Cataract Surgery in Varanasi & Purvanchal — A Patient's Guide

Every week we see families in our OPD in Kabir Nagar carrying a father or mother whose morning newspaper has turned into a grey blur. They ask three questions in the same order: Is surgery necessary? Will I see clearly again? Which lens should we choose? This guide answers those, and the ones you may not know to ask.

Do you actually need cataract surgery?

A cataract is a natural clouding of the eye's own lens, driven by age, sunlight exposure and diabetes. The old advice — "wait until the cataract is ripe" — is completely outdated. Modern surgery is easiest and safest when done before the cataract becomes rock-hard. If daily activities like reading, driving to Sarnath, or seeing your grandchild's face across the room have become difficult, it is time to consider surgery.

Warning signs the cataract has waited too long

• You need to close one eye to read
• Night driving has become dangerous
• Your ophthalmologist notes the lens is turning white or brown
• You have glare halos around scooter headlights

How we do cataract surgery at Shantanu Netralaya

We perform MICS (Micro-Incision Cataract Surgery) — phacoemulsification through a tiny stitch-less incision. Almost 100% of our routine cases are done under topical anaesthesia (numbing drops only) — no injections around the eye. Start-to-finish the surgery takes about 12–15 minutes and patients are back home within 2 hours of arrival.

Choosing the right IOL — the decision that matters most

The lens implant is permanent. Choosing well matters more than saving a few thousand rupees on the surgery fee. Every major IOL tier is available at Shantanu Netralaya:

• Standard monofocal — the only tier fully covered under Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY). Reading glasses needed.
• Aspheric monofocal — sharper night vision, still single-focus.
• Extended monofocal — better intermediate range while still cash-friendly.
• Toric monofocal — corrects astigmatism in a monofocal.
• EDOF (Extended Depth of Focus) — good for computer distance + dashboard viewing with minimal glare.
• Trifocal / Panoptix — genuine spectacle-freedom for distance, computer AND near, for suitable eyes.

Which one is right for you depends on your daily activities, eye health, and budget. Use our interactive IOL Selector suite for a guided recommendation, or read the full transparent price list.

Cataract surgery cost at Shantanu Netralaya

Per-eye pricing for IOL + surgery:

• Standard monofocal: ₹18,000 – ₹25,000 (Ayushman Bharat covered)
• Aspheric monofocal: ₹25,000 – ₹35,000
• Extended monofocal: ₹40,000 – ₹45,000
• Toric monofocal: ₹40,000 – ₹60,000
• EDOF: ₹50,000 – ₹1,00,000
• Trifocal / Panoptix: ₹70,000 – ₹1,10,000

Biometry, medicines, OPD visits and YAG capsulotomy are billed separately. We are Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) empanelled and accept cashless with most major private insurance TPAs. Bring your card on your first visit — our team handles the paperwork before surgery day.

Equipment we use

Accurate measurement is the foundation of a good surgical outcome. At Shantanu Netralaya we use optical and immersion biometers, OCT (Huvitz), ultrasound A- and B-scan, non-contact tonometry, a Swiss phaco system and a German Zeiss microscope with OMNIGLO for extra patient safety. For post-op care and complications we have a retina green laser and YAG laser on-site.

Recovery — what real life looks like after surgery

Day 1: mild watering, some grittiness. Vision is usually already better than pre-op.
Day 3–7: back to gentle work, reading, watching TV.
Day 15: back to driving, temple visits, morning walks.
Day 30: full activity — swimming, gym, farming.

Four simple rules: use the prescribed eye drops on time, keep the eye shield on for the first 3 nights, no water directly in the eye for 10 days, and no rubbing.

Common questions from Purvanchal families

Both eyes on the same day?

Usually one eye first, second eye 3–14 days later. The gap lets us confirm the first IOL power was perfect before finalising the second.

Can I fast on ekadashi / karvachauth after surgery?

Yes — food restrictions are fine. Only eye rubbing and dust exposure need to be avoided.

What if I have diabetes?

Cataract surgery in diabetics is safe when sugar is under 200 mg/dL. Retinal check-up is essential before surgery — we do it in the same appointment.

Book your assessment

Detailed assessment (about 90 minutes, includes biometry and OCT) any Monday to Saturday, 10 AM–6 PM. WhatsApp +91 83186 65154 to book, or use our contact form. Coming from Chandauli, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Jaunpur or Bihar? See our Purvanchal & Bihar catchment guide for early-morning slots and same-day return planning.

— Dr. Shantanu Kumar Gupta, MBBS, MS, DNB, FICO (Merit). Shantanu Netralaya, Kabir Nagar, Varanasi.