My patients often ask me questions that are likely concerns shared by many others who are contemplating vision surgery. So I’ve decided to begin sharing these questions and the corresponding answers in hopes that it will help you become more informed about your options. I invite any of you who have questions about cataract or laser eye surgery, to post them here, and I’ll reply with an answer.
–Dr. Horn
Q: Does Medicare pay any of the expenses for cataract removal surgery and lens replacement to correct vision? I have been wearing bifocal contact lenses for years but now I have cataracts. I have my reading vision in one eye and distance vision in the other.
A: That is a great question. Medicare provides for cataract extraction with a standard monofocal (fixed focus) lens implant. Patients with this type of lens typically see much better than before cataract surgery, but our data shows that most patients with these lenses still need glasses for many tasks, including reading. I use aspheric implants for my standard implant as these are advanced technology lenses which can help improve contrast sensitivity and night vision. Again, this is provided for by Medicare.
There are other lenses which can correct astigmatism, further reducing the need for glasses. Medicare does not provide for astigmatism correction, so this is an option which is partially subsidized by Medicare, but there would be an additional out of pocket cost born by the patient. Of course, this reduces the need for buying expensive bifocals, so it can help to save money in the long run. The lens I use for this is the Alcon Acrysof Toric, for which I had the honor of being one of 11 investigators in the US selected for the FDA approval process.
Lastly, there are lenses which correct for presbyopia, which helps restore the range of focus one had when they were younger. According to our data, these lenses most significantly reduce the need for glasses for all or most tasks compared with standard or toric lenses. Medicare will cover the cataract surgery, and a portion of the lens cost. The patient pays for the non-covered portion of the presbyopia lens and physician’s care.
The choice for deciding which lens is, of course, yours. We pride ourselves on offering and being very experienced with all the options, allowing you to make the best, most informed, decision for yourself and your vision needs.
I hope this is helpful. If you have any more questions, please let me know. I would love to see you in the office and evaluate you to best determine which option, if any, best fits your needs and desires. Please feel free to contact us at 615-329-9575 for an evaluation.
Sincerely,
Jeff Horn, MD
Medical Director
Vision For Life
2011 Church Street, Suite 801
Nashville, TN 37203
615-329-9575
I just arrived in Kauai for the annual Hawaiian Eye Meeting, one of the largest and most popular ophthalmology meetings in the world. I am honored to have been selected as a guest speaker for the last 5 years.
This year I am speaking on “The Use of Pupillometry to Help Determine Selection of Premium IOLs”. Pupillometry involves the measurement of the pupil diameter in bright and dim light. It is a vital measurement when selecting lens implants for cataract surgery but overlooked by most surgeons.
