✦ Industry Gold Standard
Cross Border Cataract Surgery in Northern Ireland
For Patients from the Republic of Ireland – Using the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme
- Fast-tracked appointments available
- Up to €1,500 reimbursed by the HSE*
Cataract Surgery in Northern Ireland
If you’re living in the Republic of Ireland and facing long waiting lists for cataract surgery, you don’t have to wait months – or even years – for treatment.
At Cathedral Eye Clinic in Belfast, patients from across Ireland travel to us for fast, expert cataract surgery, with up to €1,500 reimbursed by the HSE through the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme.
Our dedicated cross-border patient team manages the entire process, making it simple and stress-free from referral to reimbursement.
Why Patients from Ireland choose Cathedral Eye Clinic
- Surgery within weeks – avoid long public waiting lists
- Up to €1,500 reimbursed by the HSE*
- Specialist cataract surgeons with thousands of procedures performed
- State-of-the-art eye clinic in Belfast
- Dedicated cross-border patient support team
- Full guidance with HSE reimbursement paperwork
You receive world-class cataract treatment quickly, while still benefiting from the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme reimbursement.
The procedure typically takes 20–30 minutes and is performed as a day-case treatment.
What Is the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme?
The Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme allows patients who receive public healthcare in the Republic of Ireland to travel to Northern Ireland for treatment and claim reimbursement from the HSE.
This includes cataract surgery at Cathedral Eye Clinic.
Under the scheme:
- You pay for your treatment upfront
- After surgery, you apply to the HSE for reimbursement
- The HSE reimburses up to €1,500 towards the costs
Our in-house cross-border team will guide you through every step of the process, including the documentation needed for reimbursement.
Who Is Eligible?
You may be eligible for the scheme if:
- You receive public healthcare in the Republic of Ireland
- You have a referral from your GP or consultant for cataract surgery
- You are willing to pay for treatment upfront and claim reimbursement afterwards
If you’re unsure whether you qualify, our team can check eligibility and explain the process clearly before you book.
Your Journey Starts Here
How the Process works
We make travelling from the Republic of Ireland for cataract surgery simple and fully supported.
Call our Cross-Border Patient Team, who will:
- Arrange your consultation
- Explain costs and reimbursement
- Help prepare your HSE paperwork
Ask your GP for a referral for cataract surgery.
You'll attend a detailed cataract assessment at Cathedral Eye Clinic, where our specialists will:
- Assess your vision
- Confirm your cataract diagnosis
- Recommend the best lens options
- Schedule surgery
We can also arrange for your consultation and surgery to take place on two consecutive days, helping minimise travel. Our Patient Care Team can provide guidance on convenient nearby accommodation, including details of hotels that offer preferential rates for Cathedral Eye Clinic patients, making your stay in Belfast easy and comfortable.
Unlike long waiting lists in the public system, surgery can typically take place within weeks.
The procedure itself is quick, painless, and usually takes around 20 minutes.
After surgery, our cross-border team will help you submit your reimbursement claim to the HSE, ensuring all documentation is correct.
Dedicated Cross-Border Patient Support
Travelling for medical treatment can feel complicated — but we make it straightforward. Our in-house cross-border team handles everything, including:
- Explaining how the process works
- Coordinating appointments
- Providing documentation for HSE reimbursement
- Supporting you from initial enquiry through to reimbursement
You'll have one dedicated point of contact throughout your journey.
Ask your GP for a referral for cataract surgery.
Call our Cross-Border Patient Team, who will arrange your consultation, explain costs and reimbursement, and help prepare your HSE paperwork.
You'll attend a detailed cataract assessment at Cathedral Eye Clinic, where our specialists will:
- Assess your vision
- Confirm your cataract diagnosis
- Recommend the best lens options
- Schedule surgery
We can also arrange for your consultation and surgery to take place on two consecutive days, helping minimise travel. Our Patient Care Team can provide guidance on convenient nearby accommodation, including details of hotels that offer preferential rates for Cathedral Eye Clinic patients, making your stay in Belfast easy and comfortable.
Unlike long waiting lists in the public system, surgery can typically take place within weeks. The procedure itself is quick, painless, and usually takes around 20 minutes.
After surgery, our cross-border team will help you submit your reimbursement claim to the HSE, ensuring all documentation is correct.
Dedicated Cross-Border Patient Support
Travelling for medical treatment can feel complicated — but we make it straightforward. Our in-house cross-border team handles everything, including:
- Explaining how the process works
- Coordinating appointments
- Providing documentation for HSE reimbursement
- Supporting you from initial enquiry through to reimbursement
You'll have one dedicated point of contact throughout your journey.
About Cataract Surgery
Cataracts develop when the natural lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, causing symptoms such as:
- Blurred or hazy vision
- Difficulty driving at night
- Glare from lights
- Colours appearing faded
Cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful medical procedures in the world.
Most patients experience improved vision within days.
During surgery:
- The cloudy lens is removed
- A clear artificial lens implant replaces it
- Vision is restored, often dramatically
Benefits
Why Have Cataract Surgery in Belfast?
Many patients from the Republic of Ireland choose Cathedral Eye Clinic because we offer:
- Rapid access to surgery
- Expert and locally based consultant eye surgeons
- Advanced surgical technology
- Personalised lens options
- Dedicated cross-border patient care
Instead of waiting years for treatment, you can restore your vision quickly & safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
The NIPHS allows patients living in the Republic of Ireland to travel to Northern Ireland for planned medical treatment. You pay for your treatment upfront and can then apply to the HSE for partial reimbursement of the costs.
You may be eligible if you are entitled to public healthcare in Ireland and have a referral from your GP. You do not need to be on a waiting list to qualify.
Yes, you will need a referral letter from your GP confirming that you require cataract surgery.
You pay for your consultation and surgery directly to the clinic. After treatment, you submit your receipts to the HSE, who will reimburse you up to the equivalent cost of treatment in the Irish public system.
Reimbursement is based on HSE rates and covers a significant portion of your treatment costs, but not necessarily the full amount.
Patients can often be seen very quickly, with consultation and surgery sometimes completed with a few weeks from referral, helping you avoid long waiting times in the Republic of Ireland.
Cataract surgery is a day-case procedure. Many patients attend for consultation and surgery over 1–2 days and can return home shortly afterwards, depending on their individual plan.
You will have a follow-up appointment after your procedure. In many cases, additional aftercare can be arranged with your local optometrist in the Republic of Ireland for convenience.
Cataract surgery is a very common and safe procedure. It is performed under local anaesthetic, and most patients experience little to no pain during treatment.
Many patients choose the NIPHS pathway to access faster treatment, reduce waiting times, and improve their vision sooner while still receiving partial reimbursement from the HSE.
Start Your Cataract Surgery Journey Today
If you live in the Republic of Ireland and are waiting for cataract surgery, the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme allows you to access treatment quickly at Cathedral Eye Clinic in Belfast.
Contact Cathedral Eye Clinic today to speak with our Cross-Border Patient Team and begin your journey to clearer vision.
