Help! - Cataract Surgery

[RamblingRose]

I am 53 years old and am having cataract surgery.

I currently wear contacts/glasses for distance and readers for reading so I am always wearing one form of glasses.

The scheduler gave me a sheet with the various surgery options - Standard Package, Astigmatism Package, Multi-Focal Package.

She said I will have to have the astigmatism package even though I don't wear contacts for astigmatism. This is an additional $1600 per eye and I don't think it is covered by insurance.

She put a hard sell on the multi-focal package (Pan Optix) which is an additional $3250 per eye!! She said this option would keep me from needing any glasses but there's no guarantee and it is not covered by insurance.

I thought cataract surgery alone kept you from needing glasses except for maybe readers???

Help!!

[Ritabert]

1. Sounds expensive

I don't know about the astigmatism package she said you need but I would just get the distance correction implant and wear readers as needed. I've worn readers for decades and am used to them. I certainly wouldn't pay an additional $3250 for multifocal implants. I have to get at least one eye done next year.

[gibraltar72]

2. Had it done at about 73 years old.

I need readers and was given a prescription and got new glasses but I could see as well without them. Had glasses since about 9 years old. I need readers and have them stashed all over house. and garage. Difference between night and day. Was amazed at what colors actually look like. Good luck.

[Desert grandma]

3. I had cataract surgery and do not need glasses.

I wore contacts prior to having lasik. I had one eye corrected for reading and one eye for long distance vision. The Lasik correction I had later was identical. It had it done in 2000. In November of 2020 I had cataract surgery on one eye for reading. In February of this year I had the cataract surgery on the other eye. The new lens was corrected for distance. I do not wear reading glasses now. Medicare covered everything except a small $300 per eye fee which was to use a system that allowed for a more accurate measurement. I was so happy to have had this done before Covid. Good luck to you!

[SoCalNative]

4. I had both eyes done over the past 2 years

I opted for the single vision lenses (distance vision) that insurance covered because glasses are far cheaper. I need to wear glasses (glorified readers) for computer/phone/tablet/reading (books and packaging).

It's worked out just fine for me (I'm 57).

[redstatebluegirl]

18. Same for me.

The doctor and his staff pushed hard for the additional $4000 (that is what it would be for mine). I said no often. I found out from friends later that those super duper lenses are not a guarantee you will not need glasses. I use my readers and am happy having the extra money in the bank thank you.

[BamaRefugee]

5. I went legally blind. Life SUCKED. I have Multi-Focal CrystalLens in both eyes now, 20/20, worth

every single cent!
I had no insurance at the time, I was diagnosed with diabetes while shopping for COBRA ( I had just gone into business for myself), insurance instantly became astronomical, there was no Obamacare then.
I paid $10,000, pretty much my life savings, but I have never ever regretted it, PRICEELSS compared to being basically blind, all I could see was a grey blur, my life as I knew it was over before the eye operations.

I had a very rare condition called posterior subcapsular cataracts. My doctors had actually never seen it in a living person, just knew it from their training, it apparently only occurs in people over 90 years old. I was 49 at the time.

[Binkie The Clown]

6. I had both eyes done many years ago.

I use glasses for reading and closeup, but not for normal distance vision. I also have astigmatism, but it's not very severe, and my readers correct for it. The dr game me a prescription for distance glasses to correct the astigmatism, but I didn't bother to fill it, and I haven't missed it.

[unc70]

7. I got the mono vision option

One eye better than 20/20 distance. The other eye set for reading distance. Before surgery, I had a similar arrangement with my contacts. This combo works really well most of the time.

I have a pair of glasses with each eye having the appropriate progressive lenses to correct to the full range of distance. I rarely need to use the glasses, mostly when driving at night in the rain.

[still_one]

8. Something doesn't sound right. Did they give you an eye exam and check for astigmatism?

What I would do is get the eye exam values and consider a second opinion

I am assuming the Pan Optix option based on what you described is a bi-focal or progressive lens option. Unless your contacts are currently multi-focal or bifocal, I would strong discourage you NOT to have multi-focal contacts, because it may be very difficult to get used to them, and with cataract surgery you don't want something that you may need to get accustomed to

If it was me, I would just get the cataract lens for distance, which I assume is the standard package, and use reading glasses for close up as you do now.

To me it sounds like they are trying to push you into unecessary revenue.

I hate to say this, but I wonder if your ophthalmologist ethical

Because of trying to push you into something you may not need, I would want to get a second opinion, ideally recommended by friends or family

Hope it works out for you

Take care

[quickesst]

9. I had standard cataract surgery....

.... And I can tell you from my own experience that the only glasses I need are the readers. I am actually looking at my phone right now through the readers, but have them pulled down on my nose so I can watch my little 19in. TV which is approximately 6 feet from me over the readers, and which is clear as a bell. I think the multifocal package was not available to me at the time, which I suppose would eliminate the need for the readers. Hope this might give you a little more insight into what course of action you take.

By the way, it was a quick operation, and I went and had lunch at IHOP right after. For a while after the surgery everything I looked at seemed to be in high definition. Colors were amazing. Good luck.

[Jirel]

10. You will still need glasses at some point, most likely.

I had cataract surgery in my 40s due to a particular illness and treatment. They try to get your eye as close to 20/20 as possible, and my surgeon nailed that. However, your eyes DO change over time, so you will drift off you perfect or near perfect vision eventually.

My advice is the same as my doctor’s - plain lens only! Why? Multifocal lenses are like multi focal glasses. If they’re off, they can be really uncomfortable to see through. Also, it complicates bifocals/multifocals for glasses down the road. Get a good base correction, and let glasses take care of bi/multifocal correction over the years as your vision changes. It’s so much less bother than dealing with a possible uncomfortable prescription built into your eye. Why spend lots of extra money for a correction that won’t last?

You should be able to decline the astigmatism package if you want, but you should discuss both your financial concerns and whether it would be a long-term benefit versus just doing a glasses prescription as your eyes change.

My personal experience was about 4-5 years of 20/20 vision. Then I had to do a plain lens with a progressivr for a few years. Now I have both distance and multifocal lenses.

[lark]

11. I don't know about that.

I had cataract surgery and paid $5000 to have both eyes fixed so I could see near and far without glasses. That was in July - 6 months later I have to wear Readers or I can't see magazines or anything with small or colored fonts. I'm kind of pissed, I wouldn't have paid $5000 for only getting distance fixed, I could have done exactly that for free. I doubt my eye dr. will do anything about this, but it happened to me and I found out afterwards that the same thing is happening to someone I know.

Beware.

[RamblingRose]

14. That sucks! As someone mentioned, I wonder if the dr.'s get a kickback on these multi focal lenses

[lark]

16. They sure make a ton of profit off of them.

[RicROC]

12. if it were me...

I would ask that my eyes would not be focused perfectly for infinity (20 ft and beyond) but rather set for about 12 ft. That way I can walk around the house without glasses. I might be able to get away without glasses for some close things, especially using astigmatism in your favor because it extends the range.

I would need one pair of glasses with the very minor correction for driving and a near correction (Progressive Lens) for small print reading.

[RamblingRose]

13. If I understand, the "Standard Package" is for a mono focus lens that WILL correct distance vision

vision but I will still need readers?? I'm good with that and saving $6,000+

I'm still confused on the "Astigmatism Package." It doesn't sound like it offers any additional benefit. Maybe it's a "CYA Package"

The doctor had zero people skills. He didn't mention anything about astigmatism during the exam. It was the scheduler that gave me the package information and told me I HAD to have the Astigmatism Package.

Thanks for all the great info!

The DU Community is the BEST!

[murielm99]

15. I had the surgery when I was in my sixties.

I wore bifocals at the time.

Now I use reading glasses. I am so glad to be free of the bifocals!

Colors are amazing.

The recovery from surgery was easy. You should have no problems!

[Ultraviolet Cat]

17. My experience . . .

I am 51 and recently had my second cataract surgery. I have monofocal lenses - I have one that is set for full distance and the other is for slightly shorter distances (not true monovision as I was worried about adjusting to that - one is 18.5D and the other is 16.0D, just for reference). I have to wear readers, but I can actually see my phone or computer without them on if necessary (not super clear, but not terrible either). I can also see the full dashboard in my car clearly without any vision correction, which is really nice!

I have heard that one of the problems with the multifocal lenses is that they can bend and get a crease in the middle, which can really be bad for your vision and is nearly impossible to fix. Both of my surgeons steered me away from them.

I would go with good monofocal lenses set for distance and live with the fact that you will probably need readers.

[wishstar]

19. My doctor steered me away from multi-focal and I opted for having standard better distance vision

Before surgery I was extremely nearsighted. Doc said the multi-focal sometimes was hard to get used to and night vision could be problematic and thousands of dollars more for multi-focal wasn't covered by insurance. So although I had spent over 50 years being used to excellent closeup vision, I decided on lenses that would give me good distance vision to be able to drive, watch TV, walk around and do most things without glasses except reading and computer.

The standard distance choice worked out great- I do have progressive bifocals but actually only need them for reading, computer and closeup and can get by with just readers too. I do sometimes miss my previous sharp nearsighted vision but I bought some dollar store readers that enhance my closeup vision since my bifocal prescription glasses aren't always good enough for seeing extremely closeup details.

A friend of mine who was nearsighted chose to have better closeup vision but she now needs glasses to drive whereas I can drive and ride bike using regular sunglasses and I mow lawn and do yardwork with regular safety glasses not needing my prescription glasses at all.

Good Luck!

[nitpicker]

20. Standard cataract surgery worked for me

So well that when I left my car one day to enter a grocery store, I was inside before realizing I'd left my glasses off after donning my mask!

[Owl]

22. I have horrid astigmatism in an eye due to a scleral buckle.

Hope a cataract surgery will be able to correct it.