The Pros and Cons of Cataracts Surgery

Do you suffer from “cloudy vision”?  Are the sights that you see covered with a “murky film” that doesn’t go away when you wipe your eyes?  If you are over the age of 55, you may wish to consult your ophthalmologist because you may have Cataracts.  Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens in your eye which is the part of your eye that focuses in and sharpens images.  Cataracts form when an accumulation of dead cells clump together over time, clouding over your vision.  Although those over the age of 55 are the highest number of cases dealing with Cataracts, it is also possible to get cataracts if you are diabetic, an alcoholic or if you have injured your eye somehow.  Luckily, Cataract surgery is available and has become one of the most performed eye surgeries today.  Without medical insurance, the costs of eye surgery can be expensive.  Cataract surgery can be upwards of $3000.  Most insurance companies will fully or partially cover these costs, however.  Check with your insurance provider to see what percentage is covered under eye surgery.

Any surgery can be a risky and frightening procedure and cataracts surgery is no exception; however, this surgery is quite common and though risks do occur, they are small and not frequent.  Discussing with your ophthalmologist if you are a prime candidate for this procedure is where you should start.  Once they determine if Cataracts surgery will be beneficial to you, it is then time to discuss what will happen during and after the surgery.   The surgery is done quickly; usually about an hour and on an outpatient basis.  Eye drops are placed into your eye to dilate your pupils and a local anesthetic is then administered to numb the area.  Since this is a nerve-wracking experience, a sedative is sometimes given to help the patient relax. 

During the surgery, the clouded lens causing your cataract is removed using a laser probe to break up the cloudy party of your lens and then using suction, the fragments are absorbed.  Usually, if your cataracts are small, your surgeon will only remove the top part of the lens, keeping the back, undamaged part on your lens in place.  If your cataracts are more advanced, your surgeon may need completely remove the lens and implant an artificial lens.  Although this sounds tedious, it is done in just about the same amount of time.

The costs of eye surgery for Cataracts, as stated above can be as high as $3000, depending on the severity of your problem and if you need an artificial lens implanted or not.  Your ophthalmologist will be able to determine the exact cost (barring any unforeseen costs during the surgery) before the procedure takes place so you are able to plan ahead and discuss with your insurance company how much, if any, they are willing to cover.