My Wife's Cataracts

[Wdbutcher97]

I went this route. Pricey but worth it. Course where you lives really determines the cost. I paid almost $6K for the operation. My friend in another state paid $3.6K. I think it almost pays to shop around. Doctor told me in another year or two they'll be doing it in the doctors office instead of the hospital.

I believe it was going to cost about $3000 per eye before I was on Medicare and I would have gladly paid it, but because of the COVID-19 mess I had to postpone the procedure. Now that I'm on Medicare I believe it will cost me less than $1000 for both eyes. I haven't got the final bill yet. Whether it would have been the $6000 or $1000, it's some of the best money I've ever spent.

 

[jaguargolf]

I had both eyes done a few years ago

Amazing !

I think it is now the most common surgery done in the USA.

I recommend the laser option even if it costs some extra cash

 

[Targets Guy]

I had both eyes done a month apart about two years ago. No problems. Nice to see full color again.


My older brother had his first one done, had a minor stroke and lost sight in that eye.



Glad I had mine done before that happened.

 

[kmyers]

Missed spin class today. Intended to go, we had our gym bags loaded but Lisa's appointment with an ophthalmologists started a bit late.
If we had gone to spin afterwards, we would've gotten there in time for class to end.
Anyway, Lisa has cataracts in both eyes but the right eye is worse than the left.
With her glasses on, she's legally blind in her right eye with 20/200 and her left eye is 20/60. They had her take her glasses off, cover her left eye and read the largest line on the eye chart. She just laughed, it was all just a blur. The doctor said he can fix it with an operation to remove the cataracts and implant a corrective lens.
I'm teasing her, telling her that she's blind in one eye and can't see out of the other.
I told her that I'm gonna get her a white stick.
We should be able to make spin class on Thursday, I'll drive.

All the best from Texas.

 

[snubbyfan]

My wife has an appointment on January 10 to get her right eye cataract surgery done.
We've already picked up the eye drops for before and after.
We're both apprehensive but have been talking about how she'll be able to see way better than ever before.

 

[johnjohn]

My wife had the "super duper" lenses for about 10 yrs. now and no longer has to wear glasses. Getting mine done after hunting season, I'm getting whatever Medicare will pay for.

 

[Sistema1927]

I mentioned back in post #26 that I was having secondary cataracts removed. Both done, two weeks apart. Procedure was less than 5 minutes per eye with a pulsing laser. Eye drops 4x a day for 2 weeks each.

I had a little irritation, like grit in my eye, for a few hours after, and am now seeing even better than after the original cataract surgery.

 

[snubbyfan]

My wife's cataract surgery went well. They got her in and out quickly and were very professional and friendly. She left with what they call an eye shield.


We weren't sure what we'd feel like doing afterwards but we had our gym bags packed anyway.
She felt like walking and I felt like lifting so after they released her, we went straight to the gym.
While she walked the indoor track, I lifted. I felt pretty strong and got a good workout.
All she had to eat was a handful of nuts and a protein drink on the way to the gym.
We decided to order a pizza from the Purple Cow and picked it up on the way home.
Tomorrow's the follow up visit and we'll probably head back to the gym for spin class.

 

[walkin jack]

I had both eyes done with trifocal lenses inserted acouple of years ago. Of all the knee surgeries, hand surgeries, cancer surgeries, hernia surgerties etc I can say that these eye jobs were easy peasy. no pain before during or after.

Prayers for Lisa's full, complete and pain free recovery

For me it was bright colors, sharp contrast and no glasses. I was 20/40 and 20/60. Now I'm 20/30 inn both eyes. Things never looked so good!

 

[Mule Packer]

Wayne, had my left eye done last year. Wow!! What a difference!! Heck, it was so much better that I was ready to have the right eye done, too, but the doctor said I didn't need that one done for a while yet.

Glad things went well for Lisa. Yep, the ol' eye shield is standard operating procedure. She'll have to do the eye drops for a while, but no biggie. Again, glad things went well.

 

[snubbyfan]

I had both eyes done with trifocal lenses inserted acouple of years ago. Of all the knee surgeries, hand surgeries, cancer surgeries, hernia surgerties etc I can say that these eye jobs were easy peasy. no pain before during or after.

Prayers for Lisa's full, complete and pain free recovery

For me it was bright colors, sharp contrast and no glasses. I was 20/40 and 20/60. Now I'm 20/30 inn both eyes. Things never looked so good!

Lisa was 20/200 in her right eye and 20/60 in her left with her glasses.
I'm kinda looking forward to her being able to see the beautiful mountain spring colors.

 

[StakeOut]

Did my exams 2 weeks ago and was quoted $5400 for both eyes if I opt for those top of the line that the doc said will eliminate the need for glasses at distances greater than 20 inches.Within 20" glasses may still be needed so I may just opt for the Medicare paid option.

 

[pasound]

I was legally blind without glasses, all my life, until I got the surgery. Drive without them, only wear glasses to see up close. Well worth it, amazing how the medical technology has improved in my lifetime.

 

[walkin jack]

Lisa was 20/200 in her right eye and 20/60 in her left with her glasses.
I'm kinda looking forward to her being able to see the beautiful mountain spring colors.

Wayne, when Lisa does finally see those beautiful mountain spring colors she is going to be profoundly moved. being able to see after so long of not being able to see is a very moving and emotional experience. Be sure you are with her. She is going to need a hug. And you don't want to miss seeing her joy.

 

[walkin jack]

Did my exams 2 weeks ago and was quoted $5400 for both eyes if I opt for those top of the line that the doc said will eliminate the need for glasses at distances greater than 20 inches.Within 20" glasses may still be needed so I may just opt for the Medicare paid option.

My Medicare plan paid a flat 80% on the cataract removal but I had to cough up $15K to get those trifocal lenses. I wasn't going to spend that kind of money on myself but my wife and daughter talked me into it. I'm SOOOOOO glad I listened to them. It was worth every penny and more. There is nothing I could buy that could give me the pleasure of good vision: Every waking moment. All day. Every day. Inside. Outsided. Rain...or shine.

 

[jeffrefrig]

My Medicare plan paid a flat 80% on the cataract removal but I had to cough up $15K to get those trifocal lenses. I wasn't going to spend that kind of money on myself but my wife and daughter talked me into it. I'm SOOOOOO glad I listened to them. It was worth every penny and more. There is nothing I could buy that could give me the pleasure of good vision: Every waking moment. All day. Every day. Inside. Outsided. Rain...or shine.

Sounds like you need to call JJ Walker! It's FREEEEE!

 

[Tom S.]

Lisa was 20/200 in her right eye and 20/60 in her left with her glasses.
I'm kinda looking forward to her being able to see the beautiful mountain spring colors.

Yeah, but what will happen when she gets a clear glimpse of you?

Cataract removal can be a life altering event for some people. For me, it broke a 40+ year ritual of having to wear glasses for driving (I was near sighted). It took several months to get used to not having to grab a pair of glasses every time I got behind the wheel. It was so nice to be able to buy a pair of sun glasses off the rack instead of waiting a week or more for a prescription pair to be made. A friend told me he hadn't realized their gray table cloth was actually a bright blue until after he had his first eye done.

Generally, the eye patch can come off the day after, though it typically goes back on at night. Please report back on her progress!

 

[16thVACav]

Glad to hear the procedure went well.

 

[StakeOut]

My Medicare plan paid a flat 80% on the cataract removal but I had to cough up $15K to get those trifocal lenses. I wasn't going to spend that kind of money on myself but my wife and daughter talked me into it. I'm SOOOOOO glad I listened to them. It was worth every penny and more. There is nothing I could buy that could give me the pleasure of good vision: Every waking moment. All day. Every day. Inside. Outsided. Rain...or shine.

15K in addition to what Medicare paid....better you than me.
It's no big deal to wear the reading glasses and driving glasses free.

 

[mauser9]

Had mine done 2 years back. Medicare and my supplement paid the whole thing because I did not need a special lens. Sounds like a huge rip-off $15,000. When it comes to medical "Bend Over"

 

[Tom S.]

15K in addition to what Medicare paid....better you than me.
It's no big deal to wear the reading glasses and driving glasses free.

My lenses were $1,500 each for a total out of pocket expense of $3,000. That was 10 years ago, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[snubbyfan]

Wayne, when Lisa does finally see those beautiful mountain spring colors she is going to be profoundly moved. being able to see after so long of not being able to see is a very moving and emotional experience. Be sure you are with her. She is going to need a hug. And you don't want to miss seeing her joy.

She's already telling me how vivid and clear everything is.

 

[snubbyfan]

Yeah, but what will happen when she gets a clear glimpse of you?

Cataract removal can be a life altering event for some people. For me, it broke a 40+ year ritual of having to wear glasses for driving (I was near sighted). It took several months to get used to not having to grab a pair of glasses every time I got behind the wheel. It was so nice to be able to buy a pair of sun glasses off the rack instead of waiting a week or more for a prescription pair to be made. A friend told me he hadn't realized their gray table cloth was actually a bright blue until after he had his first eye done.

Generally, the eye patch can come off the day after, though it typically goes back on at night. Please report back on her progress!

I'm hoping she'll be distracted by all the vivid colors.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

About 2-1/2 years ago for me. Truly an "eye opening" experience! So much more light and color in the world than I remembered.

Had one eye done after some serious anxiety about allowing someone to root around in my eyeball, blast my lens to mush with ultrasonic equipment, suck it out, and implant a laboratory-made replacement lens (the Versed-drip helps a lot with that little issue). A month later I had the other eye done, and I was looking forward to the experience!

One minor problem is looking in the mirror. Who is that wrinkled up old fart with a stupid grin on his face?

 

[fiasconva]

Make sure she follows the eye drop regimen the dr. gave her to the letter. Even if she feels better or sees better keep it up as the script calls for. An infection is the last thing she wants.

 

[hemiram]

The eye drops were by far the worst part of the whole process. That, and being unable to rub my eyes (I do it in my sleep) was another pain. But in a month, it's over and hopefully all is well.

 

[Greyman50]

Had mine done years ago, a month apart. The pre op eye drops and the $400 a bottle after drops were crazy. IIRC paid about $1K per eye for better lens. BTW my eye surgeon is very good looking lady so whole procedure was very good.

 

[fiasconva]

See Greyman50. If you hadn't had the surgery you wouldn't have been able to see that. *s*

 

[hemiram]

$400 drops? Wow. With my insurance, they were like $70, I think. I got the basic lenses for two reasons, one I didn't want to pay $2000 more than I was already, and two was the basic lenses I got have a much lower rate of complications then the fancy ones do (Not that they have a really high rate, just higher than basic lenses do). My only real problem now is seeing really close up. I'm going to try to find some reasonably good quality magnified glasses that don't cost a ton of money.

 

[Greyman50]

My insurance at the time was a rip off. Had same co in Va., moved to Ga. and premiums went up $1000 a month! Coverage was not as good either. Been using my eye Md. for a while so knew she was good looking years ago.