Cataracts and other visual concerns!

[etpm]

Do you know why so much change so fast?

No. However it might be related to an inhaled steroid and Tamsulosin, AKA Flomax. I recently acquired adult onset asthma and so was prescribed the inhaler. I'm kinda stumped that the right eye changed so fast while the left just has a very minor cataract. Anyway, the eye doc said that Tamsulosin is implicated in cataract development.
Eric

 

[two_bit_score]

My eye doc said they weren't bad enough yet..

If you disagree with your doc, maybe you need a second opinion?

 

[Complete Turf Care]

My eye doc said they weren't bad enough yet..

My eye doc told me the same thing. She said insurance would not cover the surgery.

I asked What if I paid it all out of pocket? It would be about $10,000. I told her I spend that much on deer hunting each year.

She said, 'but it's not medically necessary' I said 'neither is a boob lift or a tummy tuck. But people do those every day.'

After all that, she agreed to do it, but then I decided that I'm about a year away from medicare, and she says that by then, my eyes will be bad enough to be covered by medicare. So we plan to do the surgery next summer.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Yesterday my cataract surgery was completed by R & R of the right lens.

This morning I went to my optometrist for a follow-up of the surgery and the everything was fine and I am seeing 20/20 at distance but is subject to some change in the first 30 days.

My left eye was set for near vision. The first day after the surgery I was reading 20/25 and today 5 weeks later I read the 20/20 line with ease.

This is the same vision I had before cataracts. I could have went for 20/20 at near or far but I will get glasses to give 20/20 in both eyes at the same time .

The advantage of this mono vision set up if I am in a care facility someday I won't have to keep up with glasses and I can see something off at the distance or if somebody sticks something in my face.

Colors are so bright now because I didn't realize how my lens had gotten so dingy.

 

[JESSE1]

I'm going in for my evaluation on Monday. My sister is having her second eye done next Tuesday. She's very satisfied with the results, actually able to read without glasses.

 

[ponytug]

A safe and speedy recovery to all of you to great vision!

 

[ArlyA]

How many here less than 65 have got them fixed?

 

[ultrarunner]

How many here less than 65 have got them fixed?

It happens.

Yesterday 13 on schedule...

Youngest 62 and the rest 68 to 78 in age.

Some 60 year olds look 75 and some 75 look 60...

Many "Forced" to come for drivers license reasons.

 

[ArlyA]

My optometrist said my eye doc was "old school" and likely not approve with my condition. Boy was she right. I'm going to ask her recommendation.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

This explains mono vision cataract surgery option that I selected since that was the way I was seeing just prior to cataract surgery. I was nearsighted most all of my life but over the last 10 years when my lenses started changing both eyes did not need correcting lens but over the past few years the left eye had gone nearsighted again.

I do plan to get a basic pair of glasses that gives me 20/20 at near and at far at the same time even if I just keep them in the glove compartment in case one eye got injured and had to be patched for a while.

While this is working out well in my case each one should listen to their vision healthcare providers options.

What Is Monovision Cataract Surgery?

Monovision cataract surgery replaces the natural lens with an intraocular lens (IOL) that corrects for distance in one eye and for near in the other eye.

www.allaboutvision.com

 

[JESSE1]

I'm scheduled for my right eye Tuesday August 6, left eye August 20.

 

[ultrarunner]

Many post procedure ask when will it be my turn and we have to say you are all done and will be ready to go home in 20 minutes…

Our high volume docs do as many as 20 in a morning…

It takes a large support team and 2 side by side operating rooms plus the logistics of having multiple diopter lenses at the ready…

The reason I know cataract is successful is because of repeat patients coming back anxious to get the other eye done…

 

[JESSE1]

Two weeks ago when I went in to have my eyes measured the tech said they had 48 procedures scheduled that week. I'm getting the option 3 lenses.

 

[ponytug]

@JESSE1 For those of us learning, what is an option 3 lens?

All the best, Peter

 

[Torvy]

Wife's getting one done on the 7th, which means I have to hang out waiting. I don't mind drop-off and pick up, but I could get some errands run.

 

[ultrarunner]

@JESSE1 For those of us learning, what is an option 3 lens?

All the best, Peter

Only a guess as marketing tends to favor several options or tiers at various price points from free to thousands of dollars per eye.

Most are covered for basic cateract removal and standard lens through Medicare or other insurance.

The options kick in when a premium lens offering vision correction and possibility of no more glasses/contacts.

A few go with basic but most here tend to opt for premium lens and we have thousands in stock…

 

[dfkrug]

Most are covered for basic cateract removal and standard lens through Medicare or other insurance.

The options kick in when a premium lens offering vision correction and possibility of no more glasses/contacts.

I just got measured for my right eye, only. My left sees fine, and I don't want to mess with it.

Kaiser in the Bay Area offers 3 options: basic lens, covered under Medicare, Toric lens @ $2K per eye extra, and the all-distance premium lens for $3500/eye extra.

I am getting the basic lens, but I have to wait until October. Since I am correcting only one eye, the advice is NOT to fully correct distance vision with a premium lens. This is due to problems with having one eye corrected for nearsightedness with glasses and one not corrected. THAT is why correcting both eyes at the same time (within a month or so) is preferred.

I will still wear glasses, which I have since the 60s anyway. Plus I always wear sunglasses outside.

 

[JESSE1]

Option Three is the lens that allows a full range of vision without glasses. My sister had her eyes done a few months ago and she can read fine print without glasses and has excellent far vision. We figured on only doing this one time so get the best. Not cheap, with the lens, surgery and anesthesia it will be close to $7000 for both eyes. Medicare will pay for lens replacement but glasses will be required at all times. I think option two was corrected far vision only.

 

[deserteagle71]

The reason I know cataract is successful is because of repeat patients coming back anxious to get the other eye done…

^This was me!
After a lifetime of putting up with thick heavy glasses (9/16" thick) because of extreme nearsightedness, to have perfect distance vision this late in life was to me a miracle. It has been 3 years now and I couldn't be happier.

 

[Oaktree]

After a lifetime of putting up with thick heavy glasses (9/16" thick) because of extreme nearsightedness, to have perfect distance vision this late in life was to me a miracle. It has been 3 years now and I couldn't be happier.

I wish I could do that. Eye doctor told me I had too much astigmatism, and it would require pricey lenses that wouldn't be covered by my insurance. Had contacts from my late 20s thru my late 50s, but it got so both prescription and astigmatism were to the point where contacts couldn't do the job anymore. My glasses aren't quite as thick as yours, but I'd say the left one is a bit over 3/8".

Wife's getting one done on the 7th, which means I have to hang out waiting. I don't mind drop-off and pick up, but I could get some errands run.

Yeah, I had to do that when my wife had hers done too. Had to wait in the recovery area, they wouldn't let me go to the waiting room where at least there were comfortable chairs.