-up consultation and fit-to-fly assessment
What it does not include
- International return flights and baggage
- Serviced accommodation and meals after discharge
- Attendant and patient Indian medical visa processing
- Management of incidental pre-existing conditions
- Long-term medication refills in home country
- Secondary home-country outpatient rehabilitation
What each hospital charges
Same clinical excellence across 5 accredited partner hospitals. Marlin charges no patient commission — figures are transparent official hospital estimates.
Tier-1 quaternary care facility with comprehensive international patient care concierge and translator desk.
Premier multi-super-speciality hospital in South Delhi with state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical wings.
State-of-the-art tertiary hospital known for complex surgical interventions and fast recovery clinical pathways.
First hospital in India to receive JCI accreditation, with over 700 beds and world-class surgical faculties.
Estimate your whole trip, not just the surgery
Flights, hotel, food and visas for the full 14–21 days — so the number you budget for is what you actually spend.
$5,610 – $5,920
- Surgery, hospital and care$3,800 fixed
- Return flights (1 passenger)$920
- Hotel & meals during recovery$810
- Indian medical visas$80
The upper figure allows for a longer stay. The implant and surgery are fixed. Marlin adds nothing to any of these numbers.
Surgeons who do this operation every week
Senior consultants at JCI/NABH accredited centres with decades of dedicated procedural volume.
Dr. Ashok Rajgopal
Internationally recognized senior consultant with thousands of successful clinical procedures.
Dr. S.K.S Marya
Globally renowned medical faculty with extensive international patient advisory tenure.
Dr. Vinesh Mathur
Renowned expert with international fellowships and over 15,000 successful clinical procedures.
What the three weeks actually look like
From sending your first medical scans to your fit-to-fly clearance.
Before you fly
Reports and a surgeon’s opinion
Send your X-rays and medical history. Within 24–48 hours you get a named surgeon’s written opinion and a costed plan from each hospital you shortlist.
Day 1–2
Arrival and tests
Airport pickup, hotel check-in and hospital consultation. Blood work, ECG, anaesthesia clearance and a fitness review are completed the same or next day.
Day 3
Surgery
The operation takes 60–90 minutes per joint. You are moved to your private room the same day and stood up with support within 24 hours.
Day 4–7
Walking with physio
Twice-daily physiotherapy in the ward. Most patients walk with a frame by day two after surgery and manage stairs before discharge.
Day 8–21
Recovery and review
You stay near the hospital in a serviced hotel with outpatient physio, then a final review, stitch removal and fit-to-fly clearance before you travel home.
“I paid the hospital directly at the billing counter and the number matched the estimate Marlin sent me in Nairobi. Nobody asked me for a single extra shilling.”
Questions patients ask before they book
Essential details on payments, visa processing, language and post-operative flight permissions.
Who do I pay, and when?+
You pay the hospital directly, at their official billing counter, in Indian rupees or by international credit card. There is usually an advance deposit on admission and the balance settled at discharge. Marlin never handles your money and charges you zero fees.
What if the cost changes after I arrive?+
The hospital re-confirms the estimate after your in-person tests. It can only move if your surgeon discovers complications or you require an extra night in ICU. Anything above the written estimate must be explained to you in writing before it is billed — we sit in on that conversation.
How do I get an Indian medical visa?+
The treating hospital issues an official visa invitation letter once your surgeon reviews and accepts your reports. You apply online for an Indian e-Medical Visa with that letter, passport copies and proof of funds. Your companion applies for a Medical Attendant visa on the same letter.
Will the surgeon and hospital staff speak English?+
Yes, 100%. All medical education and hospital communication in premier Indian hospitals is conducted in English. Translators for Arabic, French, Russian and Swahili are also provided free of charge by the hospital international patient desk.
Can my attendant or family member stay in my room?+
Yes. In all private and deluxe hospital rooms, an attendant couch/bed is provided at no extra charge, allowing one family member to stay overnight with the patient throughout hospitalization.
When is it safe for me to fly back home?+
For joint replacements, surgeons typically issue a fit-to-fly clearance after suture removal and mobility verification at around Day 14 to 21 post-operation. We also provide compression stocking guidance and wheelchair assistance at Indira Gandhi International Airport.