Wonders of modern medicine

[iris lilies]

Apology in advance for not jumping on the Bandwagon of “United States healthcare is sh$tz” and etc. in victimology. But I can’t help it if I have a super great incident to report, right?

DH has always had extremely bad eyesight. He is scary blind without eyeglasses. He has always disliked swimming because he cannot see without glasses.His spectacles cost over $1,000 when we buy new frames and lenses, so usually we just bought the lenses, very expensive. (I will not whine here about having no vision insurance because you know what? We just write a check for it. We are grownups who can afford this stuff because we budget for it. Anyway…)

So, he had cataract surgery. He waited until he was on the government dole because it was less out of our pocket covered by Medicare than when it was covered by our previous insurance. Still I think both lenses will cost over $6000 out of our pocket. And that is perfectly OK because…


… He now has nearly perfect vision after the surgery.!!! His surgeon got a new kind of lens not used before, and he had a wonderful outcome from it. She used it first on him. Others in her practice have followed in the 2+ weeks since his surgery and she says is it outperforming her expectations.

we are going out to dinner tonight to celebrate these successful eye operationS. Never did we think in previous times that, as an old man, he would get better vision. The miraculous Lasik surgery of decades ago wouldn't help him.

[Gardnr]

I wholeheartedly agree with you IL.

Having worked on the inside for the recent 39 years, the surgical improvement of health and well-being in this country is astounding. The changes during that time are nothing less than miraculous from my perspective. The advances in disease diagnosis and management are unbelievable to me.

I am the proud carrier of a knee replacement. 1 year out, I didn't even know I'd had surgery let alone that big one. I sure don't miss that knee pain:)

[dmc]

My wife is getting cataract surgery soon. We have a appointment in a few weeks to discuss. This will be out of pocket for us and she needs to decide which lens she wants. There are a few to chose from.

which one did your husband get?

[Teacher Terry]

Glad it worked so well for your husband! I got the surgery 2 years ago because I couldn't drive at night.My insurance paid for some but it still cost me 3k. I guess I should have waited for Medicare age.

[Yppej]

So his eyes were always bad but he had to wait until he developed cataracts for the eye surgery to be covered as medically necessary, and now they not only removed the cataracts but took care of all his other vision issues at the same time as medically necessary?

[Teacher Terry]

Y, when they remove cataracts they have to put a new eye lens in. There are different ones to choose from. For instance you can have one eye made for close vision and one for distance.

[iris lilies]

My wife is getting cataract surgery soon. We have a appointment in a few weeks to discuss. This will be out of pocket for us and she needs to decide which lens she wants. There are a few to chose from.

which one did your husband get?

I am pretty sure this is it.

/https://www.alcon.com/media-release/alcon-introduces-acrysof-iq-panoptix-trifocal-iol-us-first-and-only-fda-approved

[iris lilies]

So his eyes were always bad but he had to wait until he developed cataracts for the eye surgery to be covered as medically necessary, and now they not only removed the cataracts but took care of all his other vision issues at the same time as medically necessary?

There was not a surgical option prior to this. If there had been, we would have paid for it, regardless of insurance. If I remember correctly, any Lasik surgery would only solve some of the problem, wouldn't correct astigmatism which is severe.

[iris lilies]

I havent had Lasik surgery, not because I mind the cost, but because I dont mind wearing glasses, and
i really dont want them touching my eyes for non essential surgery.

[Alan]

I havent had Lasik surgery, not because I mind the cost, but because I dont mind wearing glasses, and
i really dont want them touching my eyes for non essential surgery.
My wife hated wearing glasses and we gladly paid the full cost of early Lasik surgery 15 or so years ago. She was so excited to have perfect vision, for about a year, then the need for readers arose. Sigh...

[Yppej]

I just had an eye exam and don't have cataracts. My blurred vision in one eye is due to astigmatism and possibly a bubble in the retina so it sounds like this might not work for me, but IL I'm glad it did for your husband.

[Rogar]

I had cataract surgery earlier this year and would call it a marked improvement in quality of life. I opted for the standard mono vision lens but there certainly seemed like a variety of newer options to accommodate other eye problems with the same knife. One instance of being thankful for modern medicare for sure.

[Teacher Terry]

I never considered Lasik surgery. Some of our clients were in need for services for the blind after it.

[sweetana3]

Dang cataracts. Eye doctor told me yesterday that the surgery will come in around a year or two. Also told me not to wait so long between visits since I was no longer legal to drive without new glasses. I am thankful that I made it thru the drivers test I took a few months ago. Wondered at that time why the eye test was so difficult and why I could not read street sign on a recent trip. I am a slow learner.

But I am very thankful that there are experienced surgeons out there for the eye surgery.

[Gardnr]

One of my colleagues decided to get her lens opposite. 1 for near vision and 1 for far vision. She loves her lenses and is glad to be rid of her cataracts!

[Yppej]

Sounds like I should be looking forward to cataracts so I can get good vision covered by insurance. I just need a better plan that won't have a $6K out of pocket cost. Isn't there a saying that things get worse before they get better?

[iris lilies]

Sounds like I should be looking forward to cataracts so I can get good vision covered by insurance. I just need a better plan that won't have a $6K out of pocket cost. Isn't there a saying that things get worse before they get better?

It was more out of pocket than $6,000. I dont know how much more, not a ton.

This was Medicare, so dont expect a lot.

Other lenses are cheaper.

[jp1]

I havent had Lasik surgery, not because I mind the cost, but because I dont mind wearing glasses, and
i really dont want them touching my eyes for non essential surgery.

This reminds me of what my eye doctor in NJ told me 15 years ago. "as my father always said (he was an eye doc also, but had passed away by the time I had this conversation) if they tell you it's elective surgery you should elect not to have it." At the time I was considering lasik and she basically said "don't do it, but if you do decide to do it don't go behind my back to some hack. Come to me and I'll send you to the top guy in the NYC area. By the way, he wears glasses..."

I never had it done and don't regret the decision. Sure I know plenty of people who have had it done and love the results, but I also know a couple of people who don't love how it turned out. For me the bifocal contacts I wear are awesome. The fix both my myopia (at least the myopia associated with my eyes) and astigmatism quite well.

[Rogar]

Sounds like I should be looking forward to cataracts so I can get good vision covered by insurance. I just need a better plan that won't have a $6K out of pocket cost. Isn't there a saying that things get worse before they get better?

My out of pocket after deductibles and co-pays was around $600 for basic mono vision lenses and included the special post surgery prescription drops. I suppose it just depends on a person's insurance.

[iris lilies]

My wife hated wearing glasses and we gladly paid the full cost of early Lasik surgery 15 or so years ago. She was so excited to have perfect vision, for about a year, then the need for readers arose. Sigh...

But readers and non prescription sunglasses can be fun! They Make fashion statements! You can have many pairs And if you leave them in a restaurant for instance it’s no big deal because they were only $10-$15.

[Teacher Terry]

You always end up needing readers.

[catherine]

I hate readers. You're always looking around for a pair. And I won't wear those little chains, and I don't like readers perched on my nose. So I'm happy to be a full-time wearer of progressive lenses. I wear them all the time. Never had contacts. Will probably never get Lasix. May need cataract surgery in the not-to-distant future.

I always considered contacts and Lasix to be an unnecessary expense. But if I need cataract surgery, I'll be happy to do what I can to see better.

[Alan]

I hate readers. You're always looking around for a pair.I hate them too and I probably have more pairs of readers than many minimalists have possessions. I keep a pair in my car, a pair next to my bed, a pair in the bathroom and a pair next to my recliner. Then there's the basket of extras in case one of the primaries gets lost or broken.

These days I've gotten better at keeping a pair perched on the end of my nose to fulfill that absolute need to read everything I see and to be able to tell the time or date on my wristwatch.

[Gardnr]

You always end up needing readers. Nope. That's why my colleague had 1 lens for near and 1 for far vision with her cataract removals.

[Teacher Terry]

I have 2 pairs of prescription readers for doing a lot of reading and then dollar store glasses all over the house.

[JaneV2.0]

I don't use readers. Distance glasses for driving only.

[frugal-one]

I hate readers. You're always looking around for a pair. And I won't wear those little chains, and I don't like readers perched on my nose. So I'm happy to be a full-time wearer of progressive lenses. I wear them all the time. Never had contacts. Will probably never get Lasix. May need cataract surgery in the not-to-distant future.

I always considered contacts and Lasix to be an unnecessary expense. But if I need cataract surgery, I'll be happy to do what I can to see better.

I don't care. I have glasses hanging around my neck. I don't need a ton of them and I always know where they are? I went with my SIL shopping once and she asked me what something cost because she couldn't see. She hated that I wore the chain and said it made me look older. Seems ridiculous to me .... Vanity?

[jp1]

But readers and non prescription sunglasses can be fun! They Make fashion statements!

Indeed. I had a coworker years ago that wore readers. One day he left them in his car at the train station in NJ. When he got to NYC he stopped at the drug store to pick some up so he could be functional at work. The only ones they had at the right magnification looked exactly like the ones that Dustin Hoffman wore in the movie "Tootsie". It was quite the fashion statement!

[rosarugosa]

I've worn glasses since I was 7 years old, so when I needed reading glasses, I just went to progressives. My reading glasses are always conveniently located right on my face. :)

[JaneV2.0]

The last time I had my eyes checked, the optometrist went on and on about how much my astigmatism must bother me. I answered that it didn't bother me at all, since that's the only way I've ever seen. Apparently, it's bad--at least by his standards.

[iris lilies]

You always end up needing readers.

You are right, DH is wearing readers, but that is a minor thing considering how bad his eyes were.

[Teacher Terry]

I actually don't mind readers at all but dislike wearing glasses all the time. IL< it sounds like such a huge improvement for your husband.

[Yppej]

But readers and non prescription sunglasses can be fun! They Make fashion statements! You can have many pairs And if you leave them in a restaurant for instance it’s no big deal because they were only $10-$15.

I get mine at Dollar Tree where you never pay more than $1!

[Tammy]

When they adjusted for astigmatism a few years ago I wasn’t sure it helped. Then I realized over time how badly the astigmatism bothers me without glasses. I think our brains adjust to our problems in a way that we don’t even realize we are compensating for it,

[nswef]

IL this discussion is right on time for me! I have eyes like your husband's, worn glasses since I was 7. sounds as if at this consult the 14th about cataract surgery, I will bring up the lens. Do you have any other advice about after care and when you can drive and whatever else was a problem or easy! My husband will also need them, his eyes are much better than mine. Thanks for the link as well.

[iris lilies]

IL this discussion is right on time for me! I have eyes like your husband's, worn glasses since I was 7. sounds as if at this consult the 14th about cataract surgery, I will bring up the lens. Do you have any other advice about after care and when you can drive and whatever else was a problem or easy! My husband will also need them, his eyes are much better than mine. Thanks for the link as well.

Be prepared for many appointments. There is an initial consultation for both eyes, then each eye gets surgery on a separate day, then next day appointment, then week later appointment, then month later appointment. Many appointments.

Prior to surgery and after surgery they were eyedrops, number of drops depending on stage of surgery.

DH was able to drive a few days after surgery, but night driving was a few days longer.

Good luck!


There are weight lifting restrictions after surgery.

[Teacher Terry]

They wanted to do my eyes a week apart but I said no and did them 5 months apart. You have to put in a ton of drops for a month. If you had to do that for both eyes you would never get to go anywhere. The second reason is because my mom’s surgeon screwed up her eye and she decided not to do the other one.

[nswef]

Thanks Terri and Iris, I was wondering about after care. Since we BOTH need to have it done, seems we will spend the winter doctoring....as I broke my hip in June and am still doing physical therapy I'm dreading MORE Dr. visits, but vision is so important. Nice to know driving is fairly soon. I think we will do them farther apart than a week, make sure the one is OK before tackling the other. I'm wondering about glasses....what do you do once the eye is fixed ? Take the lens out of your frame? Could be disconcerting.

[Teacher Terry]

I still needed my reading glasses so nothing changed. My distance vision was always fine. Mine were caused by the steroids in my asthma medication.

[Rogar]

This is what I recall from my experience earlier in the year and what I remember of doctor recommendations. I had the basic mono vision lens and the surgeries were done about a month apart. I know of doctors who will do both at once, but it would not be my recommendation. Mostly to make sure the first goes without complications. I was able to drive the next day, partially depending on the non-surgical eye but vision in the surgery eye was better by the next day and gradually got even better. No heavy lifting over 20 pounds for a week but was told I could resume some light hiking and moderate activity after a week. I was pretty careful of vigorous activity for two or three weeks. The drops were an inconvenience but not a huge deal. The plastic shield that I had to wear at night for a week was a little disruptive to sleep. I think all told 5 or 6 pre surgery and followup doctor visits per eye. I think surgeries and surgeons may have different recommendations and I'd do what ever they say.

If you doctor doesn't mention it, you might ask about negative dysphotopsia. Apparently it is a post surgery complaint in 10 or 20 percent of cataract operations and is a thin shadow at the very outside edge of vision. It happened with one of my eyes and since the surgeon failed to mention it I thought something had gone wrong. It eventually either goes away or the brain accommodates it. I can still notice it if I think about it, but doesn't bother me and is a small price for the better vision.