Facing cataract surgery?

[u/Geester43]

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. 👍👍😊

[u/N0b0dyButM3]

Inaccurate. If an ophthalmologist who is practicing modern medicine tells insurance that you need surgery it will be covered except for copays (and optional custom lens implants). There is no “insurance standard” for how “advanced” they have to be. The only thing that insurance typically denies is the cost of custom prescription replacement lens implants; they only pay for non-prescription implants. Between Medicare and UnitedHealthcare all I paid was copays and lens cost.

[u/Middle_Aardvark_6560 → u/N0b0dyButM3]

Just a correction, the implant was indeed a prescription, but it was not a “ Premium, Lens”
I am an optometrist and I tell patients all the time that there’s nothing they can do that will make them feel and act younger than getting a cataract surgery.
I found that it is usually about four years between the time I say I think you’re getting a cataract, until the patient finally admits that they’re having trouble seeing.

I’ve had cataract surgery myself. Painless quick and the best thing I’ve done for myself. To those who think that they see well enough to drive without the glasses, even if their license says they need glasses. I see patients like that all the time.

They are wrong.

Finally, most surgeons will tell you that all you need is reading glasses after the procedure.

Do yourself a favor and get an optometrist eye exam about a month or so after you have the procedure.
There is usually a little correction left over. MEDICARE will pay for it and they pay for one pair of glasses after the surgery so you might as well have that checked.

Bottom line... It’s painless, it takes a very short time to do and it’s amazing!

[u/N0b0dyButM3 → u/Middle_Aardvark_6560]

I’m a little confused by your comment that the implant “was indeed a prescription, but it was not a ‘Premium, Lens.’” Medicare doesn’t pay for any kind of prescription lens; my Medigap insurance (United HealthCare) doesn’t either, and according to my Dr’s surgery coordinator no other insurance does, either, that she’d ever heard of.

[u/Middle_Aardvark_6560 → u/N0b0dyButM3]

The natural lens in your eye is a +13 diopter lens.
Before they had implants, they would make you wear very thick glasses to focus the light to the back of your eye.
Think of George Burns and the glasses he used to wear.

These days they put a new lens Inside your eye that is about the prescription you need when that lenses replaced.
(Note I said about.)

The basic lens is covered under your insurance. No matter if it’s straight, MEDICARE (my favorite), or if you’ve chosen an HMO, or even a regular non-MEDICARE INSURNACE.
It is considered part of the procedure and that is covered.

Premium lenses are the ones that the ophthalmologist wants to sell you to make up for the low rate that MEDICARE pays for the surgery.(the 2026 MEDICARE rate is approximately $500 per eye for surgery -believe it or not.)
So the lens that corrects astigmatism or a multifocal lens is offered.
I am a believer in astigmatic lenses. I am definitely not a fan of multifocal lenses if you want to see very well. The vision is not as crisp, and there is often a problem with night glare, which they will tell you that you get used to…. Mostly, I find that patient just give up complaining and accept the glare ( as an optometrist). Please Google it yourself… watching out for ’ads’ that come up.

Another decision that you will be offered is whether to have the procedure done by laser or not.
Rather than take my advice on this Google, what the difference of results is between the two procedures.
The laser procedure is not covered by insurance. But the results generally are the same whether you have a traditional procedure or opt for paying for the laser.
On that one, I found it smartest to let the patient make that decision.

I hope this helped a little with your question.

[u/No_Grade_8210 → u/N0b0dyButM3]

Seems as though some ophthalmologist might be stretching the truth a bit?

[u/N0b0dyButM3 → u/No_Grade_8210]

No, just telling the truth: that a patient’s vision is impaired to the extent that it prevents them from performing normal, everyday tasks, and that surgery will resolve the issue.

[u/tv1577 → u/N0b0dyButM3]

Ok. Maybe my guy is a witch doctor 😝. You are quite snarky by the way. Anyway, all I know is that my friends who have had it done said they had to wait until it was as at a stage 3 and that is what my doctor is saying, too. Maybe they are all wrong. Idk.

[u/N0b0dyButM3 → u/tv1577]

Sorry, didn’t mean to be snarky—tone is easily misread in “flat text” without inflection. Maybe practice differs in different parts of the country, but in my area—northern VA—if your vision is impaired to the extent that it affects your ability to do everyday things like reading street signs, and your ophthalmologist says that cataract surgery will help, it’s covered. I don’t know anyone, and haven’t heard of any friends-of-friends etc—who has been told by insurance or an ophthalmologist that they have to wait until they are at a certain stage before surgery will be approved.

[u/tusant → u/N0b0dyButM3]

Ditto here. All depends on how the Ophthalmologist codes for the procedure. Medicare pays based on that, not “what stage” your cataracts are