SEVENTY-two-year-old Neville McIntosh needs cataract surgery, but he is unlucky with his timing because, unlike anyone getting the procedure done before November this year, he will have to shell out at least an extra $400 to get it done.

Mr McIntosh is just one of many patients throughout Australia who will suffer under the Federal Government's decision to slash the Medicare rebate for cataract surgery in half.

But according to Richmond ophthalmologist Dr Luke Hazell, what will hurt patients' pockets most is the Government's proposal to cap the Medicare Safety Net for cataract surgery at $100.

Normally the Safety Net would entitle people who are admitted as outpatients for cataract surgery to an 80 per cent rebate. For a pensioner couple that kicks in once their medical costs for the year reach a threshold of $500.

But from January 1, 2010 the Government plans to change all that.

Where the surgery might have cost around $2500 to perform and the patient would receive about $1800 in rebates, under the proposed new legislation the maximum a patient will get back is about $500.

According to the Government, improvements in technology means taxpayers are forking out more than necessary for the most commonly performed cataract services.

Minister for Health Nicola Roxon said the changes would "better reflect the real costs of these now commonplace procedures" and also help ensure the "long-term affordability and sustainability of Medicare".

But Dr Hazell from the Richmond Eye Centre said there was still a "huge amount of skill and technology" involved in cataract surgery.

"The Government's rationale is that this will make doctors' fees lower, but it won't and it can't. There are fixed costs, and you can't cost it on time," Mr Hazell said.

He said the changes could affect up to 50 per cent of the Richmond Eye Centre's patients, who are treated as outpatients and would normally benefit from the full Medicare Safety Net rebate, therefore adding to their out-of-pocket costs.