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How much does eye removal (enucleation) surgery for dogs cost?
Enucleation — surgical removal of an eye that is diseased or irreversibly damaged — is published by MetLife Pet Insurance at typically $600–$1,400, generally covering the surgery, anesthesia, IV fluids and an overnight stay. Named-clinic published prices sit inside that band: Anicira lists $754 for one eye at Harrisonburg, VA and $1,012 for one eye at San Diego, with both-eyes prices of $1,128 and $1,518 respectively.
| Enucleation — published figures by source | Figure |
|---|---|
| Typical cost (MetLife Pet Insurance) | $600–$1,400 |
| Anicira Harrisonburg — one eye (published clinic price) | $754 |
| Anicira Harrisonburg — both eyes | $1,128 |
| Anicira San Diego — one eye (published clinic price) | $1,012 |
| Anicira San Diego — both eyes | $1,518 |
| Pre-anesthetic blood work (Anicira) | $130–$160 |
What drives the price
MetLife lists the drivers: the dog’s size (larger breeds cost slightly more), the complexity of the surgery and any complications, how much pre- and post-operative care is needed, whether one eye or both are removed, and geographic location. What the typical figure does not include, per MetLife, is pre-operative testing, additional medications, or a prosthetic eye. The other eye operations in this batch — cherry eye and entropion — are the preserving surgeries that are usually tried or considered first.
Enucleation is a last-resort operation, recommended only when an eye is blind and painful, severely injured, or diseased beyond treatment — that judgment is the veterinarian’s. This page prices the surgery; it does not advise on whether an eye should be removed.
See the published per-eye cost of the surgery that saves vision instead.
Read the cataract surgery cost guideSources: MetLife Pet Insurance — Cost of Dog Eye Removal Surgery (2026) · Anicira — Affordable Pet Eye Removal Surgery, Harrisonburg VA (published prices) · Anicira — Pet Enucleation Surgery in San Diego (published prices). Researched October 2026 — prices change; confirm with your clinic.