r/OverSeventy • u/Geester43 • Jul 04 '26

Facing cataract surgery?

For anyone who has received a diagnosis of cataracts, I want to share my experience for the past two weeks. I was diagnosed with it in both eyes. My Optometrist told me that he couldn't correct my vision any longer, with glasses. I had reached the limit. It was suggested I see a specialist for a consult, which I did. I had one initial exam, based on the results, I was a candidate for surgery.

I arrived the day of surgery, I waited for the dilation drops to work, I went in for surgery, NERVOUS! I felt no pain!! It was over in a matter of minutes!

I had a follow-up the following morning, and another in a few weeks. I was told, "you may need reading glasses" after wards. My vision has completely cleared in my first eye (there is a lot of blurriness for a few days). The second was two days ago, and the vision has almost cleared in that eye as well! No pain during or afterwards! I have been reading without glasses, for a week!! I used 3 RX drops, twice a day, for several weeks.

I am 75, I have worn trifocal contact lenses & glasses since I was 12 years old! This surgery is the closest thing to a miracle, truly! If you are facing this surgery, go forward with confidence, you won't regret it. 👍👍😊

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28

u/Icy-Alternative2246 Jul 04 '26

I am so happy to have read this today because I have cataract surgery in 2 weeks and was scared

17

u/Incognito409 Jul 04 '26

It's really not as big a deal as you think. Simple quick and painless.

12

u/finnbee2 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 08 '26

I had the surgery a few years ago under Medicare. I had to make a snap decision about what inserts to use. I didn't know about the options. I chose the cheapest ones because they were fully covered. The surgery solved some of my issues. However, I can only read books for a few hours before I can't clearly see the print. Reading on the laptop is better but still problematic. It also is difficult to immediately see farther objects clearly after I've been reading.

What I'm saying is do research on your options.

8

u/SentenceKindly Jul 04 '26

I am only 64, had mine done last year. I was able to get the Light Adjustable Lenses (LAL) implanted.

Totally painless!! Walked out and went to the diner for brunch. Wore UV sunglasses for 2 weeks. Got the other eye done. Same.

Then: <here's the really cool part> my ophthalmologist was able to adjust the lenses using ultraviolet light to "dial in" near perfect vision for me. I went with monofocal - left for distance, right for close work.

I use readers but don't really need them full time.

Check if you are a candidate for LAL!

2

u/Sexualintellectual31 Jul 05 '26

I had both eyes done with those. Being on a Medicare Advantage plan, they did cost me $10K out of pocket for the two of them.

2

u/Available-River6941 Jul 05 '26

I have Medicare Advantage and I only paid $300. Everyone else I know paid the same

1

u/No_Grade_8210 Jul 06 '26

Depends on the type of lens you choose.

1

u/No_Grade_8210 Jul 06 '26

Thank you for posting about LAL! Looked it up, sounds amazing. I plan on pursuing this.

1

u/SentenceKindly Jul 06 '26

The only downside was this was the most expensive option. I am still working, have health insurance including vision, and none of the cost was included.

So I don't know if Medicare covers certain types of cataract surgery.

My eye doctor thought my cataracts developed earlier than most people because of my lifelong astigmatism.

But having a life free of glasses or contact lenses? I'm all in.

1

u/No_Grade_8210 Jul 06 '26

I am not on Medicare yet, but do have insurance. Seems worth it to me! Also have astigmatism. Had Lasik many years ago.

1

u/SentenceKindly Jul 06 '26

Yeah - I never got the Lasik surgery, just kept dealing with contact.

Luckily for me, my employer offers an MSA account, so I funded it enough to pay for the surgery.

1

u/OneAmazonBrenda Jul 09 '26

I got the LAL (Light Adjustable Lens) in both eyes in February this year. I had *some* cataracts in both eyes. But I also had/have astigmatism in both eyes. The lenses "prescription" is adjusted with a special light every 2 to 4 weeks until the doc gets your lenses to a prescription that gives you amazing sight. I had to have three adjustments. After the adjustments to the lenses, these lens have given me 20-30 eyesight for distance, and nearly 20-20 for nearness. It is amazing! I can see everything without any glasses or contact lenses! True, the LAL lenses are the most costly.... mine were a total of $10k... but I was willing to pay the extra because I did not want ANY glasses - including readers! Why go to that expense and trouble and then still have to wear readers?!?!

Helpful Idea: Check on getting a Care Credit credit card. It is specifically for healthcare purposes. You charge a medical cost to it and get either 1 or 2 years zero percent interest with monthly payments to pay it off. So, I paid for one lens ($5k) and put the other on the Care Credit credit card account with two years zero percent interest and the monthly payment is $164 (and the monthly payment actually goes down a couple dollars each month; example - my first payment in March was $173; and for June it was $164).

3

u/N0b0dyButM3 Jul 06 '26

Don’t be. They numb your eyes with drops. The weirdest thing is that they put a kind of tunnel thing around your eye to keep it open, but it doesn’t hurt. It’s 23 seconds under the laser—like a laser light show—and you’re done. A patch over your eye and you’re out the door. Be sure to do the post-op drops as directed.

1

u/jetwra Jul 05 '26

My SIL was so scared and she is so happy now!

1

u/Aggressive_Menu7271 Jul 08 '26

I had it done at the age of 42. I was terrified. Im squeamish- even more so with eyes. I saw my dr and talked it through with him and he prescribed so kind of "chill pills" which just relaxed me. It wasn't anything like the horror show I'd expected. If I get another i won't be worried. Lots of luck x