Q: What is a Cataract?
A cataract is a small cloudy area in the lens of the eye that blocks the passage of light to the retina. Cataract surgery is the removal of the cataract and implantation of an artificial lens to correct vision loss. The condition affects both eyes, but usually one eye is affected earlier than the other.
Q: Where will I be referred to have this surgery?
Ask your doctor/specialist where you can have your cataract surgery done, as this procedure is performed in the following hospitals:
Eastern Zone
General Hospital – Health Sciences Centre – St. John’s
Central Zone
James Paton Memorial Hospital – Gander
Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre – Grand Falls-Windsor
Western Zone
Western Memorial Regional Hospital – Corner Brook
Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital – Stephenville
Labrador-Grenfell Zone
Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital – St. Anthony
Q: How are wait times measured?
For this operation, the wait time is measured from when you and your ophthalmologist decide to proceed with surgery to when the procedure is completed.
Q: What is the benchmark wait time for cataract surgery?
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. This means that ophthalmologists and the Zones are working together to perform the majority of cataract procedures within the 112-day target. The most recent wait times for cataract surgery are:
Table 1: Cataract Surgery (First Eye) by Zone for Q2 (July 1 – September 30, 2023-2024)
| Wait Time Information | Zone | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Zone | Central Zone | Western Zone | Labrador-Grenfell Zone | |
| Number of first-eye cataract procedures completed | 297 | 206 | 38 | 18 |
| 5 out of 10 patients had surgery within this number of days | 77 | 139 | 56 | 37 |
| 9 out of 10 patients had surgery within this number of days | 358 | 202 | 177 | 57 |
| Percentage of patients who had surgery within 112 days | 58% | 33% | 63% | 100% |
Data source: Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS), Newfoundland and Labrador
Notes: In keeping with data standards, outliers or cases that do not comply with the standard wait time definitions are excluded from cataract wait time calculations and Zones within NLHS are working to address this.