Eye Surgery

On 2015-04-14 00:09:06 +0000, MI said:

On 4/13/15, 3:16 PM, in article
, "Savageduck"
wrote:

On 2015-04-13 19:23:43 +0000, Gary Eickmeier said:

Savage -

My Opto says mine aren't bad enough to get the insurance to pay for the
operation.

Who are you seeing, an optometrist, or an opthamologist?
What insurance coverage do you have?
How old are you, and how comprehensive is your medical insurance?

I have cloudy, brownish darkish in my lenses,

Any spots or occlusions in the lens are termed cararacts. There are
different types and they can be positioned in different parts of the
lens. In my case they are positioned centrally, ans on the back
(retina) side of the lens. This creates a diffused shadow on the retina
with light passing through the lens, particularly for me, that shadow
falls on the sensitive fovea. So currently I live in a very soft focus
world

The main point is, does your condition reduce your visual acuity? If
so, is it in any way correctable with corrective lenses?
Again, refering to my situation, when I tested two years ago my visual
acuity was impaired and my optometist told me then that this surgery
would be in my future, and as much as he would like to prescribe new
glasses, they would change nothing. Last month, I returned to my
optometrist, who put me through some additional diagnostic test,
confirmed that he would not be able to help, and refered me to an
opthalmologist. The opthalmologist verified that diagnosis and ran
through my various options. We set the dated for the surgery and the
various pre-surgery tests & measurements.

but I need to have glaring rings around bright lights at night to qualify.

Why would that be the defining criterea for insurance? I certainly
don't have an issue with haloes around glaring lights at night. Yet my
vision is impared and uncorrectable without surgery, as diagnosed and
verified by two vision specialists.

It is hard to tell directly how bad it has gotten,

It shouldn't be, a full and comprehensive eye exam should reveal
exactly how bad it has gotten, it did for me. That testing included
retinal photography, a slit lamp exam, and opthalmoscopy. Add to those
standard visual acuity tests. You cannot trust just how much you can
accomodate the poor vision in your day-to-day life and how much you
discount it. I certainly do.

If you have decent insurance, you don't need to accept what some
insurance company clerk decided you qualify for. If your vision is
impaired, and only surgery can fix it, all that you should require is
confirmation of the diagnosis by the professional in the fild and just
what procdure he/she prescribs/advices to relieve you of the
impairment. If they don't accept that, or you eye guy tells you
similar, you should consider changing insurance and/or get a second
opinion from a different eye guy, or even you family doctor.
BTW: I currently have Medicare and an Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Supplement.


but I know my night vision hs gone down, and sometimes my color vision
tells me something that makes my wife laugh at my descriptions of the
colors of clothing.

As you know, it isn't particularly funny.

I want the operation.

The squeeky wheel gets the grease. You dont have to make your eye guy
happy. Complain.

Getting glasses tomorrow.

If they are some help that might buy you some time, but if they don't
improve things, remember your eye guy has a business selling glasses.
If he is responsible and has your interests in mind he should have
refered you to an opthalmologist.

I guess I'll just have to report some glare in my night vision next exam.

Why wai? Do it after you get this new set of glasses. If the problem
persists there is no need to wait for the next exam.

Please let me know how your vision improves and what the op was like.

I will post the progress report as it happens.

Gary Eickmeier


"Savageduck" wrote in message
...
It is all scheduled for my cataract surgery. Left eye on May 6, and
right eye on May 20. So my plans for new equipment is going to be
delayed until that is done.

--
Regards,

Savageduck


I find the bit about getting a prescription odd. I don't go to an
optometrist as I have diabetes.

Usually diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy issues and
occasionally cataracts, but typically you need to see an opthalmologist
who specializes in retina issues.

I always see an ophthalmologist. He said he would do the surgery
whenever I felt that my eyesight was impaired. He
refused to give me a prescription as it would only be correct for a short
space of time. He said no point wasting your money.

Exactly. That is why I wondered about Gary getting new glasses at this
stage, if his vision imparment is due to cataract which require a
surgical fix.

I do live in Canada, but eyeglasses aren't covered by our medical system.

For vision correction they are not covered by any typical medical
insurance. I have vision coverage through VSP as part of my pension
package.

The cataracts are a strictly medical issue and ar covered by medical
insurance. In my case MediCare + Blue Cross Supplement.

The rest of it is covered.
His description reminds me of how long you had to wait 45 years ago when my
mother had hers done. It didn't take 15 minutes either. They kept you in
hospital for 3 days then.

I think if I were Gary, I would be talking to my ophthalmologist. And see
what could be done to find another way to get my surgery.

Agreed. He needs to be vocal and proactive and his own advocate.

I wonder about the information.

So do I, and I hope I am wrong about his "eye guy" and the sort of
medical insurance coverage he has.

Of course I don't live in the US now, but I lived in California
for several years.

Good luck Gary, in getting proper care.

Agreed.


--
Regards,

Savageduck

On 2015-04-14 00:41:58 +0000, Savageduck said:

On 2015-04-14 00:09:06 +0000, MI said:

On 4/13/15, 3:16 PM, in article
, "Savageduck"
wrote:

On 2015-04-13 19:23:43 +0000, Gary Eickmeier said:

Savage -

My Opto says mine aren't bad enough to get the insurance to pay for the
operation.

Who are you seeing, an optometrist, or an opthamologist?
What insurance coverage do you have?
How old are you, and how comprehensive is your medical insurance?

I have cloudy, brownish darkish in my lenses,

Any spots or occlusions in the lens are termed cararacts. There are
different types and they can be positioned in different parts of the
lens. In my case they are positioned centrally, ans on the back
(retina) side of the lens. This creates a diffused shadow on the retina
with light passing through the lens, particularly for me, that shadow
falls on the sensitive fovea. So currently I live in a very soft focus
world

The main point is, does your condition reduce your visual acuity? If
so, is it in any way correctable with corrective lenses?
Again, refering to my situation, when I tested two years ago my visual
acuity was impaired and my optometist told me then that this surgery
would be in my future, and as much as he would like to prescribe new
glasses, they would change nothing. Last month, I returned to my
optometrist, who put me through some additional diagnostic test,
confirmed that he would not be able to help, and refered me to an
opthalmologist. The opthalmologist verified that diagnosis and ran
through my various options. We set the dated for the surgery and the
various pre-surgery tests & measurements.

but I need to have glaring rings around bright lights at night to qualify.

Why would that be the defining criterea for insurance? I certainly
don't have an issue with haloes around glaring lights at night. Yet my
vision is impared and uncorrectable without surgery, as diagnosed and
verified by two vision specialists.

It is hard to tell directly how bad it has gotten,

It shouldn't be, a full and comprehensive eye exam should reveal
exactly how bad it has gotten, it did for me. That testing included
retinal photography, a slit lamp exam, and opthalmoscopy. Add to those
standard visual acuity tests. You cannot trust just how much you can
accomodate the poor vision in your day-to-day life and how much you
discount it. I certainly do.

If you have decent insurance, you don't need to accept what some
insurance company clerk decided you qualify for. If your vision is
impaired, and only surgery can fix it, all that you should require is
confirmation of the diagnosis by the professional in the fild and just
what procdure he/she prescribs/advices to relieve you of the
impairment. If they don't accept that, or you eye guy tells you
similar, you should consider changing insurance and/or get a second
opinion from a different eye guy, or even you family doctor.
BTW: I currently have Medicare and an Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Supplement.


but I know my night vision hs gone down, and sometimes my color vision
tells me something that makes my wife laugh at my descriptions of the
colors of clothing.

As you know, it isn't particularly funny.

I want the operation.

The squeeky wheel gets the grease. You dont have to make your eye guy
happy. Complain.

Getting glasses tomorrow.

If they are some help that might buy you some time, but if they don't
improve things, remember your eye guy has a business selling glasses.
If he is responsible and has your interests in mind he should have
refered you to an opthalmologist.

I guess I'll just have to report some glare in my night vision next exam.

Why wai? Do it after you get this new set of glasses. If the problem
persists there is no need to wait for the next exam.

Please let me know how your vision improves and what the op was like.

I will post the progress report as it happens.

Gary Eickmeier


"Savageduck" wrote in message
...
It is all scheduled for my cataract surgery. Left eye on May 6, and
right eye on May 20. So my plans for new equipment is going to be
delayed until that is done.

--
Regards,

Savageduck


I find the bit about getting a prescription odd. I don't go to an
optometrist as I have diabetes.

Usually diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy issues and
occasionally cataracts, but typically you need to see an opthalmologist
who specializes in retina issues.

I always see an ophthalmologist. He said he would do the surgery
whenever I felt that my eyesight was impaired. He
refused to give me a prescription as it would only be correct for a short
space of time. He said no point wasting your money.

Exactly. That is why I wondered about Gary getting new glasses at this
stage, if his vision imparment is due to cataract which require a
surgical fix.

I do live in Canada, but eyeglasses aren't covered by our medical system.

For vision correction they are not covered by any typical medical
insurance. I have vision coverage through VSP as part of my pension
package.
I thought I had added their URL:
https://www.vsp.com

The cataracts are a strictly medical issue and are covered by medical
insurance. In my case MediCare + Blue Cross Supplement.

The rest of it is covered.
His description reminds me of how long you had to wait 45 years ago when my
mother had hers done. It didn't take 15 minutes either. They kept you in
hospital for 3 days then.

I think if I were Gary, I would be talking to my ophthalmologist. And see
what could be done to find another way to get my surgery.

Agreed. He needs to be vocal and proactive and his own advocate.

I wonder about the information.

So do I, and I hope I am wrong about his "eye guy" and the sort of
medical insurance coverage he has.

Of course I don't live in the US now, but I lived in California
for several years.

Good luck Gary, in getting proper care.

Agreed.


--
Regards,

Savageduck

Thanks for all the input. My annual vision check is by an opthalmologist. He
always inspects the physical condition of everything, does the prescription
for glasses, advises on everything. I have Medicare (71 yrs old) and Tricare
for Life coverage. I just took his word that he couldn't get Medicare
authorization for my degree of impairment yet. My vision is sharp enough and
color correct enough, and it is just my night vision that would call for the
surgery.

I enjoy my senses of vision and hearing so much I would stop at nothing to
get back my youthful eyesight and hearing. The hearing is not bad at all.
Major audiophile person.

I mentioned getting glasses tomorrow (today now) because it would be foolish
to get glasses based on your old lenses, then have the operation and need a
different prescription. I will therefore just "get along" until my next eye
exam and a chance to ask for the operation again. I didn't realize it was so
easy and so beneficial until this time and Savageduck's post.

Thanks,
Gary Eickmeier

On 2015-04-14 11:30:24 +0000, Gary Eickmeier said:

Thanks for all the input. My annual vision check is by an
opthalmologist. He always inspects the physical condition of
everything, does the prescription for glasses, advises on everything. I
have Medicare (71 yrs old) and Tricare for Life coverage. I just took
his word that he couldn't get Medicare authorization for my degree of
impairment yet. My vision is sharp enough and color correct enough, and
it is just my night vision that would call for the surgery.

OK! This is odd as all it took with Medicare for me was the referal,
exam and recommended treatment to get approval.

I enjoy my senses of vision and hearing so much I would stop at nothing
to get back my youthful eyesight and hearing. The hearing is not bad at
all. Major audiophile person.

All of the above also applies for me. I guess that's what happns when
you are a refugee from the '60s.

I mentioned getting glasses tomorrow (today now) because it would be
foolish to get glasses based on your old lenses, then have the
operation and need a different prescription. I will therefore just "get
along" until my next eye exam and a chance to ask for the operation
again. I didn't realize it was so easy and so beneficial until this
time and Savageduck's post.

I haven't had a new prescription for glasses in 2 years as the change
in refraction would not have made a difference to the impairment caused
by the cataracts.


--
Regards,

Savageduck

On 13/04/2015 20:23, Gary Eickmeier wrote:
Savage -

My Opto says mine aren't bad enough to get the insurance to pay for the
operation. I have cloudy, brownish darkish in my lenses, but I need to have
glaring rings around bright lights at night to qualify. It is hard to tell
directly how bad it has gotten, but I know my night vision hs gone down, and
sometimes my color vision tells me something that makes my wife laugh at my
descriptions of the colors of clothing.

I want the operation. Getting glasses tomorrow. I guess I'll just have to
report some glare in my night vision next exam. Please let me know how your
vision improves and what the op was like.

Gary Eickmeier


"Savageduck" wrote in message
...
It is all scheduled for my cataract surgery. Left eye on May 6, and right
eye on May 20. So my plans for new equipment is going to be delayed until
that is done.

--
Regards,

Savageduck






Here the NHS will do one eye if the person is working but the retired
(like me) have to wait for the other eye to be affected before they are
done.

On 2015-04-14 17:26:54 +0000, MB said:

Here the NHS will do one eye if the person is working but the retired
(like me) have to wait for the other eye to be affected before they are
done.

That doesn't sound like a particularly providing medical service.

In the USA, medical insurance, even in retirement before you reach age
65 years, is either employer provided or self purchased, there is no
NHS other than for those with qualifying low incomes or disabilities,
and many of them will fall through the coverage cracks and only have
emergency medical care available to them.
Once you reach 65 and you are eligible (having paid a Medicare
withholding tax for your working years) you can qualify for Medicare
which after a small annual deductable covers most hospital and doctor
costs. Usually a Medicare Supplemental policy will cover many of the
coverage gaps.

As I am also a retired old fart, I have Medicare + a very good
supplemental plan, the cost of which is covered by my very good State
of California pension plan.

For cataract surgery, and most other medical procedures here is what
Medicare has to say:

"Medicare covers many medically necessary surgical procedures, like
cataract surgery.
For surgeries or procedures, it's difficult to know the exact costs in
advance because no one knows exactly what services you'll need. If
you're having surgery or a procedure, you can do some things in advance
to figure out approximately how much you'll have to pay.
1. Ask the doctor, hospital, or facility how much you'll have to pay
for the surgery and any care afterward.

2. Make sure you know if you're an inpatient or outpatient because what
you pay may be different.

3. Check with any other insurance you may have (like a Medicare
Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy, Medicaid, or coverage from your
or your spouse's employer) to see what it will pay. If you belong to a
Medicare health plan, contact your plan for more information.

4. Log in to MyMedicare.gov, or look at your last "Medicare Summary
Notice (MSN)" to see if you've met your deductibles.
Check your Part A deductible if you expect to be admitted to the hospital.

Check your Part B deductible for a doctor's visit and other outpatient care.

You'll need to pay the deductible amounts before Medicare will start to pay.
After Medicare starts to pay, you may have copayments for the care you get.

Note:
Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get
services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend
services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to
pay some or all of the costs. It’s important to ask questions so you
understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and whether
Medicare will pay for them."

That is my situation, and I am having to pay an extra $4800 to cover
the costs of two non-standard toric replacement lenses which will, in
addition to clearing up my cataract issue, will correct my severe
astigmatism. The Medicare + Supplement will not cover the astigmatism
correction as that is technically not a medical issue.

So to keep this photography related, that extra $4800 is going to put a
crimp in my photo equipment upgrade purchasing plans for a little while.

--
Regards,

Savageduck

On 4/9/2015 10:17 PM, Savageduck wrote:
It is all scheduled for my cataract surgery. Left eye on May 6, and
right eye on May 20. So my plans for new equipment is going to be
delayed until that is done.


Good luck. On May 6th I am scheduled for measurement, and the surgry
date is open.

--
PeterN

On 4/10/2015 12:54 PM, Tony Cooper wrote:
On Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:16:07 -0700, Savageduck
wrote:

On 2015-04-10 16:06:28 +0000, Alan Browne said:

On 2015-04-09 22:17, Savageduck wrote:
It is all scheduled for my cataract surgery. Left eye on May 6, and
right eye on May 20. So my plans for new equipment is going to be
delayed until that is done.



Great news. Clarity follows!

That soft focus can be a bitch sometimes.

Perhaps, after your surgery, you won't need to process in HDR to see
the details.

If you think he complains about my noisey images now........




--
PeterN

On 2015-04-18 19:14:04 +0000, PeterN said:

On 4/9/2015 10:17 PM, Savageduck wrote:
It is all scheduled for my cataract surgery. Left eye on May 6, and
right eye on May 20. So my plans for new equipment is going to be
delayed until that is done.


Good luck. On May 6th I am scheduled for measurement, and the surgry
date is open.

Thanks. Good luck with your procedure. I had my pre-op physical on
Thursday, and all the eye-ball measuring was done yesterday.

With all the encouragement I have been getting at home from friends &
family, I decided I might as well go ahead and treat myself to that
darn Fuji X-E2 I have been, ...er, eyeing for a while now. That will
give me a lightweight, mirrorless, APS-C option to counter the weight
of my DSLR kit. I ordered that from B&H so I should have it ready for
test driving sometime next week.

--
Regards,

Savageduck

On 2015-04-18 19:19:23 +0000, PeterN said:

On 4/10/2015 12:54 PM, Tony Cooper wrote:
On Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:16:07 -0700, Savageduck
wrote:
On 2015-04-10 16:06:28 +0000, Alan Browne said:
On 2015-04-09 22:17, Savageduck wrote:
It is all scheduled for my cataract surgery. Left eye on May 6, and
right eye on May 20. So my plans for new equipment is going to be
delayed until that is done.

Great news. Clarity follows!

That soft focus can be a bitch sometimes.

Perhaps, after your surgery, you won't need to process in HDR to see
the details.

If you think he complains about my noisey images now........

I have been told the included astigmatism correction with the extra
$4800 replacement lenses, will have me seeing better than I have in 40+
years. So standby with that "artistic" noise of yours. :-)

--
Regards,

Savageduck