Posted on 05/20/2018 7:07:10 PM PDT by George from New England
I have pending cataract surgery in a days time. Being told to pay an extra $1000 for a toric lense to correct 1.19 astigmatism. No insurance or benefit will cover as this can be accomplished with normal glasses.
I don't think I will tell the difference, because when we use $1 readers and I have done so for 20 years, there is no astigmatism correction present. My eye exams going back years show me at a 1.00 astig. level for years and years.
So why bother at this level 1.19 of concern ?
Any freepers please comment. Really want to opt for the standard IOL lense.
The rest of my story is good eye is 20/20 and my distance one. Mono-vision approach has me looking for +2.0D correction in the cataracted eye. Shooting for near/intermediate distance of 15"
Two years ago, at 71, I paid the extra grand for the computer surgery; it’s more accurate for correcting astigmatism.
I went with a lens that has me use reading glasses, not the very latest. There were some unhappy users with the newest lens.
I wouldn’t do anything differently.
Best of luck to you.
Does the doctor take CareCredit? I love the card - interest free, 6 months, 12, 18 or 24 (depending on what the office arranged with CareCredit). I’ve used the card for several surgeries, dental procedures, veterinarian procedures. It will ease the pain of paying. https://carecredit.com/
I had 20/20 up until my fifth decade (40's) when I found out at the driver's license office that I had presbyopia. That was many years ago, and after several pairs of glasses, my vision at my last exam started to improve. My Doctor said that that was common... (altho I am getting cataracts).
That's not a big problem, just write our three formal curses of John Calvin and go attend six Roman Catholic Masses and you will be fine
< Ducking -- running >
I think that would be covered as part of the surgery follow-up. Mine was done years ago & I don’t remember for sure. My vision was near perfect right after the surgery, but didn’t stay that way. It can change as the eye heals & not 100% predictable. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on new glasses right away.
I’ve got astigmatism - don’t know the exact number but it’s pronounced - and it’s not an issue at all for fitting contact lenses.
Almost every one I know who has had cataract surgery has opted for 20/20 vision and now they need glasses for reading. If you are at the age for cataract surgery you may also be taking prescription medications which means you can’t read the labels because the print is too small.
I opted for cataract surgery where I can still read without glasses and need glasses only for distance. I can still drive without glasses if an emergency comes up.
These changes came from aging. For instance, I have had a detached viscera, a detached retina, and changes in the shape of my retina, all in the eye with the implant. These all resulted in changes in my prescription. I also have arthritis in my neck, which makes it hard to move my head for reading and using monitors and phones. Thus, I use different lenses for reading, computing, and distant viewing. And the prescriptions for each of these have changed considerably after the surgery.
The point is, If you're lucky (and grow older), you will need to wear glasses in spite of the implant, so don't spend any extra for features that can easily be corrected with glasses. And also, be quite thankful that you were so lucky to need them.
“I have pending cataract surgery in a days time. Being told to pay an extra $1000 for a toric lense to correct 1.19 astigmatism.”
I paid the extra $1K for each lens and it was so worth it.
Having done this already, those $1 readers won’t work anymore, all they do is Magnify. Astigmatism is only corrected with glasses. It effects all fields of your vision. So You will need both reader and distance set to your astigmatism. It might change for better or worse depending on the Cataract implant you get. BE SURE THEY GET THE RIGHT LENSES. I ended up having to pay for Lasix to fix a badly down left lens, the surgeon left it shaped like a football, now Round like it was suppose to be.
Is it worth TORIC LENSES, NO as your vision will change with age thus so will the astigmatism. Stick with the regular implants and get yourself NO LINE bi or tri Focals.
Lubricant eye drops will help with DRY EYE and that is another Issue with Cataract Implants. THEY DON’T TELL YOU ABOUT!
WATCH YOUR MEDS, DRYING AGENT MEDS MAKE BAD COMPANIONS FOR YOUR EYES, ESPECIALLY HYPERTENSION DRUGS.
USE AN OPTOMETRIST, fitting glasses is their field, NOT an Othomologist field. They give you a better set of eye glasses. More choices of frames too and better prices. Stay away from BOX stores.
Don’t be in a rush, give your eyes at least 3 months to settle down.
PLASTIC LENSES NOT POLYCARB give you better vision. 48 yr glasses wearer. If you opt for glasses chose Zeiss lenses they are the BEST, they make the Hubble Telescope after all.
The toric lens may improve the astigmatism but that is not the main reason to spend additional dollars. The value in the additional dollars is to increase the depth of field.
Did you choose the distance for your lens, or did the doctor? I do extensive computer-based work. I was given the choice of near, intermediate (computer), and far. I got the intermediate and have been happy as a clam for the year that I’ve had the lenses.
I do have get out the magnifying glasses for really small print, like on medicine or food labels, generally, I’m good.
You meant ophthalmologist "Ophthalmologist" - a medical or osteopathic doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. Or did you mean "Optometrists?"
Difference between an Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Optician
I see what you did there... ;)
A friend in his 60's had the surgery, but opted to keep wearing his old prescription glasses full-time.
I was delighted with "Smart Seg" progressives, but they went out of business: full progressives make me dizzy. (I overheard a similar result, so it's probably just not me).
Anyway, I prefer my computer screen 30" away, and am a bird- and plane-watcher by day. I'm thinking my friend has it right. I'm in my mid-70s—what other choices should I consider?
Optometrists, there training is strictly in eye exams and vision correction with glasses or contact lenses. Others treat eye disease or conditions. Hubby has Retinal Atrophy from heavy metal cleaners in the Navy, has holes in Retinas, and now severe Glaucoma. Have my own issues with Dry Eye from Cataract implants and Lasix. Plus drugs that mess with your vision.
Blurred vision does not help spelling errors.
I wanted to thank everyone that contributed in this thread. I had the surgery today.
Based on what MosesKnows said, I chose not to challenger that Doctor and proceed with the toric lense.
I am finding that the dilation of that eye today HAS NOT worn off. I remember from a normal eye exam that it wears off in only a few hours, its been 14 hours for me now and I still get wash out vision in the surgery eye. I hope the surgery did not sever a nerve that controls the iris !!! Wouldn’t want to live with that for life.
Does anybody here remember the day of surgery wear off timeframe ?
btw: I choose the 2.0D magnification for near to interm. rather than the Dr wanting 1.25D for cpu distance.
The first eye surgery took 3 days before I had good vision.
Thank God for the doctor's skill to improve your vision.
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