Cataract surgery and Light Adjustable Lens

[Complete Turf Care]

Today is my annual eye doctor appointment and I am considering Lens replacement surgery. I have astigmatism and cataracts are starting to develop.

My insurance will pay for basic cataract surgery, but there are options for improved lenses.

Has anyone had experience with Light Adjustable Lens? These are lenses that are implanted into the eye just like regular cataract lens replacement, but the new lens can be 'fine tuned' to achieve almost perfect vision, after the initial surgery. This is done by treating the new lens with ultra violet light, after it has been installed.

Seems like a good option, but it is still a fairly new technology.

 

[KennyG]

With newer technology you just have to talk with your doctor and get the best qualified advice you can. Don't go with random internet chatter.

It is definitely wise to pay the extra and get the best option. This will be the vision you have for the rest of your life. I went with the extended range and now have 20/15 vision and only need reading glasses in low light.

Astigmatism probably isn't a big issue. Make sure you confirm with you doctor if you have it. When I was young I had astigmatism and could only wear hard contacts. When I was going to have the cataract surgery my doctor explained that astigmatism often goes away as you age and I could have been wearing soft contacts for years.

 

[gsganzer]

I had both eyes done last January with multi-focal lenses at Key-Whitman Eye Center in Dallas. Probably the largest eye center in my area. I don't remember those lenses being an option, but I just ran into an acquaintance that just had the light adjustable lenses done at the same place mine were done, so they must be using them now.

I've been happy with my multi-focals, although I do get some halo's and starbursts at night with certain lights while driving. But it hasn't been an issue at all. I do a lot of night hunting with thermal scopes and such and it hasn't caused any issues with that at all.

I can do most daily routines without glasses, but if I'll be reading small print or a book, I'll use some cheap 1.25 readers.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

After visiting with my doctor, we have decided to wait until Medicare kicks in before doing the surgery. I will turn 65 in April of 2025 and I think I can wait that long. This will save me the $4500 deductible I currently have. However, the added cost for the newer lenses is about $5000 (for both eyes) and Medicare nor my current insurance will cover that extra cost.

She recommended that I not go with the Light Adjustabe Lenses because they are still new technology and long term results are not known. I also think she recommended against these, because she does not install them.

She did offer a choice between a PanOptix lens and a Vivity lens. I will research those more before making a decision.

 

[BravoXray]

She recommended that I not go with the Light Adjustabe Lenses because they are still new technology and long term results are not known. I also think she recommended against these, because she does not install them.

I'm always apprehensive on going all-in on any new technology that is new or version 1.0. The initial adopters are no more than testers that pay for the privilege of finding all the unfixed bugs or problems.

 

[rgr33]

I don’t know the name of the lenses, but My wife opted for one close up focused lens, and the other side is for distance vision
The end result is that she can’t see either worth a darn. She regrets the choice now, as she has to wear glasses for most of the things she does during the day

I went with. Distance lenses, which work well, but can’t read most print without reading glasses. I am happy with that choice

 

[CliffordK]

Astigmatism probably isn't a big issue. Make sure you confirm with you doctor if you have it. When I was young I had astigmatism and could only wear hard contacts. When I was going to have the cataract surgery my doctor explained that astigmatism often goes away as you age and I could have been wearing soft contacts for years.

I have astigmatism. In the mid 90's I opted for soft contacts called "Toric Lenses". They're weighted at the bottom and can orient to your eyes. The biggest problem is that if one naps with the contacts in, they stick to the eyes out of focus.

I never found the to be particularly comfortable, then since the early 2000's, I started wearing safety glasses (no side shields) all the time. For my way of life, it is a good idea to have at least something in front of the eyeballs.

I suppose eventually I'll need cataract lenses, and will choose whatever gives the best performance.

 

[KennyG]

I don’t know the name of the lenses, but My wife opted for one close up focused lens, and the other side is for distance vision
The end result is that she can’t see either worth a darn. She regrets the choice now, as she has to wear glasses for most of the things she does during the day

I went with. Distance lenses, which work well, but can’t read most print without reading glasses. I am happy with that choice

I understand some people like the mismatched correction. I would suggest anyone considering it first get a pair of contacts that way. I tried that and felt like I was on drugs - really bad drugs.

 

[QRTRHRS]

A friend went with the Panoptic lenses then went home and bailed hay. All that money and he has had a lot of problems.

I "opted" for distance after a lifetime of near sightedness. I had no line safety glasses with no side shield made up.

I may not be able to find fly dung in a jar of pepper as my supervisor would say when I worked in quality assurance but i do okay.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I went see my doctor today to schedule my surgery. She will do the first eye next Monday (memorial day), and the second eye 3 weeks after that.

I decided to go with a multifocal lens which will cost me $5000 over what Medicare will pay. I have been ready for this for years. I just don't like wearing glasses.

 

[Jaybr]

I had both eyes done in fall of 2023 and very happy with results. I had astigmatism and went with multifocal lenses. I still need readers but anything past about arm length is 20/20.

 

[gsganzer]

Good luck. It worked well with me, with no regrets. I wish the same for you.

 

[BackRoad]

Good luck Mr. Complete Turf! Please kindly keep us informed of your insights (see what I did there ).

It may be a future procedure for some of us, but who knows how far away that future is!

 

[Engineer42]

I went see my doctor today to schedule my surgery. She will do the first eye next Monday (memorial day), and the second eye 3 weeks after that.

I decided to go with a multifocal lens which will cost me $5000 over what Medicare will pay. I have been ready for this for years. I just don't like wearing glasses.

I had both eyes done in 21'. Best thing I've done in years. Hope all goes well.

 

[scootr]

I don’t know the name of the lenses, but My wife opted for one close up focused lens, and the other side is for distance vision
The end result is that she can’t see either worth a darn. She regrets the choice now, as she has to wear glasses for most of the things she does during the day

I went with. Distance lenses, which work well, but can’t read most print without reading glasses. I am happy with that choice

my sister went with the close vision in one eye and far vision in the other and couldn't be happier. I went with far vision and I have to carry around readers to do anything besides drive or shoot. Working on the car, reading, using a computer, eating, all requires glasses. I got readers scattered all over the place so I can find a pair when needed...it's kind of a PIA.

 

[KennyG]

my sister went with the close vision in one eye and far vision in the other and couldn't be happier. I went with far vision and I have to carry around readers to do anything besides drive or shoot. Working on the car, reading, using a computer, eating, all requires glasses. I got readers scattered all over the place so I can find a pair when needed...it's kind of a PIA.

I got the multifocus or whatever they are called. Expensive, but I only need reading glasses for dim light or very small print. If considering the near/far correction I would suggest trying it with contact lens first. I tried it and got sick.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I went to get my eyes checked and found out I have cataracts.. 1st appointment with the eye surgeon is July 2nd..
I guess they didn’t think it was “life threatening”?? Lol

What r some questions I should ask.. this is my first barbecue..

 

[workinonit]

I just had my second eye done last week. Still on the drops. My doc wouldn't use any of the new lens as the sample size is not large enough yet to get a good read on the success. I did have the multi-focal lens installed and don't need glasses for anything except writing that so small you can't see it. Good luck.

 

[Shenandoah MF1760]

The wife had both of her eyes done around 5 years ago. Nothing too fancy just got rid of the cataracts, corrected her vision to 20/20 and has blue-blocking in the lenses.

I've always joked that I was going to wait for photo-grey and x-ray vision. I'm not sure if light-adjustable and photo-grey are the same thing, but I've been wearing glasses that darken with sunlight for over 30 years (I can lose a pair of sunglasses quicker than an 10mm socket) and my experience is that they all gradually get darker with time and I'd worry that the same may occur with those lenses as well.

Personally, I'd wait until that tech is fully proven. If it's still around in 5 years then maybe I'd embrace it.

 

[KennyG]

I went to get my eyes checked and found out I have cataracts.. 1st appointment with the eye surgeon is July 2nd..
I guess they didn’t think it was “life threatening”?? Lol

What r some questions I should ask.. this is my first barbecue..

You've probably had cataracts to some extent for perhaps years. They progress very slowly, but never get better. There are three or four levels of correction and they should all be explained to you. Only the basic is covered by Medicare and most insurance. The better options will require you to pay.

The basic just gets rid of the cataracts. You don't have any vision correction and will live the rest of your life with the vision you have now plus the normal loss of near vision. The next step will correct you to about 20/20 but you will still need reading glasses. The multi focus will give you better near vision. The option of near/far correction will probably give you near perfect correction both near and far but may have some impact on depth perception, etc.

Most people end up saying it's the best illness they ever had because the correction science is so good now.