So I went in for a consultation on cataract surgery. (I'm retired and on Medicare). I thought great Medicare covers this . But during the consultation they are trying to talk me into getting a custom Wavefront Asheric or Toric lens implant. An extra $2500 per eye option that I pay out of pocket. Or go with LACS (laser assisted cataract surgery) and LRI/AI (Limbal relaxing/ Asigmatic incisions). Cost me $900 per eye. Frankly the options sounded to me like the DURACOAT paint protection you really "need" when you buy that new car. Anyone else familiar with these options. I feel it's just away for them to make more than what Medicare pays.
Cataract surgery. Options????
- Thread starter kramden
- Start date
Find another Provider, now. Search for track record of the surgeon and see how large an incision he/she does. The smaller the better.
HAWKEYE#28 said:
^Yup^
I had cataract surgery 12 years ago.... nothing fancy, just plain-jane lens implants that corrected my distance vision to 20/20. Cheap readers in the truck, on the workbench, on the desk, on the nightstand, and in my shirt pocket.
Couldn't be happier.
nvbirdman
Blackhawk
Spread that $2500 per eye over the number of years you expect to have left and see what it will cost you per year.
I had the surgery a couple of years ago without the extras and now reading glasses all I need. I would certainly look at a couple of bids, just like car body repair. I think you will find that when you fine the right doctor to cut on your eye you will know...asking these questions here sounds like you don't trust this guy...find somebody you do trust.
This eye doc sounds like the 'drive thru oil change guy' wanting to sell you stuff you don't need, turning a 15 minute procedure into a 16 minute procedure for a bunch of cash. Just my opinion since the eye doc I used didn't have a list of extras. Good luck
This eye doc sounds like the 'drive thru oil change guy' wanting to sell you stuff you don't need, turning a 15 minute procedure into a 16 minute procedure for a bunch of cash. Just my opinion since the eye doc I used didn't have a list of extras. Good luck
kramden said:
It is, medicare doesn't pay squat. Many of them have an angle. I had just the regular lens replacement probably 15 years ago and went with distance. Yes I wear glasses for reading but I did before that. If you don't want to pay the extra don't. If they insist, go somewhere else.
Ka6otm
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2002
- Messages
- 753
Chief 101 said:
I don't think so. The things the doctor was recommending are made for correcting astigmatism, something not covered by a standard replacement lens and costing you out of pocket as Medicare considers it frivolous and not their problem.
The doc corrected my astigmatism in the 15 minutes allotted for the surgery with no extra charge, part of the service he provided. It was paid for by the VA and no extra charges. I am not sure why you want to argue with me...that's my story and I'm sticking to it... :roll:Ka6otm said:
RSIno1
Hunter
Wife had it done a couple years ago. Our insurance covered standard lenses. She could have opted for bifocal type lenses for $400 per eye. She figured $5 drug store reading glasses was a better deal. She actually sees better than 20-20 now.
Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
Chief 101 said:
The VA did my eyes but couldn't correct the astigmatism as it was "irregular"; SO I wear glasses to read but my vision other than reading is great.
kramden said:
Maybe some other people around here are smarter than I am, but the more I think about this I have to admit some things. I don't know if you have secondary insurance to pay for some additional stuff that the doctor might recommend. Also I have no idea what Wavefront Asheric or Toric Lens implants are. I'm not sure what LACS or LRI/AI incisions do. So my question to you is, do you know what those things are? Did he explain the benefits of spending the extra money? If not I'd go see him again and ask the questions. If you have secondary insurance will it pay for any of those things? The truth is do you want a doctor that is only going to offer you one thing on the menu, or if he is going to offer you the whole menu and let you choose. Once you ascertain his motives then it's easier to make a decision.
I went to see a cosmetic surgeon to deal with my eyelids that were drooping and blocking some of my vision. He said he could take care of it and offered to do additional work (all of which would come out of my pocket) and gave me prices on all of it. Truth is there were some things I wanted done. I picked those things out, and skipped the rest of them. He did a good job for me. Cosmetic surgeons are the ones that do that work on eyelids. I'm not aware of eye doctors that will do that type of surgery. It was 3 hours worth, and I know just like you do Medicare doesn't pay doctors well, in fact some doctors no longer take Medicare because of it. If he's a good doctor, be glad he's still taking Medicare patients.
pisgah
Buckeye
kramden said:
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! :lol:
Ka6otm
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2002
- Messages
- 753
Chief 101 said:
And I'm not sure why you want to argue with me. Happened to a friend and he has to buy glasses with corrective lenses now for his astigmatism.
Happened to another friend a few years ago and she opted to pay the money so she wouldn't have to wear glasses.
It's the way it normally is regardless of what your experiences are.
Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
Bear Paw Jack said:
AHH; Once again , THANK YOU VA; they did Blephoplasty to get rid of the droop in my upper eye lids--
NO CHARGE !!
toysoldier
Hunter
Bear Paw Jack said:
I worked with a very good ophthalmic surgeon who could do upper and lower lids, both eyes, in just over an hour. He did really good work. Some opthalmologists specialize in cataract surgery, some in
retinal workbut blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is also something they train to do.
I have a lot of experience in cataract surgery, going back 40 years. When it came time for me to have cataract surgery, I opted for simple lens implants to provide good distance vision, and use glasses for reading. Performance of the "miracle" lens implants is still not entirely proven. You can get readers really cheap at Wal-Mart, and bifocal readers online for $20.
Good input Toysoldier.
Do you have a DD214 ?
I had both eyes done last year and lenses put in at the VA and I drove home in the worst down pour of rain the whole year the next day. I had to be driven there because I could not see well enough even with glasses in day time. They put me up in the Worriers Lodged and feed me. Paid for my gas and drivers time and I can shoot now with regular safety glasses and drive with out corrective glasses day and night now. After six weeks I was able to hit 16"X 16" steel plates at five hundred yards with my M1 standing. Spend the effort it was like being 19 again with my M14.
I had both eyes done last year and lenses put in at the VA and I drove home in the worst down pour of rain the whole year the next day. I had to be driven there because I could not see well enough even with glasses in day time. They put me up in the Worriers Lodged and feed me. Paid for my gas and drivers time and I can shoot now with regular safety glasses and drive with out corrective glasses day and night now. After six weeks I was able to hit 16"X 16" steel plates at five hundred yards with my M1 standing. Spend the effort it was like being 19 again with my M14.
Ka6otm
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2002
- Messages
- 753
TJ11 said:Do you have a DD214 ?
I had both eyes done last year and lenses put in at the VA and I drove home in the worst down pour of rain the whole year the next day. I had to be driven there because I could not see well enough even with glasses in day time. They put me up in the Worriers Lodged and feed me. Paid for my gas and drivers time and I can shoot now with regular safety glasses and drive with out corrective glasses day and night now. After six weeks I was able to hit 16"X 16" steel plates at five hundred yards with my M1 standing. Spend the effort it was like being 19 again with my M14.
Don't know if you're talking to me or everyone, but I'll answer anyway.
While I have a DD214, I'm absolutely last on the totem pole for getting work done there and besides, I wouldn't anyway as I'm comfortable financially and would prefer to let others have my place for getting things done.
Kramden, I had my own issues with my eyes and you have your own issues with your eyes so if you want to be comfy that you are making the correct decision I can only suggest you check with other professionals about your personal eye issues. My doc did things in the surgery that made glasses a thing of the past(other that reading glasses) for me, he just told me it was because of my veteran status. I hope you make the right choices based on facts and not what ppl here tell you to do. good luck
