Cataracts, I'm getting old

Cornhusker

Cornhusker

Member
Location
Nebraska Panhandle
Well, I guess I'm officially old now, I need cataract surgery.
I have trouble reading my computer screen, and I probably shouldn't be driving.
The did an evaluation in November but couldn't schedule me until after the first of the year, so I'm starting over on my insurance deductible.
Now I have to cough up over $5700 to even get scheduled.
Seems like a lot for a 15 minute procedure.
Is that a typical cost?
If you had it done, what was your experience?
 

My experience is one I'd have done over again if needed. Obviously things turned out well. There's the whole wearing the eye cup for day or so. And eye drops to instill in the surgery eye for a few days.

The afterwards was amazing! Everything was so much clearer and brighter.

I just had the new lenses lasered due to cloudiness. It was like having new lenses all over again. The cloudiness is a common thing.
 

Cornhusker said:
Well, I guess I'm officially old now, I need cataract surgery.
I have trouble reading my computer screen, and I probably shouldn't be driving.
The did an evaluation in November but couldn't schedule me until after the first of the year, so I'm starting over on my insurance deductible.
Now I have to cough up over $5700 to even get scheduled.
Seems like a lot for a 15 minute procedure.
Is that a typical cost?
If you had it done, what was your experience?
Click to expand...
DH paid ~$300 for his, MA covered the rest.
He is very glad he had it done... everything is clearer and brighter (as I see robin416 said :) ).

He also had to wait months for his appointment.
 
Cornhusker said:
Well, I guess I'm officially old now, I need cataract surgery.
I have trouble reading my computer screen, and I probably shouldn't be driving.
The did an evaluation in November but couldn't schedule me until after the first of the year, so I'm starting over on my insurance deductible.
Now I have to cough up over $5700 to even get scheduled.
Seems like a lot for a 15 minute procedure.
Is that a typical cost?
If you had it done, what was your experience?
Click to expand...
You don't have Medicare? It's free for me with Medicare.
 
robin416 said:
My experience is one I'd have done over again if needed. Obviously things turned out well. There's the whole wearing the eye cup for day or so. And eye drops to instill in the surgery eye for a few days.

The afterwards was amazing! Everything was so much clearer and brighter.

I just had the new lenses lasered due to cloudiness. It was like having new lenses all over again. The cloudiness is a common thing.
Click to expand...
How long between your cataract surgery and the lasering?
 
Medidare covered the costs so nothing out of pocket. I've had both eyes done and a heart valve so I wonder what is next. A few years after your procedure you may need a YAG procedure to remove some kind of build up on your eye but is done with a laser, no pain, and over in 5 min. and also covered by Medicare. There is no set time between surgery and YAG, it depends on you, some never need it.

When I had my eyes done several years ago it was with a partial sleep medication. A friend who went to the same facility last year and said they don't do that anymore and you are awake for the procedure. She said she felt nothing. Just be sure to use your antibiotics correctly everyday so you don't get an infection.
 
robin416 said:
My experience is one I'd have done over again if needed. Obviously things turned out well. There's the whole wearing the eye cup for day or so. And eye drops to instill in the surgery eye for a few days.

The afterwards was amazing! Everything was so much clearer and brighter.

I just had the new lenses lasered due to cloudiness. It was like having new lenses all over again. The cloudiness is a common thing.
Click to expand...
Did your doctor tell you that the clouding was a possibility before hand?
 
After my cataract surgery I opened my eyes to new bright colours. If they offer to do one eye for distance and one for reading, think very carefully about NOT doing that. If something goes wrong, it can’t be fixed. Having lost vision in one eye, I’m thankful that both were done for distance. My neighbour had distance and reading and now is having problems with one eye.
 
My son in his 50s had Cataract one of his eyes. His employer's Health Insurance, Cigna covered most of the cost. He paid about $300, including three visits to his Dr. before and after his Cataract surgery. It's very affordable cost.
 
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