Eye Surgery Safety in India for British and American Patients?

Eye surgery in India is safe for British and American patients when done at NABH or JCI-accredited hospitals with internationally trained surgeons. Complication rates at top Indian eye centres are comparable to the UK and US. Phacoemulsification alone crosses 95% success rates. What matters most isn’t the country. It’s the surgeon’s hands and the hospital’s protocols.

According to Dr. Mayank Bansal, Ophthalmologist & Retina Surgeon in Delhi, Safety comes down to three things: how well the surgeon’s trained, what equipment is in the OR, and whether sterilization is treated like religion or an afterthought.

What Should International Patients Look for in an Eye Surgeon?

Don’t just go by hospital branding or a fancy website. That tells you almost nothing about what happens inside the operating theatre.

• Fellowship proof: FRCS, FACS, ICO certification. These aren’t decorative. They confirm the surgeon went through internationally accredited training with proper clinical oversight. Skip anyone who can’t show you these.
• How many surgeries: Thousands matter here. A surgeon who’s done 5,000+ procedures has dealt with complications most doctors only read about in textbooks. There’s no substitute for that kind of hands-on experience.
• What’s in the OR: You want bladeless phaco, OCT retinal imaging, 25-gauge micro-incision vitrectomy setups. If a hospital doesn’t have these in 2026, walk out.
• Aftercare clarity: Ask for the post-op schedule in writing before surgery. Medication plans, follow-up dates, who to call at 2 AM if something feels wrong. All of it. Because vague promises about “we’ll take care of you” aren’t a protocol.

Look into cataract surgery options and verify the surgeon’s fellowship credentials yourself. Reading about recovery after cataract surgery before you fly also saves you from unrealistic expectations about timelines.

Why Do British and American Patients Choose India for Eye Surgery?

Cost is part of it. Obviously. But it’s not the whole story and people who think that’s all it is haven’t really looked into it.

• Wait times are brutal back home: NHS cataract lists stretch 4 to 6 months. Sometimes longer. In India, you’re typically scheduled within a week of walking into the clinic. That speed difference alone changes the math for a lot of patients.
• The savings are real: A procedure running $3,000 to $5,000 in the US costs a fraction here. And before you ask, no, cheaper doesn’t mean worse. Same phaco machines. Same sterile protocols. Same IOL brands.
• You actually meet your surgeon: This one surprises people. In India, the senior specialist who consults you is the same person operating on you. No handoffs. No rotating junior team doing half the work while the named surgeon shows up for five minutes.
• They sort out your logistics: Visa guidance, hotel bookings, airport pickup. Good clinics handle all of it so you’re not juggling travel admin while stressing about your eyes.

Price alone is a terrible reason to pick a hospital though. Your gut feeling during the first consultation matters more. If the surgeon rushes you or dodges questions, that’s your answer right there.

Why Choose Claritas Eye & Retina Institute?

Dr. Mayank Bansal trained at AIIMS Delhi, holds FRCS from Glasgow and FACS from the US, and did his retina fellowship at UCLA. Over 10,000 patients treated so far. India, UK, France, Mauritius, US. The man’s seen practically everything that can go wrong with an eye and fixed it.

And here’s what patients keep saying about him. He’s honest. Bluntly honest. He’s turned away LASIK candidates because their vision didn’t need it. Most surgeons won’t leave that money on the table. He does. That’s the kind of doctor you want when your eyesight is on the line and you’ve flown 5,000 miles to get there.

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