What are the Most Common Eye Surgeries in Australia?

If you’ve ever wondered, “What are the most common eye surgeries in Australia?” you’re not alone. Thousands of Australians consider eye surgery every year to improve their vision or treat eye health conditions. Let’s break down the most common types of eye surgeries performed in Australia, with a focus on those designed to correct common vision problems.

Cataract surgery

Cataract surgery is by far the most common eye surgery in Australia. In fact, more than 250,000 cataract procedures are performed annually across the country. This surgery involves removing the eye’s clouded natural lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore clear vision.

Laser eye surgery (eg. LASIK, TPRK, SmartSight, SMILE)

Laser eye surgery is another frequently performed procedure in Australia, used to correct refractive errors such as myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism. This category includes the advanced and sought-after TPRK (Touchless Robotic), SmartSight and femto-LASIK laser procedures. Together, laser eye surgeries account for tens of thousands of procedures annually.

At Medownick, laser eye surgery is one of our core specialties. We’ve helped close to 50,000 people see clearly without glasses.

Refractive lens exchange (RLE)

Also known as Clear Lens Exchange (CLE), or simply "lens replacement," RLE is similar to cataract surgery but performed electively for people who want to reduce their dependence on glasses or contacts and ensure they will never get cataracts. It’s particularly popular for those over 50. While exact figures nationally aren’t readily available, RLE is an increasingly popular procedure in Australia and worldwide.

Medownick has been performing RLE for over 30 years, combining safety, precision, and world-class outcomes.

Glaucoma surgery

Glaucoma surgeries, such as trabeculectomy or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), are common for patients with advanced glaucoma. These surgeries help lower intraocular pressure and prevent vision loss. However, they’re not performed at Medownick, as our focus is on refractive procedures.

Retinal surgery

Retinal surgeries are performed to repair conditions like retinal detachment, macular holes, and epiretinal membranes. These highly specialised surgeries are usually conducted in hospital settings, not at dedicated refractive clinics like Medownick.

Why choose Medownick?

Medownick focuses exclusively on the top three most common eye surgeries in Australia: cataract surgery, laser eye surgery, and refractive lens exchange, all designed to correct vision problems and reduce reliance on glasses or contact lenses. With more than 30 years of expertise and close to 50,000 successful procedures, we’ve become trusted experts in safety, care, and outcomes.