[CFrance]

Originally Posted by billethkid

I had the Toric lense upgrade to correct astigmatism in my right eye. My out of pocket was $1050 as Medicare does not cover the Toric lense.
I had the right eye set for distance and the left eye for close.
A week after the last eye was done I tested 20-20 capable. That was 3 years ago and I still have no need for reading glasses.

My research before deciding to go mono and with the Toric lense confirmed for me that the much touted upgraded bi focal type lenses had significantly less (SIGNIFICANT ) than 50% satisfaction and users relying on glasses....not just readers..........hence my decision........and 100% satisfaction.
By Dr. Ireland at St. Luke's in Sumter Landing.

I loved my mono vision contacts. So you may have the answer, BTK. I could not, however, play pickle ball or tennis with them as the middle distance vision was not good. So for instance, when the ball is going over the net, my vision was not good. But that may be a personal issue with my eyes. Maybe others can relate their experiences with mono vision when playing tennis or PB.

[pbkmaine]

My opthamologist also gave a negative review to the new lenses. His exact words: "They are not where they need to be yet." I had surgery and my right eye was corrected for distance. I had to wait two weeks for the left eye to be corrected. We tried an experiment during the interval. He gave me two contact lenses for the left eye: one corrected for distance and the other for reading. He advised me to try both and see which worked better. To my surprise, the reading lens worked better. I had the second surgery and my left eye was corrected to read a computer screen. My brain somehow takes the different inputs from my left and right eyes and I see perfectly for distance and for reading. The only time I need glasses is to thread a needle or do my nails. It's awesome. I highly recommend experimenting with contacts before surgery to see if this works for you. It's called monovision.

[NotGolfer]

Just had my annual check up and will be having the surgery. The one that's the least expensive is around $300.00 per eye. The next 'step up' would cost around $2000.00 per eye (would help with astigmatism) and the creme de la creme would be the "Cadillac" of lenses--would cost $3000.00 per eye. The least expensive one is taken care of by Medicare and insurance BUT the other two are not. IF you have the cash---you have a choice.

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

Just had my annual check up and will be having the surgery. The one that's the least expensive is around $300.00 per eye. The next 'step up' would cost around $2000.00 per eye (would help with astigmatism) and the creme de la creme would be the "Cadillac" of lenses--would cost $3000.00 per eye. The least expensive one is taken care of by Medicare and insurance BUT the other two are not. IF you have the cash---you have a choice.

Most practices offer CareCredit, or something similar, with interest free financing options. So, if you needed it, you could pay off the $3K in 24 months at $125 per month, with no interest if paid in full in 24 months.
Certainly cheaper than throwing it on your Visa.

[fofd1091]

Had both eyes operated on in 2009/2010 when mono lens were first introduced.Yes chose the upgrade,cost 2K + per eye.Was advised that my
astigmatism or halo would always be there and may even be worse at night,
and yes i understood i might and most likely have to use readers for closeup
reading.All of this is true,but I have worn glasses since i was 15 years old.
I first tried contacts in 1962 and several times over the years,never really worked very well for me.
Long story short,no I would have saved 4k and gone with regular lens for distance and still use readers.Oh, i do have 20/20 vision, but everything seem
as if I'm looking thru a drop of water all the time.
To each their own however.

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by fofd1091

Long story short,no I would have saved 4k and gone with regular lens for distance and still use readers.Oh, i do have 20/20 vision, but everything seems as if I'm looking thru a drop of water all the time.
To each their own however.

Was this from the beginning....or developed later on?
Might be a secondary cataract aka PCO (posterior capsule opacification) which can be treated and is covered by insurance.
Cataract Surgery Complications - AllAboutVision.com

[perrjojo]

Thank you for all the replies. I still haven't decided but when I do decide I will update everyone on how it turns out.

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by LuckySevens

Please let us know the results of your second opinion. I have a bad astigmatism, plus I need double cataract surgery. Previous lasix surgery a few years ago pretty much ruined a lot of vision in my right eye because they removed too much tissue. I also would like NOT to wear reading glasses and am wondering about the implants to achieve that. I am anxious to hear what you find out.

It IS surgery and Medicare and my BCBS covers 2nd and even 3rd opinions.
http://www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/02173.pdf
I am far-sighted (plus 2 and 3 diopters) and moderate astigmatism (average 1.5 Ds measured with cornea topography) and no previous surgery or other eye problems. So your mileage may vary.
My 2nd opinion with Dr Patel pretty much agreed with my 1st evaluation, except Dr Patel favored torics with mini-monovision (plano eminent eye, near 0.5 D in non-dominant eye), and Dr Singleton preferred the Trulign torics with the same mini-monovision.
Standard toric or Trulign toric? If I'm going to pay for a premium toric lens, I think I'm going to go with the lens that gives potentially better vision and increased eyeglasses independence. The cost of the Trulign is about $450 per eye over the standard toric with laser. So, total costs per eye of $2450 out-of-pocket for the laser cataract surgery with the "Cadillac" of premium IOLs.
The trouble with monovision is that a difference of 2.25 or 3.0 diopters (see the "Add" in your prescription) between eyes is a BIG difference and a lot of people hate it.
There is no perfect IOL to give back youthful vision at all distances, so compromises are necessary. In the end it all depends on what you like to do. Seeing the golf ball in flight, driving at night without glare/halos, and playing on the computer, are big factors in my decision.

[mixsonci]

I will be having cataract surgery when I get home in December. I have always had "natural" monovision, so I assume my doctor will probably keep them that way with the surgeries. I never needed glasses until the past couple of years and I hate it and driving at night is a nightmare with the glare/halos, so I can't wait to have my eyes done. Two questions, 1. how long do you have to wait to have the second eye done? I was told they won't do both at the same time. 2. How long after the surgery will I be able to drive? I am planning to drive to TV from Boston as soon as possible after the surgery.

[pbkmaine]

It was two weeks for me between surgeries. I liked having the time because it gave me a chance to play with contact lenses to see if monovision worked. It did, and 4 months later I see better than I ever have. My brother only had a week, however, so this seems up to the individual surgeon.

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by mixsonci

I will be having cataract surgery when I get home in December. I have always had "natural" monovision, so I assume my doctor will probably keep them that way with the surgeries. I never needed glasses until the past couple of years and I hate it and driving at night is a nightmare with the glare/halos, so I can't wait to have my eyes done. Two questions, 1. how long do you have to wait to have the second eye done? I was told they won't do both at the same time. 2. How long after the surgery will I be able to drive? I am planning to drive to TV from Boston as soon as possible after the surgery.

You will most likely have 3 follow-up appointments after your cataract surgery. Your first follow-up appointment is the day after your surgery.
The 2nd follow-up appointment is usually about 2 weeks after the surgery. This gives the surgeon more insight into your healing times, and the lens results, which may or may not change the type or power of the IOL for the other eye.
The final follow-up appointment happens about 1 month after the cataract surgery.
Repeat the follow-up appointments for the 2nd eye.
Personally, I wouldn't want to be a thousand miles away from my eye surgeon until at least a month after the 2nd eye was done, in case anything were to go wrong

[mixsonci]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

You will most likely have 3 follow-up appointments after your cataract surgery. Your first follow-up appointment is the day after your surgery.
The 2nd follow-up appointment is usually about 2 weeks after the surgery. This gives the surgeon more insight into your healing times, and the lens results, which may or may not change the type or power of the IOL for the other eye.
The final follow-up appointment happens about 1 month after the cataract surgery.
Repeat the follow-up appointments for the 2nd eye.
Personally, I wouldn't want to be a thousand miles away from my eye surgeon until at least a month after the 2nd eye was done, in case anything were to go wrong

Thank you, good advice. Maybe I better think about having it done in TV and not Massachusetts. I love my doctor so I hate to not have it done in Boston. I'll have to think about that.

[ilvgolf]

I had my cataract surgery performed by Dr. Holman at Lake Eye. I did pay for the laser surgery. The total cost, for both eyes was $3,000. I also took advantage of their CareCredit card - no interest and you pick how you want to pay and what you want to pay monthly. My monthly payment is $127.00 but I rounded it up to $130.00. My right eye was corrected for distance - I can now see the golf ball fly thru the air and where it lands - my left eye was corrected for close up. I do NOT wear glasses of any kind now. Just thought I would throw my 2 cents in.

[togabill]

I went for these at Lake Eye. The price quoted before is per eye so it is expensive. I have had them for 15 months. The procedure itself is easy. My results have been mixed. Took a while for me to get use to them. At first floaters are more pronounced. I am more sensitive to light but not real bad. They seem to be getting better as time marches on. I am pleased with them as I can read without glasses for the first time in 55 years. Are they worth the price? Depends how bad you don't want reading glasses. Good luck. I went through the same decision process.

[John_W]

I had cataract surgery on my right eye last Tuesday 8/12 at the VA Hospital in Gainesville. They put in a standard distant vision lens, they had highly recommended against the multivision lens. The doctor said they create that lens by placing a small hole in the center of the lens and if they are off by a millionth of a millimeter there is a problem. When I heard that, the choice was simple.

So far everything is great, my right eye is about the same vision as my left eye which is 20/40. The eye will get better, it's only been 6 days, the biggest difference is everything is whiter. When I look at print or something white, especially on TV, the old eye sees an amber tint where the right eye sees pure white.

I have to go back tomorrow for post-op, and pre-op for the left eye which will be done on Thursday 8/28. The biggest problem now is I'm not allowed to do any exercise. Cannot bend over and look down, lift anything more than 5 pounds and not even ride a stationary bike. This is for two weeks after surgery, which ends just in time for the other eye. This is hard for someone who normally goes to MVP Gym 5 days a week.