Cataracts

mshchem · Apr 10, 2021

I've got just the beginning traces of cataracts in both eyes. I had perfect vision until I hit early 40's. Then readers for a few years, now glasses to do anything. I have astigmatism, progressive multi coated lenses, ordinary frames. I recently splurged after putting it off. I bought 3 new pairs no vision coverage for the actual glasses. My insurance pays for a real MD, ophthalmologist. I spent close to 1700 USD on the 3 pairs of glasses.

beemermark · Apr 11, 2021

voceumana said:
My doctor says the Torx lenses are $700 per eye, and which Medicare doesn't cover--don't know if my supplement kicks in anything, but I'd be happy to pay $700 per eye to get to 90% of 20/20 without glasses and fix the rest with prescription lenses. My vision without glasses is in the range of 20/400, and over half my correction is for astigmatism, so I've got in the range of 2 diopters for astigmatism. It really makes it hard to do anything without glasses and makes camera work difficult. My prescription has been changing throughout my life, so I don't expect what I get will be perfect or be the same forever--glasses will fix what needs to be corrected as I go. High index lenses don't work for me because of the astigmatism--common with high levels of astigmatism. My last pair was in the range of $450, so $1400 for the pair of Torx isn't hard for me to swallow.

The multifocal lenses are very pricey but..... I had 20/200 with astigmatism in both eyes vision all my life and about 10 or more years ago I had Lasik performed on one eye. It's called monovision and with both eyes open I now had 20/30 vision (ruined with cataracts). Monovision has problems but was way better than being almost blind without glasses. But getting cataract surgery in the next week I really wanted to be able to see near and far without expensive glasses. I have a number of friends that did the multifocal lenses and they love it. As my one friend said, I can see like when I only 20 years old. I probably still need cheap reading glasses but not expensive progressive lenses. I would have needed something like a 3+ or greater for reading and 2+ for 3' to 5' just correcting the astigmatism and distance vision. Might have to sell some Leica stuff to pay for it.

eli griggs · Apr 11, 2021

The VA is a out to fix my 'Nuclear' cataracts and fix my distant vision at the same time.

We've been waiting until my diabetes hits a stable average, and I've started the injections four times daily, and may be able to get the operation done very soon.

I'm lucky I have the VA doing this, as I could no do this on our budget, and as I try to plan and assemble the things I need for a cross country road trip, it will be so much nicer to see without bifocals, needing reading lenses only.

If you are a vet, see what your VA can do for you.

Martin Rickards · Apr 11, 2021

Thank heavens I am covered by Spanish public health care.No up front payments or paper work.

MartinCrabtree · Apr 11, 2021

Yes........I will resist voicing my feelings on the health care here in the States. I know too much as Mom was a hospital administrator for 32 years.

Dan Fromm · Apr 11, 2021

Interesting and enlightening discussion. I've had detectable (by my ophthalmologist, not by me) cataracts for a while. My vision in both eyes is still corrected to 20/20, the cataracts are "not clinically significant." That's nice, but eventually I'll have to have the lenses replaced so the stories in this thread are encouraging.

I'm a little surprised that so many posters have and can live with progressive lenses in their eyeglasses. I bought some ages ago and found that the variable power distorted shapes. Circles looked oval. I couldn't stand the effect so after a month of trying I went back to trifocals. Comments on this observation, please.

Sirius Glass · Apr 11, 2021

I prefer contact lenses to progressive lenses in the eyeglasses, however during the COVID pandemic it is easier to just wear the progressive eyeglasses since I am inside most of the time. This week for my coming 75th birthday I am going to Yosemite and I will wear the one contact lens [the other eye has the implant].

DWThomas · Apr 11, 2021

Dan Fromm said:
I'm a little surprised that so many posters have and can live with progressive lenses in their eyeglasses. I bought some ages ago and found that the variable power distorted shapes. Circles looked oval. I couldn't stand the effect so after a month of trying I went back to trifocals. Comments on this observation, please.

I eventually got used to it -- the brain is an amazing "analog" image processor! When I first got progressive lenses, I started down the stairs at the office and almost panicked -- the steps appeared to have about an 8 foot radius! I'm now long retired and have had cataract surgery in both eyes, I chose the long distance vision, but still have enough astigmatism that I wear progressives full time. It's not like being twenty, but I do well enough (at a few months short of 80) to have no particular complaints.

Edit: I might add I believe there are a number of different makers of progressive lenses and some may be better than others in terms of field of view effectiveness. As usual, it likely also depends on the amount of correction needed. I've been buying glasses online from Zenni the last few years. It means I have to tweak the frames a bit, but so far, so good. I've typically paid about $150 a pair,

MattKing · Apr 11, 2021

The middle part of my progressives is almost flat glass - no correction.
So for me, the distortion is rarely an issue.

voceumana · Apr 11, 2021

Dan Fromm said:
Interesting and enlightening discussion. I've had detectable (by my ophthalmologist, not by me) cataracts for a while. My vision in both eyes is still corrected to 20/20, the cataracts are "not clinically significant." That's nice, but eventually I'll have to have the lenses replaced so the stories in this thread are encouraging.

I'm a little surprised that so many posters have and can live with progressive lenses in their eyeglasses. I bought some ages ago and found that the variable power distorted shapes. Circles looked oval. I couldn't stand the effect so after a month of trying I went back to trifocals. Comments on this observation, please.

I also cannot use progressive lenses and have tri-focals. I'm sure my astigmatism strength is part of the issue. I tried contacts, but they made my tears turn milky, so I was always looking through fog. I gave up.

As to the state of medical care in the USA, much depends on where you live and what insurance you have. That's unfortunate, because we should all have good affordable coverage. I'm fortunate in that I've got access to an excellent healthcare provider. I have Medicare and a good supplemental plan, so I don't have to pay for much of anything outside of the premiums, But lots of retired folks can't afford that.

Pieter12 · Apr 11, 2021

voceumana said:
I have Medicare and a good supplemental plan, so I don't have to pay for much of anything outside of the premiums

One issue is unless you have a Medicare HMO, the supplemental plans only cover what Medicare covers--which is not everything.

Cataracts

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