So she’s an administrative assistant. Still not a doctor, not a nurse, not even a medical aide.
Have you been examined recently by a doctor? Your sudden loss of vision is alarming. If it’s just cataracts it’s not an emergency to get the surgery done. But in your position, I’d want to be really really certain it’s just cataracts.
I see the eye doc on Friday (day after tomorrow). I’d have surgery a week from today.
She schedules the doctor’s appointments.
I’m sure she has no medical information.
The cost information you could have gotten from the insurance person in the office.
You know it’s definitely cataracts, per your OP.
You saw pictures.
Shit, that’s fast.
Without glasses, i hold reading matter about 6" from my eyes. That’s not cataracts, that’s just being very nearsighted. And my corrected vision is still pretty decent (although i have mild cataracts and have started investigating my options.)
If it’s really just cataracts bothering you, and also the doctor have you a new prescription, i think you should try the new prescription before jumping at the earliest possibly surgical opening.
I’ve also bought glasses from eyebuydirect. They are decidedly lower quality than ones I’ve gotten from other sources. But damn they are cheap. And if they do 2-day service they’ll ship anywhere, even if you don’t have a " get it now" place locally.
I’ve gotten new computer glasses with the new prescription online (took about 9 days zennioptical.com) and the new glasses are barely noticeably better. I put my face about 9-10" from my monitor to read text. It’s horrid.
I just realized you recently had brain surgery.
That needs to be looked at, I’m afraid.
This seems a little recent.
Call your neurologist/surgeon and mention vision problems quickly getting out of hand.
I’ve mentioned it to 3 doctors who were all dismissive of a connection.
I’ll call the neurologist tomorrow just in case, and bring it up a second time with the ophthalmologist when I see her Friday. Really, my vision problems precede my head injury, it’s just gotten truly bad in the last few weeks.
Good. I’m glad you’re calling.
Keep us posted.
I’m not sure what would get her attention and how to couch the question. My prescription changed dramatically in like 6 months - is that from my head injury or just age? I can’t think of any mechanism that would cause cataracts, whatever happened to me, but the prescription change is startling IMO.
Old prescription (Jan 2024):
New prescription:
There’s two prescriptions: one for progressives, the 2nd for computer glasses. I’ve gotten the 2nd computer glasses and they still suck.
OK, I called the neurologist. The person answering the phone was of course dismissive, but I coerced her to let me email the doctor with my question. I provided before/after eye prescriptions (see above) and asked for advice. I don’t expect an answer. 
It seems like one of those questions like “my knee hurts, is that because I injured my elbow?” But the dramatic prescription change begs the question. OTOH, cataracts don’t really beg the question: I’d have them regardless.
I went to the expensive doc and it was a bit of a shit show. The surgery scheduler had a sheet of consent forms I couldn’t sign because the doctor had never discussed lens types with me. The eye examiner was confused I hadn’t signed the consents, and questioned me closely about what eye I was doing first (I had no idea and said so, nobody had discussed this with me), on and on. Finally I saw the doctor who discussed lens choices with me, found out I was self-paid and asked me how much that was. Her eyes became saucers and she insisted I should see the doc week after next who took my insurance. If her staff wasn’t so incompetent I might have proceeded, but they’d lost my confidence at that point.
Yeah, I was about a third of the way through your post and wanted to say “that’s not a place I’d trust any part of myself to” but I see you also got there by the end.
Neurologist office called me back: my vision issues have nothing to do with my head injury, please proceed in any way that makes sense.
Well, that’s a plus.(The neurologist saying go ahead)
I know what’s happening. The place you went is used to people coming there knowing they’re gonna have cataracts removed. By hook or crook they got theirselves to that understanding.
They probably figure no one wants the fancy lenses because Medicare is paying.
The patient only wants to know “my out of pocket part”.
Nothing else. They just choose which eye first.
It’s assembly line medicine.
Sad, but that’s how it works.
Get the cataracts removed where they cover you. That’s your best bet. If you can get it in the conversation say you wanna know about upgraded lenses.
I had my surgery over a year ago. I’ve had trouble adjusting to reading glasses. I tried 2.5x and then 2.75x that I use now.
It takes more effort to read. Books make my eyes tired. I use drops for dry eye. I’ll read a couple hours and then take a break.
I’m due for a simple procedure to remove a protein film off my implant lens.
Overaĺl I’m very pleased with my cataract surgery and lenses. It’s wonderful being able to read the menus on my TV apps. I was lost before my surgery. I couldn’t read any text on my tv. I have a 42" screen.
I was in the hospital late august and there was a 32" in my room. I had to really concentrate to read text on the screen. I strongly recommend buying a 42" or larger.
To add… it’s the time of year they have an increase in patients wanting new glasses this time of year. To get them covered by insurance.
Thank you for the reply. As I’ve said, I will need to have cataract surgery at some point in the not too distant future and am always very interested in everyone’s experiences.
You’ll be asked to select a lens. Either for distance vision or closeup.
I choose distance for driving and tv. It’s the first time in my life that I drive without glasses.
I also paid extra to correct astigmatism in one eye. Toric lens. That was $600 insurance didn’t cover. Because it was a optional lens for me.
When Mr.Wrek had it he was a scared little puppy. Couldn’t imagine someone poking him in the eyes wouldn’t just kill him.
It was a nothing burger. He still whined after. But he was fine.
He had the dang eye drops a million times a day. That was aggravating. I had to put alarms on his phone to remind him to do it.
I don’t think it’s as bad now. His was 9-10 years ago.
He’s never regretted it.