The wait time data provided here are for scheduled tests, treatments and services only. Patients who require emergency care are not placed on a wait list.

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is performed in the Prairie Mountain Health, Southern Health-Santé Sud and Winnipeg regional health authorities. Ask your surgeon where you are having your cataract surgery.

What is Cataract Surgery?

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.


Cataract Surgery Wait Times
Regional Health Authority
Facilities
Median Wait Time
(in weeks)
Prairie Mountain Health Brandon Regional Health Centre 6
Minnedosa Health Centre 5
Swan Valley Health Centre 18
Southern Health-Santé Sud Portage District General Hospital NS
Winnipeg Misericordia Health Centre
9
Western Surgery Centre 8

Data for January 2024

Information on this page reflects wait times for every patient awaiting cataract surgery in Manitoba whether they are waiting for surgery on the first eye or second eye. Wait times indicated here are median, which means they represent a mid-point; some wait times are longer than those indicated, while others are shorter.

Some factors that contribute to wait times:

  • there is generally a longer wait for surgery for the  first eye than there is for the second - the wait times on this page represent a median of both.
  • patient wait times vary by surgeon. If your condition or circumstances change while waiting for surgery, it may be advisable to contact your ophthalmologist to discuss your priority for surgery, or contact your optometrist or family physician to request a referral to an ophthalmologist with a shorter wait time.
Cataract Surgeries Performed
Regional Health Authority
Facilities
Number of surgeries performed
(per month)
2023/2024
Fiscal Year to Date1
2022/2023
Fiscal Year1
Prairie Mountain Health Brandon Regional Health Centre 97 815 929
Minnedosa Health Centre 31 230 323
Swan Valley Health Centre 23 475 426
Southern Health-Santé Sud Portage District General Hospital NS 116 258
Winnipeg Misericordia Health Centre 972 9,049 8,763
Western Surgery Centre 107 2,326 5,432
Manitoba Total 1,230 13,011 16,131

Data for January 2024

1 Fiscal year is April to March.


Cataract Surgeries Waiting
Regional Health Authority
Facilities
Number of Surgeries Waiting
Prairie Mountain Health Brandon Regional Health Centre 177
Minnedosa Health Centre 16
Swan Valley Health Centre 122
Southern Health-Santé Sud Portage District General Hospital 31
Winnipeg 3,142
Manitoba Total 3,488

Data for January 2024


A wait list is a list of individuals who are waiting for a special medical or diagnostic service. Only suitable patients who have consented to receive the service are placed on a wait list. Patients who are not ready for the service, such as those who need time in pre-habilitation or may be recommended for other treatment options, are not placed on a wait list. Patients who have not consented to the service do not go on a wait list. Patients who are determined by their care provider to be an emergency are also not put on a wait list.



Cataract Surgery Historical Information

Historical data for the previous 13 months is available by clicking the link below:

View the historical information here - Excel excel