Re: cataract surgery

On Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:48:08 -0600, Mark J cleary
<mcleary08@comcast.net> wrote:

On 2/20/2025 4:08 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

    jeffl@cruzio.com

>
Jeff,
Thanks for the information. I am inclined almost to call your situation
seems very different than most I have talked to.

That's not surprising.  I talked with about 20 people who have had
cataract surgery.  Basically, everyone I know over the age of 65 has
had the surgery.  Half had experiences similar to mine.  The remaining
10 were all very different.  Most had existing conditions that made
any kind of surgery somewhat risky.

Mt first question is how old are you?

77 years old.

THE copay is $300 for me but any laser option would be
$3900 for both eyes. No real better guarantee. Medicare will not pay for
laser but I don't have medicare.

I only have Medicare classic, which pays 80%.  Medicare will only pay
if my visual acuity is worse than 20/50:
<https://www.mmplusinc.com/kb-articles/medicare-requirements-for-cataract-surgery>

I found several articles that indicate that Medicare will NOT pay for
laser cataract surgery.  Although I was told that I would be getting
laser surgery, I was not billed for anything extra.  Therefore, it's
quite possible that I misunderstood the instructions and did not get
laser surgery.  I'll double check.

How is your uncorrected distance vision? 

Quite good.  It's currently usable from about 4ft to infinity. 

Could you pass a driver test without needing any glasses?

Yes.  I renewed my drivers license in Nov 2024.  I passed with one
slight difficulty.  I was nervous and was seeing double.  The double
vision went away about 30 min later, after eating a late lunch and
sleeping for about 30 mins in my car.   I get to do it again in Jan
2030.

Minimum vision requirements are 20/40 in both eyes:
<https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-education-and-safety/medical-conditions-and-driving/vision-conditions/>
I can't find the paperwork but as I recall, my vision was 20/25 in one
eye and 20/20 in the other during the follow up visit after the 2nd
surgery.  Since then, I'm sure the numbers have changed.  I have a
Snellen eye chart on the kitchen wall and just re-tested myself. 20/20
in both eyes.
<https://www.google.com/search?q=snellen%20eye%20chart&udm=2>

My history is I am highly myopic -12 and
-13 in each eye. That put me in the top 1 percent of all nearsighted
people. I had LASIK 24 years ago and correct me to no need for glasses
for anything for 18 years> I was about 20.25 but regressed a bit in my
right eye now to 20/30. I have a macular pucker in that eye but not a
real issue but cannot get 20/20 with it.

Wow.  That's quite a history. 

SInce the lasik it throws the normal math calculations off on lens
power. They have to use a different formula so more room for errors.

Yes.  I read a little about that, but since I didn't need Lasik
surgery, I just skimmed over that part.

Seems like yours took a long time to get better.

Yes.  That was partly my fault by waiting about 11 months to do
something about the dry eye problem.  If I done something earlier, I
would not be disappointed or complaining about the long recovery.

--
Jeff Liebermann                 jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272      http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann      AE6KS    831-336-2558