Are you looking for cataract surgery and live in Silesia? We do not have a clinic in Katowice — we operate in Krakow at ul. Kluczborska 15/U3, an hour’s drive via the A4 motorway. Below you will find an honest comparison of private vs. National Health Fund (NFZ) options, and a practical visit plan for patients from outside Krakow.
SwissLaser in numbers: over 25,000 procedures performed by the chief surgeon · clinics in Krakow, Warsaw, Vienna, and Zurich · Google: 5,0 (171 reviews, Krakow) and 4,8 (258 reviews, Warsaw)
How long is the waiting time for NFZ cataract surgery in Silesia?
According to National Health Fund (NFZ) data (Treatment Waiting List Information System, as of July 2026), 28 facilities perform cataract surgery in the Silesian Voivodeship, with a total of approximately 6,500 people on waiting lists. The median waiting time is about one month, but the range is vast — from 8 days to over two years, depending on the hospital. In the Katowice metropolitan area alone, approximately 2,000 people are waiting at 13 facilities. You can check the current waiting times for each facility on the official search engine terminyleczenia.nfz.gov.pl.
We are honest: if you accept a standard monofocal lens and reading glasses after the procedure, surgery under the National Health Fund (NFZ) is medically fully valuable. The difference lies not in the quality of the procedure itself, but in its scope.
Benefits of Private Treatment
- Premium lenses — toric (correcting astigmatism), EDOF, and multifocal, allowing independence from glasses. The National Health Fund (NFZ) only refunds monofocal lenses.
- Choice of surgeon — the procedure is performed by Dr. med. Victor Derhartunian.
- Short waiting time — qualification usually within a few days, procedure within 1–2 weeks of qualification.
- Both eyes in one session — our standard; on request on separate dates, without waiting in a queue for the second eye.
Prices and types of lenses are described in detail in our cataract treatment price list, and the procedure itself on the cataract surgery in Krakow page.
Travel from Silesia to the Clinic
| From | By Car | By Train |
|---|---|---|
| Katowice | approx. 1 h 15 min (A4) | approx. 1 h (IC to Kraków Główny) |
| Sosnowiec | approx. 1 h 10 min | approx. 1 h 10 min |
| Gliwice | approx. 1 h 30 min (A4) | approx. 1 h 30 min |
| Bielsko-Biała | approx. 1 h 20 min (S1/A4) | approx. 2 h |
| Częstochowa | approx. 1 h 40 min | approx. 2 h |
The first follow-up appointment usually takes place the day after the procedure, so we recommend patients from Silesia stay overnight in Krakow — our team will gladly suggest verified options near the clinic. Detailed visit plan: for patients from outside Krakow.
Other procedures in Krakow
- Laser Vision Correction — for patients from Silesia
- Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
- ICL Phakic Lenses
- Presbyopia correction
Most Frequent Questions from Silesian Patients about Cataract Surgery
Does SwissLaser perform cataract surgery in Katowice?
No. We operate in Krakow at ul. Kluczborska 15/U3, about an hour’s drive from Katowice via the A4 motorway. Patients from Silesia are a regular group for us, and we plan visits to minimize travel.
How long is the waiting time for NFZ cataract surgery in Silesia?
According to the NFZ Treatment Waiting List Information System (as of July 2026), 28 facilities perform cataract surgery in the Silesian Voivodeship, with approximately 6,500 people waiting. The median is about one month, but the range extends from 8 days to over two years. You can check current waiting times at terminyleczenia.nfz.gov.pl.
How much does private cataract surgery cost for patients from Silesia?
The cost is the same for everyone: PLN 11,000 per eye with a premium implant (spherical, toric, or Customized), qualification examination PLN 400. Installment payment is available through Santander Consumer Bank.
Can you pay extra for a premium lens under the NFZ?
No – the refunded procedure only includes a monofocal lens, after which reading glasses are usually needed. Toric, EDOF, and multifocal lenses are only available with private treatment.
How many times do I need to come to Krakow?
Typically: qualification (approx. 90 minutes), procedure on both eyes in one session with follow-up the next day. Some subsequent follow-ups can be performed by an ophthalmologist closer to home, by arrangement. After the procedure, we recommend an overnight stay in Krakow.
Are both eyes operated on the same day?
Yes — this is our standard. Each eye is operated on as a separate procedure: no instrument used on the first eye touches the second. On request we operate on the eyes on separate dates.
Visit plan for distant patients: for patients from outside Krakow. Qualification criteria: when eyes qualify for cataract surgery.
Our Patients’ Reviews
Google rating: Warsaw 4,8 (reviews: 258) · Krakow 5,0 (reviews: 171). Read all reviews, unselected and unedited, directly on Google: Warsaw · Krakow.
Questions about appointments or travel? Contact — Krakow clinic, tel. +48 12 383 33 60, or book an appointment online.
Content fact-checked by Dr. med. univ. (Vienna) Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS – refractive surgery specialist. Last verified: August 2026.
