Cost of Intraocular Multifocal Lens? Astigmatism Management Fee?

I can get some information for you on the cost. Just did some research on that topic. Which eye doctor do you see (if you're comfortable sharing that)? Also, what insurance company do you have (again, if you're comfortable sharing that)?

Medicare only covers the cost of the standard lens, and pretty much every commercial insurer has followed suit with the guideline set by Medicare on that.

However, they should cover up to the cost of the standard lens, and then you should only be responsible for the difference above what the standard lens cost.

Humana Medicare Advantage (from OPERS) and Dr. Clark Weidaw, Maumee Eye Clinic. I'm not in love with Weidaw. I could/would go to anyone competant. Many, Many thanks, Mom2

Had cat surg a year ago July to recover my distance vision. went from a lifetime of constant glasses to needing reading glasses because now I'm far-sighted and not near-sighted. I was not a candidate for the multi-focal lenses due to previous retina surg. I went to Reed and they did the breakdown for me as far as payment...I knew when I walked out after scheduling that I would never pay a dime out of pocket and I haven't. Your docs office should be able to tell you the exact cost and mom2 is correct in everything she says. :) Good luck, you will be better after, it's great!

mom2 is right on. The additional cost of the "premium" (multifocal) lens will be your responsibility. Make sure you are mentally prepared for the adjustment in how you focus--my mom had a bit of a challenge at first, but now she's gotten used to focusing. It's a quick learning curve.

I unfortunately was not a good candidate for the multifocal and had my cataract replaced with a monofocal (distance) lens. Yeah, reading glasses, but whatever. At least I can see clearly again. The way my cataract grew, I was seeing double images in my right eye. I've had fairly bad eyesight my whole life (nearsightedness) and now I'm completely free of glasses to drive, watch movies, etc.

BTW--cataracts don't necessarily mean your old...I had mine done 2 years ago and I was 35.

37 is ancient, oldhometown!

(kidding, kidding - I'm the same age. LOL)

holland - I can pull some info for you. I'm pretty familiar with the OPERS plans.

holland...just saw your latest post.

As someone who has had eye problems since I was a kid, let me impart this to you: seek out the absolute very best person to work on your eyes. No compromise. Do lots of research. Find out who your eye doctor would recommend if it was his/her eyes. There's so much more information about who is excellent and who is not out there. And these are your eyes and, while commonly performed, it is still a very delicate, precise surgery that needs an expert's touch for the greatest chance of a successful outcome.

Also, if you are not 100% confident in your doctor (and from your post, it sounds like you are not), start the process over again with a different doctor. I'm sure he is a fine doctor with a great practice, but if you just don't "feel it", find someone with whom you are comfortable.

Other than that--follow the post op regimen like you're in the military. No strenuous anything for 7 days after surgery (I didn't do anything even a quarter-way strenuous for 2 weeks). Take your drops as prescribed and do not forget...especially in that first week after surgery. My doc showed me pictures of "complications" after surgery and that was enough to convince me not to forget to do anything.

Good luck.

Thanks for sharing nana. Everyones' experiences help me understand a little better.

oldhometown. Thank you too for sharing. My husband who is older than I, he's 73 and I'm 66, is kind of laughing at me over this. He has no cataract problems. The astigmatism I have is very mild and can be corrected with lasik at the time of the cataract surgery. It's so mild that up until I needed reading glasses I wore no glasses at all. I was no Annie Oakley, but I could still manage a decent game of of Put-Put.

oldhometown - Who was your eye doc, If I may ask? You're right about me and Weidaw. He is extremely competant, but he's a crab and sometimes curt with his answers. I see him once a year. It's not like I bug him a lot or anything. I'm not sure I'd want him to do surgery on my eyes when he's in a bad mood. Hence, I guess I'm doctor shopping too. There's no hurry so I might as well take my time and find someone I get along with.

I actually had my surgery out of town. Because of my history of eye problems, I chose to go to Miami, FL, and have it done at Bascom Palmer Eye Hospital--the #1 eye hospital in the country. My insurance covered it (as long as I could get there on my own) and I have friends in Miami that I stayed with for 10 days post-surgery.

For most people, that's overkill. For me, I had a hard time finding docs locally I was comfortable with and who were comfortable with me and my complications. I had retinal problems in my 20s, have high eye pressure (treated with drops) now, and that scared off a few doctors because I wasn't a "perfect" candidate. Hey, they've got "success percentages" to think about...

Sorry I can't be more help in this regard. My mom did have her surgery locally--I'll ask her next time I see her.