OT: Cataract Surgery

[fg7321]

Folks looking to see what other folks have done and what you paid.

I need to have my cataracts fixed surgically which involves lenses replacement.

I have heard from other folks that insurance covers your surgery if you don't get the better lenses that virtually eliminates glasses.

The Dr i went to yesterday in Central NJ charges extra $1750 per eye for using a laser vs a scalpel to do the surgery.

While i don't want to go to a bargain basement Dr. for eye surgery I don't want to get ripped off either.

Can some of you folks chime in if you have had this surgery?

 

[hoquat63]

Had it done about three years ago. Basic replacement was covered by insurance. Two other options, both cost extra. $1,700 sounds about right for second level. I went most expensive for about $5,000. Eliminated need for glasses for distance, need cheap dollar store glasses to read.
PS: that was for two eyes

 

[Ready_to_Rumble]

Folks looking to see what other folks have done and what you paid.

I need to have my cataracts fixed surgically which involves lenses replacement.

I have heard from other folks that insurance covers your surgery if you don't get the better lenses that virtually eliminates glasses.

The Dr i went to yesterday in Central NJ charges extra $1750 per eye for using a laser vs a scalpel to do the surgery.

While i don't want to go to a bargain basement Dr. for eye surgery I don't want to get ripped off either.

Can some of you folks chime in if you have had this surgery?

I got the better lenses and it was the one of the best things I ever did. It was like seeing HD TV for the first time. Previously, I had worn eyeglasses around the clock for 30+ years. Now I only need reading glasses for when I work on a computer screen.

The cost was somewhere around $2200 about 7 - 8 years ago. It's a very easy procedure that only takes about 10 - 15 minutes.

 

[RU76]

Unless you have very, very bad eyesight now you can be corrected to 20-20 distance vision with the free implants that Medicare will pay for and I guess most insurance companies. To have both good distance and near vision without glasses you must opt for the premium lenses or perhaps have lenses of different strengths implanted. Talk to your doctor. Either laser or scapel will work, but more important is the skill of the surgeon. All else being equal, laser surgery is touted as being more precise as the angle, length and depth of the cut is controlled by the laser machine not a surgeon's fingers.

We live in a retirement community and many of us had the procedure. Only one had a bad result. Some had lase, some not. This is one area where a life long medical issue (wearing glasses) can be fixed. Last, if you had lasik surgery then the chance for a bad result is increased. Maybe laser would be a better choice then.

 

[BHSPCRU]

Get the more expensive lenses if the doctor qualifies u...most of the time I don’t even need the 10 dollar cheap frames for reading.... one of the best decision I have ever made....amazing feeling not needing glasses for every day use..

 

[beaced_rivals]

Get the more expensive lenses if the doctor qualifies u...most of the time I don’t even need the 10 dollar cheap frames for reading.... one of the best decision I have ever made....amazing feeling not needing glasses for every day use..

93 and reading your post on my monitor. Had cataract surgery about 3-4 years ago. Left eye expensive lens. Right eye nada..

 

[Retired711]

I will have cataract surgery on both eyes this fall. The procedure will give me close to 20/20 in both eyes (I'm very myopic, so I may not get to 20/20). The basic lenses do not cure astigmatism, which I have a lot of, so I will pay $1500 per eye for toric lenses. With luck I'll only need reading glasses, but we'll have to wait until after the surgery to know. Do not skimp on your eyes.

 

[fire251]

Interesting read. Thanks fellas. My last trip to my GP resulted in me being told I have cataracts. Thus I need to find an eye surgeon in the northwestern part of the State. My old eye doctor/surgeon retired.

Any suggestions of a good one ??

 

[eyebugs]

Some misinformation here regarding cataract surgery and the options. Firstly it makes no difference whether or not you enter the eye with a blade or laser. The results are the same. In fact there are some pre existing corneal conditions that having the laser is detrimental to the end result. Remember a laser is used only to enter the eye. The cataract extraction is done with a phaco tool. Not a laser..
As far as intraocular lenses go. The vast majority of patients will do well or better with monofocal IOL;s ( that are covered by insurances. ) The optics are much better. Bifocal or premium IOL's certainly can have you rely less on reading glasses but typically do not eliminate them. In my opinion the patient is not getting a better outcome by upgrading. Spending more money and feeling like you have the best in most cases is simply not true as far as the best vision goes.
Toric lenses do better and correct moderate amounts of astigmatism. Those are worth the upgrade. Still will need at the very least reading glasses.
A history of having Lasik surgery does not really increase any risk in todays surgical world.. That used to be true but is no longer the case.

Just my two cents.. Really 99% of cataract extractions yield happy patients.. Prior to surgery patients typically have become acclimated to dim poor vision and the implantation of an IOL will drastically improve their lives. Whether that is a premium lens or not. Good luck!

 

[OntheBanks]

I went to my eye dr on Monday and he told me that I will need the surgery probably in the spring. After reading this thread maybe I'll opt to have it done sooner. My wife
had it done about 10 years ago. Our Dr did it in Manhattan back then and he had a limo pick us up and drive us to the surgery center. Now he does it in Brooklyn and I'll have to check if he still provides the limo service.

 

[Upstream]

My mom had cataract surgery in her late 80s and I'm pretty sure it was all covered by insurance. I recommend checking with your doctor and insurance company (and maybe get a second opinion from a different doctor), to find out what is right for you and what your insurance will cover.

Also, if you are younger, you may want to ask if you should postpone the surgery until you are older. I have a friend who had Lasik surgery (different than cataract surgery) in his early 40s, but as he aged his eyes deteriorated so he ended up needing glasses again.

 

[RUhasarrived]

A few years after the surgery,you may have secondary cataracts forming.

They can be burned out easily enough in the doctor's office.

 

[Rutgers36]

Had retinal detachments in both eyes and required retinal surgery which caused cataracts. Had cataract surgery in both eyes. Cataract surgery was successful in both eyes. Better than 20/20 in right eye. Left eye not as good but that is because the left eye retina is damaged, not the lense.

 

[Retired711]

I am a little nervous about the one-month gap I will have between operations, in particular how my reading vision will be. Right now I have a +3 in both lenses to give me reading ability; when one is taken out, it seems to me I will have +3 in only one eye.

 

[Ready_to_Rumble]

I am a little nervous about the one-month gap I will have between operations, in particular how my reading vision will be. Right now I have a +3 in both lenses to give me reading ability; when one is taken out, it seems to me I will have +3 in only one eye.

Originally, I was going to have just one eye done as my second eye wasn't as bad. After I experienced the amazing results I wanted to get the second eye done as soon as possible. It was about 5 months before the second eye was done. You can pop out the lens in your glasses for the good eye if needed.