Default Cataract surgery, which option should I go for?

[Trout Bum]

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I am looking at having cataract surgery.

I have 3 basic choices:

1) Only replace the lens that corrects for the cataract. I would still need reading and distance glasses do to my high level of astigmatism. Cost about $500.00.

2) Have a special Toric lens put in to correct for the astigmatism and cataract for an additional $2,400.00, total cost $2,900.00. I would still need reading glasses.

3) Go for the whole shot and have Tecnis Multifocal lens put in that would correct all vision problems for an additional $4,400.00, total cost $4,900.00.

None of the above carry any type of guarantee to correct what what they are designed too but they are said to have a +90% success rate.

Anyone ever had any of the above options done and what's you opinion/experience?

[skiptomylu]

I had my lens implants several years ago and after was the first time I didn't need glasses or contacts since I was 25 years old. I could have taken a less expensive lens, but I wanted it see both near and far at least well enough I don't need glasses. One eye is a lot better than the other, but so far I still don't have to wear glasses and hope it stays like this, but even if later I have to get a correction via glasses it will be still worth it to me. I could have even spent more and gone for a better lens, but this Doc said even if he was doing a family member he would also choose what I did and only if I was say an airline pilot or something like that would he recommend the ones that would have cost a good bit more. I don't know how to compare the lens your choosing from, but personally I would take the one that cost more so you have the chance of not needing glasses! Just my opinion though!

[Billbob]

[Barnacle Bill]

Mine are scheduled to be done next month and I am going with the standard and it won't cost me anything out of pocket. I look at it this way. I have been wearing glasses since I was in the 1st grade and am now 71 years old. Longevity does not run in my family. So not having to wear glasses is no big deal to me. If I was 20-30 years younger it would be different.

[slabby joe]

Had cataract surgery in september and I went with mono focal lenses, one far sighted the other for near, this was covered by insurance but I also had them do the LRI procedure for my mild astigmatism in both eyes ( they make a small incision in each eye) and this cost $600 per eye. I still need low power reading glasses for low light conditions but sure is an improvement with brighter colors and definition. I didn't want to spend the thousands of dollars for the multi-focus lenses especially after talking to a friend who got them and still needed reading glasses in low light conditions and she also still had halos around lights ( this was supposed to go away after 90-120 days but it had been several years since her surgery) I consulted with my Optometriest and went with his suggestions and also considered what I learned from talking to friends familar with this procedure. I would definitely ask about the LRI procedure if you have an astigmatism as this can improve the end result immensely. This is jmho and I'm sure like Skiptomylou has said the Multi-focus lenses can work great for alot of people, so do some research and then you can make a comfortable decision but whatever you do it'll be a vast improvement over cataracts.

[Clint]

I like you had very bad astigmatisms and got the Toric lenses and am glad I did. I still need reading glasses but my distance vision is now 15/20. I had a pair of glasses made that are bifocals with the bottom reading glasses and the top plain, so I don't have to keep taking reading glasses off and on. I love not having to wear my glasses when I go out in the rain and in the boat. I use a set of flip-down magnifiers that attach to the bill of my hat when I am fishing so I can see to tie knots and such.

What I hear about the Multifocals is that you have to learn where to look out of what part of your eye depending on the distance you are trying to see. I thought that was too much effort (and $).

Good luck and lets us know how it comes out.

[Trout Bum]

I like you had very bad astigmatisms and got the Toric lenses and am glad I did. I still need reading glasses but my distance vision is now 15/20. I had a pair of glasses made that are bifocals with the bottom reading glasses and the top plain, so I don't have to keep taking reading glasses off and on. I love not having to wear my glasses when I go out in the rain and in the boat. I use a set of flip-down magnifiers that attach to the bill of my hat when I am fishing so I can see to tie knots and such.

What I hear about the Multifocals is that you have to learn where to look out of what part of your eye depending on the distance you are trying to see. I thought that was too much effort (and $).

Good luck and lets us know how it comes out.

Do you have any trouble seeing the graph on your boat without any glasses.

Thanks!

[Clint]

Do you have any trouble seeing the graph on your boat without any glasses.

No - BUT - I use a small DF made by Bottom Line which does not have the amount of detail the big units have.

[Gindog]

My mother-N-law is a eye dr and said number 2 is all she do.

[losthunter]

i did the toric 5 years ago ,,had worn glasses since i was 12 ,,52 years old now and with the toric implants dont need lasses any more

one thin you may need to know with very small print you may need reading lasses with toric implants ,,, mine costed me about 6000 dollars