Cataract surgery and Light Adjustable Lens

[thepumpguysc]

My wife “made me” go get my eyes checked..
She refused to let me drive, day or night.!! Lol
And when it was time to renew my drivers license, they were going to fail me until I cheated..
So the eye dr. told me I had cataracts & referred me to a surgeon for cataracts, for a follow up..

 

[KennyG]

Your vision will become cloudy. You won't be able to focus sharply. However, it progresses slowly so you may not notice. If you have an eye exam every year or two, they will spot it before you actually realize it's becoming a problem. In my case, I was wearing glasses and in a checkup it was no longer possible to correct my vision so I could read all the chart. I hadn't noticed much change. After surgery, I have the best vision I've ever had and no glasses except low light reading.

 

[deserteagle71]

Your vision will become cloudy. You won't be able to focus sharply. However, it progresses slowly so you may not notice. If you have an eye exam every year or two, they will spot it before you actually realize it's becoming a problem. In my case, I was wearing glasses and in a checkup it was no longer possible to correct my vision so I could read all the chart. I hadn't noticed much change. After surgery, I have the best vision I've ever had and no glasses except low light reading.

^This!

 

[thepumpguysc]

Holy smokes.!!! Just got back from my cataract consult.. they must be ROLLIN IN MONEY.!!
Gonna cost me about 6k for both eyes PLUS the anesthesia.!!!
Just how important is seeing anyway.?? Hmmm..

 

[KennyG]

Holy smokes.!!! Just got back from my cataract consult.. they must be ROLLIN IN MONEY.!!
Gonna cost me about 6k for both eyes PLUS the anesthesia.!!!
Just how important is seeing anyway.?? Hmmm..

I had mine done almost 10 years ago and it was almost $4000 (best of everything) so the price is not out of line. If you don't mind wearing glasses for the rest of your life, it can be a lot cheaper (Medicare covers most of the "basic" option). However, I continue to consider it one of the best investments I ever made.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I was “a little” shocked at the price but I’ll do it anyway..
I was really getting use to getting driven around.. lol.
Hardest part is putting my work on hold..
July 21st is D-Day.. or should I say I-Day.. then 2 weeks later I hafta shuck out another 3K.!!
I might try to squeak in a pump or 2 between eyes..
to help offset the cost.?? Lol
Just kidding.. lol

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Holy smokes.!!! Just got back from my cataract consult.. they must be ROLLIN IN MONEY.!!
Gonna cost me about 6k for both eyes PLUS the anesthesia.!!!
Just how important is seeing anyway.?? Hmmm..

Mine was $2500 per eye over and above what Medicare paid. I got the 'multifocal' lense option. If I had gotten only the Mono focal lense, Medicare would have covered most of the cost.

I did wait about a year until I got on Medicare, which saved me about $6000, which was my insurance deductible before getting on Medicare.

 

[gsganzer]

Holy smokes.!!! Just got back from my cataract consult.. they must be ROLLIN IN MONEY.!!
Gonna cost me about 6k for both eyes PLUS the anesthesia.!!!
Just how important is seeing anyway.?? Hmmm..

That sounds about right. I was $2500/eye about 3 years ago, when I went for my consult. But watch out, they start piling on more visits and costs that won't be covered by insurance. At least that's the way it happened with me. I thought it was a bit of a scam with a "bait and switch" on costs and required follow-ups. I actually left them a review stating exactly that.

 

[ultrarunner]

Holy smokes.!!! Just got back from my cataract consult.. they must be ROLLIN IN MONEY.!!
Gonna cost me about 6k for both eyes PLUS the anesthesia.!!!
Just how important is seeing anyway.?? Hmmm..

Doing the math a high volume surgeon with 2 operating rooms and staff and a morning with 20 procedures is not atypical and adds up…

Many are prompted when DMV eye test becomes a problem.

When a Doctor has a 20 patient surgery morning delays are inevitable… especially when small delays add up and patient hunger sets in from not eating.

I tell my friends to request a early surgery slot… ideally second, third or fourth of the day… minimize delays and surgeon and staff are well into their routine.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Went for my 3 week follow up visit today. She was supposed to do the laser treatment today but said there is still a bit of swelling in my left eye.

We have another appointment in 3 weeks and hopefully we get the laser treatment done then.

It seems it's taking a lot longer for the left eye to heal up than the right eye took.

This morning my left eye was 20/30 and my right eye is 20/20. I have noticed the left eye is improving slowly.

I still want to see how my vision is after the laser treatment before I give my final approval rating of this entire process.

 

[usmron]

Today is my annual eye doctor appointment and I am considering Lens replacement surgery. I have astigmatism and cataracts are starting to develop.

My insurance will pay for basic cataract surgery, but there are options for improved lenses.

Has anyone had experience with Light Adjustable Lens? These are lenses that are implanted into the eye just like regular cataract lens replacement, but the new lens can be 'fine tuned' to achieve almost perfect vision, after the initial surgery. This is done by treating the new lens with ultra violet light, after it has been installed.

Seems like a good option, but it is still a fairly new technology.

I have them and one is 20-15 and the other is 20-10. Great but the price is high. $7 grand.

 

[gsganzer]

Has anyone had experience with Light Adjustable Lens? These are lenses that are implanted into the eye just like regular cataract lens replacement, but the new lens can be 'fine tuned' to achieve almost perfect vision, after the initial surgery. This is done by treating the new lens with ultra violet light, after it has been installed.

Seems like a good option, but it is still a fairly new technology.

It might have been discussed already, but I'm curious about the UV light being used for adjustment after the lenses are implanted. Does anyone know how this actually works?

If someone was exposed to arc flash from welding or other sources, would it have any adverse consequences?

I had multifocal lenses implanted 3 years ago and I'm perfectly happy, so this doesn't apply to me. I'm just interested with the technology and what some limitations and/or risks might me.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Just an update:
Went yesterday morning to get 1 eye done.. had to take 2 different Interstates and wrecks on both.. WHAT A NIGHTMARE.!!
I finally made it with 5 minutes to spare.
Filled out the medical questionnaire and waited, about 5 minutes later I was called back and they hooked me up to the BP cuff and heart monitor.. and to say a ROCKED that hair net is an understatement.!! Lol
30 minutes later they came in and ripped all the machines off me and said my BP was BEYOND stroke level and there will be NO SURGERY TODAY.!!
I asked if there was a shot they could give me to bring it down just for surgery and I’ll get it taken care of afterwards..??
She said, NO, not with these levels.. she said your lucky it came down a couple of points, otherwise I was getting ready to call an ambulance.!!
So now I have to find a primary care doctor and hope like he!! I can get it down to acceptable levels in 2 weeks so they can do the other eye.!!!
More to follow..

 

[gsganzer]

Just an update:
Went yesterday morning to get 1 eye done.. had to take 2 different Interstates and wrecks on both.. WHAT A NIGHTMARE.!!
I finally made it with 5 minutes to spare.
Filled out the medical questionnaire and waited, about 5 minutes later I was called back and they hooked me up to the BP cuff and heart monitor.. and to say a ROCKED that hair net is an understatement.!! Lol
30 minutes later they came in and ripped all the machines off me and said my BP was BEYOND stroke level and there will be NO SURGERY TODAY.!!
I asked if there was a shot they could give me to bring it down just for surgery and I’ll get it taken care of afterwards..??
She said, NO, not with these levels.. she said your lucky it came down a couple of points, otherwise I was getting ready to call an ambulance.!!
So now I have to find a primary care doctor and hope like he!! I can get it down to acceptable levels in 2 weeks so they can do the other eye.!!!
More to follow..

Don't take your high blood pressure lightly, it's serious.

 

[ultrarunner]

Just an update:
Went yesterday morning to get 1 eye done.. had to take 2 different Interstates and wrecks on both.. WHAT A NIGHTMARE.!!
I finally made it with 5 minutes to spare.
Filled out the medical questionnaire and waited, about 5 minutes later I was called back and they hooked me up to the BP cuff and heart monitor.. and to say a ROCKED that hair net is an understatement.!! Lol
30 minutes later they came in and ripped all the machines off me and said my BP was BEYOND stroke level and there will be NO SURGERY TODAY.!!
I asked if there was a shot they could give me to bring it down just for surgery and I’ll get it taken care of afterwards..??
She said, NO, not with these levels.. she said your lucky it came down a couple of points, otherwise I was getting ready to call an ambulance.!!
So now I have to find a primary care doctor and hope like he!! I can get it down to acceptable levels in 2 weeks so they can do the other eye.!!!
More to follow..

Not unusual for BP to cancel outpatient procedure.

The number 1 cancellation cause is still eating before surgery…

Nurses are trickery… as they walk the patient back they casually say what did you have to eat today?

Most recoil but several times each week someone says toast, coffee, etc.

 

[ultrarunner]

Maybe arrive early and fall asleep waiting?

One eye Doctor is notorious for having his patients arrive super early and the they wait… he says it’s to give them time to not rush and settle…

I think it’s so he has 20 patients in place ready for surgery.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I’m at the Dr office RIGHT NOW..
I’m not fooling around, I want this cataract surgery done.!!

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I had the laser treatment a couple of days ago and that has improved my vision.

I still have the 'flair' or 'starburst' from bright lights, but it's not as bad as it was after the surgery. I would say it's about the same as it was before the surgery.

Overall, I am happy with the results. I guess I thought my vision would be perfect, but it's not. Close, but not perfect.

If I had to do it all over, I would absolutely do it again.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I had a phone conversation with the surgeon’s office a couple days ago, they WILL NOT touch me w/o a Dr’s consent..
I’m taking my BP meds as scheduled and checking the pressure 3x a day..
It’s all over the place.. I just hope they get it figured out soon.. it avg’s 160/97..
Just for kicks, I took an extra pill a few hours after the daily dose.. it brought my BP down to 114/77..!!!
It didn’t last long tho..probably about 2-3 hours..
I was doing some heavy lifting today and couldn’t catch my breath.. I was a little concerned so I checked my BP..220/115.!!!
Luckily it came down within 5 minutes.. to my “normal” readings of 160’s/90’s..

I’m glad yours went well CTC..
I am SOOO looking forward to it..

 

[ultrarunner]

My biggest indicators are patients returning to have the second eye done.

Lens options continue to evolve which is good.

Police Officers and Pilots seem to have the best vision coverage when it comes to health insurance.

I remember when all the patients were older to much older than me and now many are around my age.

We still get the outliers but most decide after a failed drivers license test.