topic Re: Needing some advice..... in Community Chat

Needing some advice.....

sophiamarie — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 19:48:35 GMT

Okay, so I got back from the Ophthalmologist yesterday afternoon to get examined for my cataract surgery in both eyes (not at the same time).....

He gave me the option of Mono or Multi focal lens. With the Multi, I probably won't need glasses anymore and with the Mono, I will still need glasses to read.

There is a substantial cost to the Multi, because Medicare doesn't pay for them, as they are considered cosmetic only. I jumped on the Multi as soon as I heard I probably will never need glasses again and he said I have up until the day of the surgery to make up my mind and he is ordering both the Mono and Multi just in case I change my mind at the last minute.... I only use my glasses to read - not for distance, driving, watching TV, etc... I also have computer glasses, which I might not need at all no matter which lenses I choose.

Has anyone gotten the Multi's? Are they worth it? Are there any drawbacks? Any information would be greatly appreciated. We asked him if he could put one Multi in one eye and one Mono in the other eye and he said they don't do that. It would be like using different tires on your car??????

I am scheduled for the right eye (because I am right-handed and left brain dominent) for what that's worth.

TIA

Re: Needing some advice.....

Elstongunn — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:05:05 GMT

Wow, I had no idea they could do that!

I hope others will weigh in with their experience and advice. I'm interested in looking into this.

Re: Needing some advice.....

dooBdoo — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:59:38 GMT

sophiamarie, I wanted to move this up in case someone has information to offer. I don't have any experience with this, but my ophthalmologist has told me I have a likelihood of developing early cataracts as a result of all the steroids I've been given to treat intractable migraine cycles.

Sending you good wishes!

Re: Needing some advice.....

sophiamarie — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 21:30:32 GMT

Thanks ladies - I hope someone has some information.

I know there have been other cataract threads here but I know people don't tend to read them if they have already posted on them. I am one of those who doesn't go back to a thread if I have posted and am not waiting for a reply.

Thanks again and I will bump this up if I see it is heading south......

Re: Needing some advice.....

Love my grandkids — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 21:30:38 GMT

I had the same option but the multi lenses were waaaay too expensive for me. If I could have afforded that cash outlay, I would have gone for it.

Now I have new glasses for driving and use from the drugstore magnifiers for reading. Don't need either for watching TV or reading thing across the room like I did *before* cataract surgery. Wish you all the best.

Re: Needing some advice.....

sophiamarie — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 23:02:33 GMT

bumping up

Re: Needing some advice.....

Sister Golden Hair — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 23:52:52 GMT

If you can afford the better lens then I would do it. I think it would be wonderful not to have to wear glasses, even reading glasses.

I didn't have the option for the lens because of all the damage to my eye.

Re: Needing some advice.....

Kachina624 — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 01:14:00 GMT

What is the difference in price?

Re: Needing some advice.....

sophiamarie — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 02:00:47 GMT

On 8/14/2014 kachina624 said: What is the difference in price?

$5,000.00.......................

Re: Needing some advice.....

Kachina624 — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 02:55:24 GMT

Wow, no wonder they didn't mention it to me.

Re: Needing some advice.....

sophiamarie — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 03:31:59 GMT

On 8/14/2014 kachina624 said: Wow, no wonder they didn't mention it to me.

He told us to go home and do some research before I make up my mind. I was sold the minute he said I would never need glasses again (that is, unless my Rx needs to be changed) and that is a consideration. (my husband had the credit card out already - I had to slap his hand).....

Now, after reading up on all the pros and cons, I don't think I would want them if they were free, because it's something I would have to get used to and I don't like change. Maybe if I were like 40 or so, I would jump on it but just for the sake of not wearing glasses???? Nah, I don't think so. They also have a tendency to "move" and that's another problem. He showed me the Mono and the Multi "samples" and they certainly do look much different, but still, I could put that money to better use.

That's probably why he is ordering both the Mono and Multi - just because there are patients like me, who change their mind on the last day. I'm glad I read all the stuff out there. There is so much information, it's mind-boggling.

Now, I have to be "cleared" by my Cardiologist on Wednesday and have the eye done next Monday, the 25th. I will go home with a patch until the next day, when I go back to see him and the other eye will be done two weeks later if all goes well. He would have done it the following week but it's Labor Day and he only operates on Mondays. He said it's better to wait anyway.....

Re: Needing some advice.....

raven-blackbird — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 03:43:49 GMT

I wear contacts and I tried the Multi/Progressive lenses..........didn't work so good for me......i switched to Mono vision lenses.......they told me they would take some getting used to......but I had to ask them what I was supposed to get used to because I see now like I used to before I needed corrective lenses.......my doc said he suspected as much.......he said that I had always been a mono vision person (one eye sees distance, one eye see close up), was born that way...................................raven

Re: Needing some advice.....

Love my grandkids — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 04:10:44 GMT

The multi lenses for me would have been $3,000-$4,000 each, no way.

Re: Needing some advice.....

hckynut — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 17:46:34 GMT

I went with a Multi-focal in my left eye and a Mono-focal in my right eye and I no longer need to wear my trifocals. I paid $1700 for the Multi procedure.