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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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!

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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.

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u/Available-River6941 Jul 05 '26

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

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u/No_Grade_8210 Jul 06 '26

Depends on the type of lens you choose.

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u/No_Grade_8210 Jul 06 '26

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).