topic Re: Need Cataract Surgery in Wellness

Need Cataract Surgery

Jordan2 — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:30:56 GMT

I had surgery done on my left eye four years ago, I now need it on my right (I'm not even that old). I had to change ophthalmologists since my doctor was dropped from my insurance company's roster. I went to a place that has several offices throughout Nassau County and Suffolk County in New York. This place was like a factory, the assistants do so much of the exam that I was use to my doctor doing. Anyway I need surgery, it's not done in a hospital, they have their own eye surgery facility. The doctor only does surgeries twice a month on Wednesdays (there are a lot of doctors in the various offices this doctor was one of two that accepted my insurance, the one I wanted to see didn't have an in office appointment until March 31). So my appointment is May 6, which I'm very unhappy about. My cataract is so bad, I can't see much out of my eye and it's very blurry. I know I will be miserable for over two months.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

nana59 — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:48:24 GMT

sounds like the kind of facility where i had my cataract surgery.....

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Jordan2 — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:58:06 GMT

@nana59 wrote:
sounds like the kind of facility where i had my cataract surgery.....

It's not like I had a lot of options.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

patbz — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 16:58:29 GMT

I live in a small mountain community and the only place that does it locally is Dulaney and Perkins. The in house ophthalmologist was very hands on and I was very happy with post up on both eyes. DH is going to need this next year but the problem now is that shortly after I had my surgeries my doctor went deer hunting and fell out of the deer stand and is now a paraplegic! He still does exams but can't operate all the equipment during surgery (he is researching work arounds) so at least for now they have an out of town doctor doing the surgeries.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

AuntG — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:10:14 GMT

They move you in and out pretty fast like an assembly line. You obviously need the surgery so I wouldn't turn back.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Kachina624 — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:52:05 GMT

@patbz Your dh could always come to Albuquerque or Phoenix. I had mine done by the othomologist at Eye Associates in Rio Rancho.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

BklynKinsey — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:56:53 GMT

I recently had cataract surgery -- right eye in Dec., left eye in Jan. I was referred to this particular ophthalmologist/eye surgeon by another ophthalmologist because I had previously had Lasik surgery and this new doctor had experience with that type of patient history. He had excellent credentials and many years experience.

This doctor has multiple offices and does his eye surgeries out of a private eye surgery center (owned by multiple eye surgeons). Yes, the experience was very much like what you initially experienced. Most initial tests and original exams were done by medical assistants and other doctors. Only then, do you get to be examined by the surgeon (I call him the "big cheese" . It was like a factory or an assembly line at the surgery center -- packed with patients, moving through the process.

I chose to have laser removal of my cataracts, a laser system to take detailed measurements after removal and before the new lens implants (which were premium trifocal lenses). This was all out-of-pocket and cost me $8,000 (beyond what Medicare and my supplemental paid for everything else).

I found all the staff at the surgeon's office and the surgery center to be very competent, very thorough, and very solicitous and pleasant.

Years ago, I, also, had been used to a doctor who did all the testing and exams himself, so this was all very different.

I continue to have checkups and lots of tests to make sure all is in order. I did have to have additional laser treatments because I developed something like secondary cataracts behind the new lenses -- a common condition but which usually develops years after cataract surgery -- mine developed immediately (lucky me). These laser treatments were done at the eye surgeon's office by the surgeon himself.

Yes, it was a strange experience, but I am glad it's over and I am on the other side of it.

I know it's hard to wait for your appointment. I wish you all the best.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

RedTop — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:01:11 GMT

My mom went to a top ophthalmologist in this area to remove her cataract; all of his procedures are done at a surgery center. The staff have the prep and care down to a science, so everything ran very smoothly, and mom was home in less than 3 hours.

Hopefully the next 2 months won’t be as hard as you fear.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

lovesrecess — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 03:26:54 GMT

I need to have a cataract removed in my left eye. It has been there a long time but is just now starting to j tenderer with my vision. My ophthalmologist, who I have seen for years, told me he didn’t do cataract surgery anymore and I would need to go to some big Cataracts R Us clinic. I am not looking forward to that setup at all.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Jordan2 — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 17:19:24 GMT

@lovesrecess wrote:
I need to have a cataract removed in my left eye. It has been there a long time but is just now starting to j tenderer with my vision. My ophthalmologist, who I have seen for years, told me he didn’t do cataract surgery anymore and I would need to go to some big Cataracts R Us clinic. I am not looking forward to that setup at all.

@lovesrecess It will be okay. The bad thing though about going to an office that has a good number of practices in other towns, the wait to get your cataract surgery is long. I have to wait until May 6, I can barely see anything out of my right eye ( what I can see is blurry), I will be miserable for over two months. The woman who arranges the surgeries did say she will keep me in mind for April 15 if she gets a cancellation ( my sister works in a school and will be on vacation).

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Nuttmeg — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 21:39:45 GMT

@Jordan2

I am old and my left eye is very cloudy. I will make a doctor appointment on Monday.

You will be fine. You do have a good eye.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Jordan2 — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 22:26:46 GMT

@Nuttmeg wrote:
@Jordan2
I am old and my left eye is very cloudy. I will make a doctor appointment on Monday.
You will be fine. You do have a good eye.

@Nuttmeg don't put it off. My mother got ill in mid October, she was in the hospital, rehab, home, back to the hospital. She died a month ago yesterday, I really didn't take care of myself while she was ill. I was kind of coping with my eye, but it seems in the last 10 days it has gotten so much worse (I also had very bad floaters). I feel like I can barely see out of my right eye, it's very annoying. I don't know if you are aware, there is a better lens you can get for your cataract surgery. It is not covered by insurance, my doctor charges $1,600. This is an out of pocket expense, I can't afford it, I have a high deductible and out of pocket maximum, I'll be paying plenty!

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Nuttmeg — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 00:02:37 GMT

@Jordan2

I will find a doctor in my area ASAP. My Medicare insurance should pay for surgery and regular lens. The fancy lenses are $4000 for both eyes. I will just wear reading glasses.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Jordan2 — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 21:46:32 GMT

Monday I was suppose to go to the ophthalmologist to have measurements on my eye for the surgery. I got a recorded message my appointment was cancelled. I was suppose to go for medical clearance to my PCP on Tuesday, I called to cancel since there is no urgency now, well they are closed and would have cancelled on me. Now I don't know when I'll have my surgery, probably at the earliest July. Meanwhile, I feel like I can barely see out of my eye. I know the doctors aren't to blame, but I am miserable.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Lindsays Grandma — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 05:03:32 GMT

@Jordan2 wrote:
Monday I was suppose to go to the ophthalmologist to have measurements on my eye for the surgery. I got a recorded message my appointment was cancelled. I was suppose to go for medical clearance to my PCP on Tuesday, I called to cancel since there is no urgency now, well they are closed and would have cancelled on me. Now I don't know when I'll have my surgery, probably at the earliest July. Meanwhile, I feel like I can barely see out of my eye. I know the doctors aren't to blame, but I am miserable.

@Jordan2 ...Since you are miserable and might have to wait until July, is there another eye doctor in your area you can see? I had both eyes done in 2014, loved my doctor and oh, what a difference it made, like night and day. Anyway, I wish you lots of luck and hope you can get it done sooner.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Jordan2 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 11:09:12 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma with my insurance I don't have a choice really. Anyway I already started with this doctor, besides I would probably have a wait for surgery anywhere I went.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Jordan2 — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 00:05:06 GMT

Well, it's official, my May 6 surgery has been cancelled! I am going to a new doctor, I have to say he is very nice. He has called me twice to keep me updated, he could have had someone from the office call me.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Silver Lining — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 20:43:32 GMT

@Jordan2, I'm sorry your cataract surgery has been postponed. Glad to know your doctor is so nice. That really helps! Hopefully, he can reschedule your surgery pretty soon.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Jordan2 — Mon, 04 May 2020 19:44:19 GMT

Wednesday May 6 was my cataract surgery, it was cancelled of course. Back at the end of February, I thought how will I last till May 6, now God knows when I'll get my surgery.

Re: Need Cataract Surgery

Jordan2 — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 22:11:18 GMT

I didn't want to say anything, I didn't want to jinx it, I had my cataract surgery today. What an ordeal to get the surgery! I had to get medical clearance, you weren't allowed into the office until they came for you ( no one other than the patient is allowed in). Then I went to the ophthalmologist where I had tests for measuring my eye for my lens ( I was there for over two hours) on Sunday three days before my surgery ( it had to be three days) I had a Covid Nasal Swab test. I sweated out getting my test results back in time ( a lot of people are getting their tests back late, no test results, no surgery). I found out today now you can get it five days before which is much better. My sister dropped me off for the surgery, family is not allowed in, she went home as it would take about three hours from start to finish. The surgery went well, I am sitting here with a humongous eye patch over my eye ( so annoying), which the doctor will take off tomorrow.