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.
Note: The wait time data provided is for scheduled tests, treatments and services only. Patients who require emergency care are not placed on a wait list.
On This Page:
- What is Cataract Surgery?
- Cataract Surgery Wait Times
- Cataract Surgeries Performed
- Cataract Surgeries Waiting
- Cardiac Surgery Historical Information
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.
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Cataract Surgery Wait Times
| Regional Health Authority | Facilities | Median Wait Time (in weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Mountain Health | Brandon Regional Health Centre | 24 |
| Minnedosa Health Centre | 17 | |
| Swan Valley Health Centre | NS | |
| Southern Health-Santé Sud | Portage District General Hospital | 6 |
| Winnipeg | Misericordia Health Centre |
11 |
| Western Surgery Centre | 6 |
Data for September 2025
1 NS = No service provided: This means that although available, none of these services were performed during this period in the RHA.
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.
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Cataract Surgeries Performed
| Regional Health Authority | Facilities |
Surgeries performed (per month) |
2025/2026 Fiscal Year to Date1 |
2024/2025 Fiscal Year1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Mountain Health | Brandon Regional Health Centre |
130 | 780 | 1,377 |
| Minnedosa Health Centre | 63 | 266 | 402 | |
| Swan Valley Health Centre | NS | 280 | 541 | |
| Southern Health-Santé Sud | Portage District General Hospital |
23 | 214 | 405 |
| Winnipeg | Misericordia Health Centre |
883 | 5,723 | 11,362 |
| Western Surgery Centre | 345 | 1,926 | 2,758 | |
| Manitoba Total | 1,444 | 9,189 | 16,845 | |
Data for September 2025
1 Fiscal year is April to March.
2 NS = No service provided: This means that although available, none of these services were performed during this period in the RHA.
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Cataract Surgeries Waiting
| Regional Health Authority | Facilities | Surgeries Waiting |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Mountain Health | Brandon Regional Health Centre | 679 |
| Minnedosa Health Centre | 152 | |
| Swan Valley Health Centre | 171 | |
| Southern Health-Santé Sud | Portage District General Hospital | 71 |
| Winnipeg | 3,766 | |
| Manitoba Total | 4,839 | |
Data for September 2025
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.
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Cataract Surgery Historical Information
Historical data for the previous 13 months is available by clicking the link below:
View the historical information here - Excel
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