Cataract Plus Astigmatism Surgery

[Mr. Neutron]

I dunno if this would better be posted in another forum (Sights??? Somewhere else??)?

I'm gonna be a young 67 soon. It seems as if there are a fair amount of folks here close to that age that might share some of the same optical issues that I do.

Was wondering if anyone here has had cataract surgery AND astigmatism surgery at the same time? I've read on some of my SEARCHes that both things can be corrected at the same time. If so, does Medicare cover that similar to how they do for just cataract surgery alone?

Any issues with this, if anyone has had it done?

Guess whose iron sight shooting sucks like a bucketful of ticks lately?:


Added in EDIT: Just found this after a more "extensive" Google SEARCH

Does Medicare Pay for Cataract Surgery With Astigmatism?

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 1536-R ruling, astigmatism-correcting intraocular lenses for are not covered by Medicare. Unless your astigmatism was caused by a surgical complication, or if correcting your condition is somehow deemed a “medical necessity,” Medicare likely won’t cover a procedure to correct your astigmatism.

[dave77]

Medicare also requires your Cataracts be beyond a certain level. I've had mild Cataracts for a number of years and my eye doctor (who is a Cataract specialist) told me that they are still nowhere near bad enough for Medicare to pay for the surgery. Also, I don't know if it's a rule for Lasik procedures by all Ophthalmologists but she said she will not do them if you have any sign of Cataracts.

[Mr. Neutron]

Medicare also requires your Cataracts be beyond a certain level. I've had mild Cataracts for a number of years and my eye doctor (who is a Cataract specialist) told me that they are still nowhere near bad enough for Medicare to pay for the surgery. Also, I don't know if it's a rule for Lasik procedures by all Ophthalmologists but she said she will not do them if you have any sign of Cataracts.

Thanks, Dave!

But now I am (even more than normally, hee hee ) confused. I *thought* I'd read that nowadays cataracts are typically repaired by Lasik (laser?) surgery?

[dave77]

Thanks, Dave!

But now I am (even more than normally, hee hee ) confused. I *thought* I'd read that nowadays cataracts are typically repaired by Lasik (laser?) surgery?

In Cataract surgery they may use a laser but they completely remove your eye's lenses and replace them with artificial lenses (Bonus, the artificial lenses can correct your vision so maybe no more need for glasses).

Lasik uses a laser to re-shape your cornea to improve your vision but will not help if your eye's lenses are cloudy (cataracts).

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases ... ct-surgery
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-pre ... ct-surgery

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-proced ... c-20384774

Find a Ophthalmologist that specializes in Cataract surgery, shouldn't be hard as Cataract surgery is the most performed surgery in the US.

My doctor made an exception and kept seeing me to keep track of some other eye issues I have but she mostly just does Cataract surgery. I also see a retina specialist every 6 months so my eyes are well looked after.

https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... on+surgery

[Mr. Neutron]

Man, Dave, thanks for all those links (and advice, as well!)!!!

That's a lotta great help!

[clovishound]

Talk to your ophthalmologist about it. My understanding is that astigmatism is corrected by implanting special lenses. As talked about before, a new lens is implanted during normal cataract surgery anyway. We talked with the surgeon about lens options prior to my wife's surgery. She has astigmatism in one eye. Her cataracts were so bad she was functionally blind. In her case he felt that standard lenses were the safest option. I believe the toric lenses would have resulted in around $1500 out of pocket additional cost. We were willing to pay the difference, but went with the option most likely to give a good result regardless of whether or not she would have to wear glasses. Her situation was different than most because of the severity of her cataracts, and some other health issues.

[Mr. Neutron]

Thanks for that, Clovishound!

After talking with some family and friends that have had some surgeries done for cataracts, corrective reasons, or both, they all feel it was worth the expense (for those that had to pay for it; cataract surgery only was mostly free). My Aunt is happy with her corrective & cataract surgery except for one issue. She sees bright, radiating halos from oncoming headlight when night driving. She still feels its worth it.

I’ve gotta see an ophthalmologist, then decide if it’s worthwhile to pull the trigger on it or not. When I ride my dirt bike, or when hunting, it’d be nice to not have to deal with fogged up glasses. Might be nice if it would possibly allow me to shoot iron sights awhile longer also.

[dave77]

When I ride my dirt bike, or when hunting, it’d be nice to not have to deal with fogged up glasses. Might be nice if it would possibly allow me to shoot iron sights awhile longer also.

Tried soft contact lenses once and although I couldn't get used to them, a couple times I was out in the rain without a hat and didn't have to walk around looking at the ground to keep my glasses dry.

Would be great to not have to wear glasses but if I ever do have cataract surgery unless they can correct my close up vision I'd just as soon keep my bifocals, can't imagine having to carry and keep track of reading glasses.

[clovishound]

When I ride my dirt bike, or when hunting, it’d be nice to not have to deal with fogged up glasses. Might be nice if it would possibly allow me to shoot iron sights awhile longer also.

Tried soft contact lenses once and although I couldn't get used to them, a couple times I was out in the rain without a hat and didn't have to walk around looking at the ground to keep my glasses dry.

Would be great to not have to wear glasses but if I ever do have cataract surgery unless they can correct my close up vision I'd just as soon keep my bifocals, can't imagine having to carry and keep track of reading glasses.

Well, they do have lenses that are supposed to allow you to not to have to use glasses. I have a friend or two that got them, and weren't entirely happy, but they got them quite a few years ago, and there have undoubtedly been improvements since then. The downside is you will have to pay out of pocket for them, as most insurance doesn't cover them. I have excellent insurance that covered all sorts of things for my wife this last year, with surprisingly little out of pocket. They won't cover anything but the standard lenses.

[Mr. Neutron]

Would be great to not have to wear glasses but if I ever do have cataract surgery unless they can correct my close up vision I'd just as soon keep my bifocals, can't imagine having to carry and keep track of reading glasses.

Hee, hee....... We could do like my neighbor (and sorta what my wife does) Chuck....... Years ago, I was over at his place helping him work on something for his tractor. There came a point during this chore when we both couldn't see very good for something kinda important. Neither of us had our glasses on, as it was drizzling outside. He said "Wait a second.", walked 5-10 steps over to a tree, and pulled out a pair of cheap Dollar Store readers he leaves hangng on a limb. He has those things stashed literally everywhere on his property, in his shop, & etc.! Genius!!!

If I could get my cataracts and "far vision" sorted, I'd probably just do like Chuck. I kinda do that already when fishing. I wear non-prescription polarized sun glasses, and then a set of readers to see well enough to tie fishing knots......

[Ernie]

Just had my second cataract surgery Thursday. Had the right eye done 3 weeks ago with the standard lens and it has made a big difference in my vision so I had the left one done. Corrective lenses for distance were $2000 per eye out of pocket and they would not guarantee not needing glasses. It will take 3 weeks until my vision settles in my left eye to get an exam for new glasses. My distance is much better but my close vision is somewhat improved and the brightness is way better. I can see well enough to drive and read road signs without glasses again which is wonderful because my current glasses no longer work, but I am using cheaters for close up until I get a new pair of spectacles. Don't mind bi/trifocals. I have been using reading glasses since the 1960s and bifocals since age 45, I would rather keep a pair on my face than trying to find my reading glasses once again.

[dave77]

I don't mind my bifocals at all but tried trifocals once and I couldn't get used to them. Seemed I was always bobbing my head up and down trying to find the middle lens. Same thing with progressive lens, a lot of people like them but I couldn't get used to the narrow close up vision, was always having to move my head side to side to read a newspaper or magazine.