Cataracts

[Lari]

The standard lense which Medicare covers gives you the same vision as what you had pre surgery. If you want corrected vision the lense will cost you over $1000 out of pocket per eye. And if you don’t have both eyes done, your vision might be good in one eye but not the other so still require glasses.

I think the corrected lens is what my mom got. I know they paid more, but figured it was worth it.

 

[vansX2]

The standard lense which Medicare covers gives you the same vision as what you had pre surgery. If you want corrected vision the lense will cost you over $1000 out of pocket per eye. And if you don’t have both eyes done, your vision might be good in one eye but not the other so still require glasses.

I've had Cataract surgery done on both eyes. I didn't have them done near the same time. My Right eye was done first. 2014. The Left in 2019. In both surgeries the same brand of corrective lense was used. The difference is that the right eye has less correction than the left . I wear glasses anyway so it's not a big deal. I fortunate that my medical plans covered both surgeries in full.

 

[Winchester]

The standard lense which Medicare covers gives you the same vision as what you had pre surgery. If you want corrected vision the lense will cost you over $1000 out of pocket per eye. And if you don’t have both eyes done, your vision might be good in one eye but not the other so still require glasses.

I just talked to Rick about that. He said we'll just pay for it. It's my eyesight and it's important. So I'm not too worried about that. I have 20/25 vision in my other eye. And if I still need glasses, well, so be it. I always wear glasses to drive and I always wear prescription sun glasses when I'm outside anyway. I never wore glasses to read or to bake. And the glasses that I have now (they're progressive) don't do me any good because of the cataract anyway. Thanks susanm9006 I didn't know that.

 

[Willowy]

Yeah, but $1,000 per eye is considerably cheaper than Lasik so it's a pretty good deal.

I've heard that some people see an improvement with their astigmatism, even with the standard lens, because the incision flattens the eyeball.

 

[susanm9006]

Here is an interesting cataract tidbit. Cataracts, even ones that haven’t affected your overall vision, still affect your sense of color. My cataract free eye sees a pure white screen, my other eye which still has perfect vision despite the cataract, sees a cream colored screen.

 

[artiemom]

susanm9006 Thanks for the pricing info. It stinks that Medicare approves the bare minimum..ridiculous..
They really do not pay for much of anything. And not even ambulance rides---ridiculous......

and prescription drugs.. I am not going to start.

Thanks again for the information. I have have cataracts slowly increasing for the past several years. The other night, the right eye--worse one, was so hard to watch TV with. I kept rubbing my eye, to try to move it.. a film.

 

[Winchester]

Had my eye appt this morning. Turns out I have cataracts in both eyes. He's going to do both eyes, two weeks apart. He said that, while I can get the better lenses to adjust for no glasses or at least reading glasses, I do have a really bad astigmatism and he said he doesn't think I'll get "the bang for my buck". The astigmatism is so bad that that eye doesn't focus properly anymore and it goes out to the side. I've known this for a while and there's nothing that can really be done. And he doesn't think it would be worth the money. I understand that.

I've worn (or well, I was supposed to be wearing) glasses since I was three years old. I'm fine with wearing glasses. I simply don't wear them. Oh, I do wear them to drive and I wear prescription sunglasses whenever I leave the house, even to walk down for the mail. Even when it's cloudy; my sunglasses have become part of me. But that's it. Years ago, my eye doctor told me to put my glasses on first thing when I wake up in the morning and take them off right as I go to bed. And I thought, "Yeah, like that's gonna happen." It never did.

I just want to be able to read books, not just on my iPad, but physical books. It would be nice to be able to read paperbacks again. I want to be able to see "1/4 teaspoon" and not wonder what the hell it is. But we'll see. I'm not going to worry about glasses or no glasses. Just fix me up and let me go on.

 

[gilmargl]

You are quite right Winchester - take note of what the experts say. Most people are so happy after cataracts are removed - they no longer need glasses, colours are brilliant again and they start telling the rest of us to go ahead and do the same. All of my friends and relations have had cataracts removed, new lenses inserted and no negative effects.

But some of us have bad astigmatism, see double, or have an eye problem which cannot be fixed and our doctors are not nearly so optimistic about the outcome of a cataract operation and fitting new lenses. The brain plays a large part in correcting the poor images our deformed or misshaped eyes produce and no-one knows for sure how an eye operation at our age (well, none of us are children who are able to adapt so easily) will affect our vision. In doctors' waiting rooms at eye hospitals, I have met the poor sufferers of ill-advised operations.

I have been told, unless I die first, there is no way I am going to escape having cataracts removed from both eyes. But, they are not going to attempt to operate until .........Well, my appointment for a thorough examination should have been at the end of last year. But, because of Corona, the doctor was limiting the number of patients he saw and the length of time he spent with them, and my appointment was postponed for another year! He is obviously worried about operating on me and I know, that when the time comes, I will have to weigh up the pros and cons (and prices) of the various treatments available!

I will not listen to all of those saying "My mother had this done, and she was 99! It's nothing - you are in and out, just like on a conveyor belt!". For most of the population it is plain sailing - nothing to worry about, but, I will listen to my doctor and get a second opinion if I am unsure. Eyesight is far too precious!

 

[artiemom]

Winchester and gilmargl
I heartily agree with both of you! My vision is bad. I have worn glasses since the 4th grade.. actually, I memorized the school eye chart to pass the test, in the 3rd grade.. not that I did not want to wear glasses, but I knew it would be hard for my parents to afford the eye exam and glasses..

I remember coming home with the glasses!! Oh-- everything was so clear and intensified. I loved being able to see so clearly. My parents never had to remind me to wear them.

My astigmatism is very bad.. I do not think there is a prescription which. can help me. I also have lattice degeneration.. and a couple other issues.
So, I will listen to the advice of my surgeon and eye doctor on what lens to have inserted.

Not wearing glasses would be heaven.. but, I have to be realistic. When I wore contacts, I loved it! Stopped because of dry eye and bumps on the eyelids.. so...

Listen to the advice of specialists, and not the advice of others.. unless it is held in the back of your mind, for information, and for questions to ask....

I have cataracts in both eyes.. have for a few years--probably 4.. I keep getting a different eyeglass prescription each year. The right eye is the worse.

I try not to drive at night, due to the glaring of the lights. It kind of blinds me. During very sunny days, also--the sun does a number on my eyes.. and I have the transitions glasses which change shades in the sun.

I wish you both luck!!

 

[Mighty Orange]

Got my right eye done. The surgery was a breeze and it's so nice to see again normally. I was also near-sighted and did the same, kept it that way. If you don't like doing eye drops after your surgery, discuss with your doctor, eye injection, so you do not need eye drops. I hate trying to use eye drops.

 

[DreamerRose]

You've made a good decision, Winchester . I don't need glasses for distance anymore, just reading glasses, and I have the only the basic lenses. I don't wear my glasses all the time anymore. There are ads on TV about some eye drops that will correct the near vision, and that's something to look into.

 

[AbbysMom]

I went to the eye doctor yesterday for the first time in three years (Covid, personal issues, etc). I'm apparently going to be on the early age range for cataracts as she can already see some "blooming". One of the medications I take for my asthma has steroids and that can speed it along.

 

[Winchester]

I went for my eye appt yesterday for the eye measurements. I am scheduled now for both surgeries. I do have to see my family doctor next week for his exam.

One of the things they mention in the booklet is that the patient showers the night before and the morning of with (preferably) Dial soap. Clean sheets the night before. I mentioned that we have cats that sleep with us. Nope, nope, nope. So I'm going to sleep in the WeShed the night before both surgeries (to avoid cat hair).

I'm staying away from the nursing home right now, too. No more visits with Rick's mom until both surgeries are done. They have Covid again and, I think I mentioned that there's some kind of "skin thing" going around, too. They think they now have that isolated, but I'm staying away. No more shopping, unless it's online, no more restaurants. It's only for a month, til the surgeries have been done. We don't have to go for groceries during this time. Rick is going to visit with his mom tomorrow, but he's wearing his mask and his safety goggles. She is not happy that I am not coming along, but I'm not taking chances. Maybe we're too paranoid, but that's OK.

 

[catapault]

Better, more thorough precautions are always a good idea.

 

[artiemom]

Winchester Wow.. Those are pretty strict precautions.

Showering with Dial soap.. Before I had my arthroscopic shoulder surgery, I had to wash with Hibicleans. This is a strong soap. I never heard of anyone using Dial. I use Dove, due to allergies--

And changing bed linens the night before surgery.. wow... not having the cats around.. wow...

I am not questioning.. I am just amazed at all the precautions.. I have to ask my friends who have had it done; what they ha to do pre-op....

I would never be able to accommodate these precautions. I use Dove soap due to allergies.. and I do not have an extra room for Geoffrey. I could never lock him in the Bathroom, overnight.. He would be traumatized; in a edition to crying and jumping at the door, all night long.

Glad for the precautions--in these times, better to be safe than sorry!! ((HUGS))

 

[catapault]

There were no restrictions such as Winchester mentioned, both when I had cataract surgery and again later on when Himself did also either before or after the surgery. Cats in bed at night, sheets were whatever were on the bed at the time, etc. Only "home care" was frequent eye drops afterwards. Had to sleep with an eye shield for a couple of nights but it was not obtrusive / annoying.

Things change and different doctors have different requirements for their patients.

 

[Winchester]

I'm not kidding. I can take a picture of the booklet page where it says all that. And they're adamant about no pets in bed. I'm lucky I have a place to go. I would never shut the bedroom door on our girls.

 

[Mighty Orange]

Please do not worry. I know it is easier said than done. The surgery will be done in less time than the prep for it. None of that prep was required when I did my cataract. Weird.

 

[artiemom]

Winchester I did not mean it to appear that I was questioning the protocol. I just found it a bit too much..

We do not know what bad experiences the clinic had with people not following protocol, or not being clean..
You never know what is out there.

 

[AbbysMom]

Wow. That's pretty strict. My mother definitely didn't have to do any of that. Different surgeons do things so differently. I know some had an eye patch for a day after. My mother did not.