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Replacement lenses for cataract surgery

Posted by gangcarotid1 @gangcarotid1, 3 days ago

Im scheduled for cataract surgery on both eyes, in June and July. Wondering if anyone has had an upgraded lenses put in that allows you to not have to wear glasses, and only use reading glasses? And how successful has that been for you? Medicare nor my insurance will cover the upgrade (cost of $2,500 per eye) but I am considering it. Hoping this isnt a case of "something that sounds too good to be true so it probably is".

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gangcarotid1 | @gangcarotid1 | 1 day ago
In reply to @barbaradh "Celia, Refraction is a talent. You would think any optometrist could refract you successfully. I would..." + (show)
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Celia, Refraction is a talent. You would think any optometrist could refract you successfully. I would change doctors to someone with better skills.

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@celia16
Also, there's a big difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. I only have 2 eyes; am stickin' w the ophthalmologist.

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celia16 | @celia16 | 1 day ago
In reply to @gangcarotid1 "@celia16 Also, there's a big difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. I only have 2..." + (show)
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@celia16
Also, there's a big difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. I only have 2 eyes; am stickin' w the ophthalmologist.

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@gangcarotid1 , right. I actually have only seen ophthalmologist too for many years. I see a cornea specialist for one condition and a retina specialist to monitor that. Just not sure why my prescriptions aren’t that impressive.

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celia16 | @celia16 | 1 day ago
In reply to @barbaradh "Celia, Refraction is a talent. You would think any optometrist could refract you successfully. I would..." + (show)
Profile picture for barbaradh @barbaradh

Celia, Refraction is a talent. You would think any optometrist could refract you successfully. I would change doctors to someone with better skills.

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@barbaradh , thanks for input! That’s a great idea. I will try that.

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beebe | @beebe | 16 hours ago
In reply to @gangcarotid1 "Thank you for your reply. My surgeon (not at Mayo; I go there only for kidneys,..." + (show)
Profile picture for gangcarotid1 @gangcarotid1

Thank you for your reply. My surgeon (not at Mayo; I go there only for kidneys, endocrine, and neuroendocrine) offers 4 different pigs. The most basic is covered by Medicare, and basically just removes the cataracts w a new lens. I have astigmatism so am looking at the next pkg up, which will correct astigmatism, and a monoclonal lense will be used for distance OR far. I also have a secondary (non-Medicare-related) insurance, but it doesn't cover "enhancements". Im probably going to go with Pkg 2 @ $2,500/eye. Then will have astigmatism corrected and only need reading glasses.

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@gangcarotid1
I have heard of people who get bifocal lens replacements and are sorry when it slips a little. You can imagine how that would screw up your vision. Basically, you are a guinea pig if you opt for an enhanced lens as the technique has not been perfected yet.
My husband had both eyes done, he has severe astigmatisms and had a laser procedure called PRK after the surgery to correct his vision enough so glasses would work for him. I think the PRK procedure reduced the amplitude of his astigmatisms. His vision was so bad pre-cataract surgery that contact lenses were the only way to correct his vision, that really sucked as his corneas were so conical the contact lenses would fall out if he blinked to hard or was subjected to a gust of wind.
He is a happy camper now, he can see great with glasses for distance and readers for close up. Immediately following surgery he did not need readers and then his close up vision decreased. The main problem now is the floaters in his vision which are large and numerous, eye surgeries can produce them. In addition to the PRK and cataract surgery he has had 7 cornea transplants so his poor eyes have put up with a lot of trauma.
I guess I am saying there is a limit to how much surgery you want to subject your eye to and it may be wise to limit the risk for future complications.
Best of luck with your surgery:)

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gangcarotid1 | @gangcarotid1 | 12 hours ago
In reply to @beebe "@gangcarotid1 I have heard of people who get bifocal lens replacements and are sorry when it..." + (show)
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@gangcarotid1
I have heard of people who get bifocal lens replacements and are sorry when it slips a little. You can imagine how that would screw up your vision. Basically, you are a guinea pig if you opt for an enhanced lens as the technique has not been perfected yet.
My husband had both eyes done, he has severe astigmatisms and had a laser procedure called PRK after the surgery to correct his vision enough so glasses would work for him. I think the PRK procedure reduced the amplitude of his astigmatisms. His vision was so bad pre-cataract surgery that contact lenses were the only way to correct his vision, that really sucked as his corneas were so conical the contact lenses would fall out if he blinked to hard or was subjected to a gust of wind.
He is a happy camper now, he can see great with glasses for distance and readers for close up. Immediately following surgery he did not need readers and then his close up vision decreased. The main problem now is the floaters in his vision which are large and numerous, eye surgeries can produce them. In addition to the PRK and cataract surgery he has had 7 cornea transplants so his poor eyes have put up with a lot of trauma.
I guess I am saying there is a limit to how much surgery you want to subject your eye to and it may be wise to limit the risk for future complications.
Best of luck with your surgery:)

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@beebe
Thank you. I really appreciate your input.

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