Had both eyes done in January. They offered a tranquilizer which was worth it. The clinic does it assembly line and runs two operating rooms. Both times, it was three days of itchy eyes. I wore a plastic disk at night to avoid sticking my fingers in my eye.
A big thing for me was my doctor. We know each other and get along. The clinic has some of the best trained people in it. Heck, one was my student.

It is great if it works and hell if it does not. Be aware that you are being "sold" the procedure much like a car salesman. Most people over 50 have cataracts. Doesn't mean you need to do anything if they are not bothering you. They will tout that it is 98 % problem free. You need to evaluate your risk factor. I fell into the 2 percent. Was not a good candidate and lost all vision in my dominant eye. Ask if your vitreous has fully separated. Youth, high myopia and diabetes are all risk factors.
Be AWARE that they are SELLING" you a service - not cause you need it, but because you could use it and insurance pays for it.

And beware of the 4000 dollar per eye upsell for the laser

quote:

Originally posted by oldbill123:
It is great if it works and hell if it does not. Be aware that you are being "sold" the procedure much like a car salesman. Most people over 50 have cataracts. Doesn't mean you need to do anything if they are not bothering you. They will tout that it is 98 % problem free. You need to evaluate your risk factor. I fell into the 2 percent. Was not a good candidate and lost all vision in my dominant eye. Ask if your vitreous has fully separated. Youth, high myopia and diabetes are all risk factors.
Be AWARE that they are SELLING" you a service - not cause you need it, but because you could use it and insurance pays for it.

I understand they are selling services like any other service business. I've known for a long time I needed glasses because like I said I have carried readers for a number of years now and they are becoming more of a permanent fixture on my face than they are in my pocket. I am getting my prescription glasses in about a week. I want to see if I notice a big improvement over my readers. The optometrist says she can only correct the left side the right with the catarac cannot be corrected through a lens.

The optometrist was so insistent she schedule the consultation with the surgeon today that it almost alarmed me as if there was something she wasn't telling me. I have heard that a eye exam can also reveal symptoms of other diseases.

Then after awhile I thought maybe I'm being up sold into something.

They usually implant iol's. Pick distance, midrange or reading. Then you may need glasses for the other ranges. Afterwards , you will probably also have to get the after cataract cataract procedure with the laser. Glare may be an issue. Most seem happy with the outcome. As stated I was sold the procedure and never advised I was a poor candidate and waiting longer would have been beneficial.
My new MD. cannot understand what benefit I received by paying the 4 grand for the laser upgrade. I suspect it borders on unethical. He is seeing a lot of unsatisfied patients from my old Doc's practice. He was too old - late 70's - and I think he lost a step or three. Practice was sold but they kept his name on it and he was there daily.
Maybe get a couple of second opinions

Good luck
Procedure was pain free

I used to go to an optometrist for my eye exam/glasses work. The optometrist suggested I was slowly developing cataracts. - plus I had been wearing low power glasses per their dignosis/exam and by the way, I was'nt going to an 'el cheapo' optometrist cattle car outfit, but a rather pricey boutique clinic .

I had pain in my eye therefore went to see a renowned Opthamologist.

No 1. He examined me. He told me I didn't need glasses whatsoever

No.2. Said I was definitely NOT developing cataracts

This diagnosis was done approximately 5/6 years ago.

I still don't wear glasses and I've seen him twice over the years.

Plus, I've one friend who at 85 had cataract surgery and said it was easy and simple.

I had both eyes done about ten years back. My cataracts were the kind that develop from a blow to the head as opposed to the lens becoming cloudy with age. I don't think that makes a difference in the procedure. The operations were pieces of cake, nothing to get anxious about.

I was seeing better within a couple of hours of the first operation and I have never needed glasses, although I do wear readers for close-up detail work.

I had both of mine done a week apart 5 years ago. They don't put you to sleep but do put you in lala land for the procedure. I went from being legally blind without my glasses to not needing them at all. They did one eye for distance and one for reading. A week or so of discomfort was well worth it.

quote:

The optometrist was so insistent she schedule the consultation with the surgeon today that it almost alarmed me as if there was something she wasn't telling me. I have heard that a eye exam can also reveal symptoms of other diseases.

Then after awhile I thought maybe I'm being up sold into something.

When it comes to medical procedures, second opinions are best. A good eye exam can reveal evidence of other issues such as undiagnosed diabetes etc. In certain instances referral fees are involved. I am not saying that is the case in your situation. Cataract surgery is not reimbursed at the level it once was through the Medicare program, therefore it is less lucrative than it once was. Retinal specialists are the big earners these days.

Not as lucrative. This is why they push for advanced IOL's, laser measuring, and double book procedures. Will the doctor and anesthesiologist be present 100 percent of the time. Are they concerned about what is in your best interest or how they can maximize money from you. This is not the way most of us think about healthcare providers. It may be all about the money and what they can get from you and your insurance.

I have nearly no idea what I'm talking about so be patient. I wasn't seeing so good so I went to the eye doctor recommended by the lady my wife volunteers for. They're all nurses and tend to believe each other. The fool who used to do my annual eye exams was kind of a jerk.

The guy who did mine had a last name like JaWeed. I'm guessing Pakastani. But he spoke perfect English and made a lot of sense. Medicare pays for the standard lens. There are different upgrades and I selected the one that is a Fresnel lens. Its only side effect was the halo's around bright lights. Its been over a year and I still see them. Its multifocal so I see fairly well up close, really well at a distance. I'm thinking its biased that way.

I got to wear a pirates eye patch for a day or so on each eye. Same patch, just flipped it around when they did the other eye.

I was nervous going in. Probably as nervous about my wife's driving as anything else. It took probably an hour for each eye, from walking in the door to staggering back out. All kinds of rules to keep me from rubbing the eye, etc. I hate eye drops and they live by them. That was the worst part.

I see so well now that I can determine if its a tank or a tanker truck trying to run me down. Don't use reading glasses on my laptop these days. I can't read newspapers these days, but don't remember why I'd want to. I do carry my old "Krogers" brand every day. I've noticed they are always dirty. Means I don't use them much and they have plenty of time to get dirty. Or maybe its my dirty thoughts rubbing off on them.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Cataract surgery is not reimbursed at the level it once was through the Medicare program

My procedure was covered 100%. I had a couple of $45 fees for eye drops, and I paid another $45 for the Rx for new glasses, but that was it.

Year and a half later, the YAG capsulotomy to clean up the haze on the IOL was 100T covered as well.

quote:

Originally posted by fiasconva:
They don't put you to sleep but do put you in lala land for the procedure.

That's optional. I chose to have mine done with nothing but the numbing eye drops. Personal preference, I do not do well with sedatives, tranquilizers, etc. They make me very disoriented, throw-uppy, very unpleasant.

With the numbing drops there was absolutely no pain. Very mild discomfort from the feeling of pushing, prodding, tugging, but there was zero pain. The whole procedure in the OR was less than ten minutes.

quote:

Originally posted by synthplayer:
If they offer you valium, take it. All of your apprehension will be alleviated, and you'll hardly even remember much of the experience. I needed it for the first eye, but after "seeing" how easy it was, I didn't need it the second time.

Yes, intraveneous valium is good stuff, it will completely and totally take your mind off of the surgery. I used to get it in the emergency room for multiple shoulder reductions (both sides) when I was young. I would tell jokes while the nurses anchored my torso with a sheet with the MD on the other side of the table pulling and twisting my shoulder back into place. It took more than one nurse to counteract the Dr's pulling because my muscles were tight, because I was bodybuilding and powerlifting at the time. The Valuim is very effective and safe if you're not alergic. Nothing for you to worry about.

Had mine scheduled for 11:10 and was walking out of the office at 11:50, piece of cake. They work on you so fast you won't have time to think about what's being done.

You don't want to go under a general anesthetic if you can avoid it. For years, studies have shown that people's cognitive ability slows a bit for quite some time after being put under a general anesthetic, and the older you are, the more pronounced the effect.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
You don't want to go under a general anesthetic if you can avoid it. For years, studies have shown that people's cognitive ability slows a bit for quite some time after being put under a general anesthetic, and the older you are, the more pronounced the effect.

After effects for me include vertigo, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, lasting as long as two or three days.

I have these symptoms to a lesser degree with any type of narcotic, tranquilizer, sedative, etc.

A few days after the surgery for my hip / thigh reinforcing rod implants, I was moved from the hospital to a residential rehab center. I had a major battle with the nurse at the hospital who wanted to give me a morphine shot so I "would be comfortable for the ride." Nope. Not gonna happen.

If a procedure can be done with a local, nerve block, etc., that will always be my choice.