lens implant for extremeshortsightedness/astigmatism/cataract
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hello everybody, I am 52 and live in France, I am due to have lens implants next week and the week after (25th May and 1st June) for my eyes which are about -16 and -2 astigmatism and cataracts (which I am not sure that I am aware of). I saw my opthalmist on Thursday and he says he can only bring it down to -3. This is a worry as I was hoping for better. He is very busy and obviously even though my French is good, it is not that good when they get technical. In France the cost is zero to me for early stage cataracts. In March I went to the UK for an opinion at Optimax, which was private; I think they were considering different strength lenses in each eye possibly, and follow-up laser tweaking included in the price (about 5000 pounds). I have just realised that in France the priority seems to be the cataract, and in England it seems to be to get rid of glasses and contacts. Now I don't know what to do, everyone speaks highly of the French care etc and it is handy; but everyone doesn't have rubbish sight like me. Money is not a problem for my eyes. What shall I do?
0 likes, 19 replies
terry111050 mamangoodfellow
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mamangoodfellow terry111050
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thank you, I used to be undecided, but now I'm not so sure
Salty0 mamangoodfellow
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Do careful research into both options. Each I'm sure as it's pros and cons which only you can evaluate. The consequences and benefits can be really good and really really bad.
mamangoodfellow Salty0
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Sue.An mamangoodfellow
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My husband is Italian and would get a chuckle out of it!
Just to clarify (I live in Canada) which also has national Medicare but our cataract surgeries are only covered once eyes can no longer correct with glasses. Typically it is 20/40 (when you’d no longer be considered a safe driver).
Does France cover this with just the beginning of a cataract that could be corrected with glasses? At 51 and if your eyes can be corrected with glasses your eyesight may not deteriorate for years to point of needing surgery so that is something to consider.
If you are st the point of needing surgery where are you in your research of lenses? Does France’s health system cover the entire surgery with a standard lens or any IOL of your choosing?
What are your desired results? Are you wanting to be glasses free or are you ok with wearing glasses?
There are also trade-offs/compromises with premium lenses. I myself see well st all distances but at night there are more glare and halos as compared to standard lens. With lenses I have I see multiple concentric circles around certain light sources at night. If you do a lot of night driving or are a pilot that will be something to consider.
mamangoodfellow Sue.An
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Sue.An mamangoodfellow
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There is no perfect lens so it is best to decide on what you want. To correct astigmatism there are toric monofocal lenses as well as Symfony toric lenses. There may be others available in Europe than what we have in Canada. The toric lenses can rotate a bit in the eye during first couple of weeks as IOL settles so it may be advantageous to get a package that would include rotating it back into place or tweaking the vision with laser afterwards.
jantje32476 mamangoodfellow
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You mentioned that your "daughter is at -2.5 and cannot manage without glasses or lenses all the time". She has had no Cataract surgery nor IOL implants before right? Then her -2.5 diopters for eye glasses is not the same as your -3 after the cataract/IOL surgery. It is like comparing apples with oranges.
mamangoodfellow jantje32476
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My specialist did say that I was -18 and he could get me to -3. At -3 I would be fine he said. He did go on about the lens moving, I presume now after reading some of these posts, that is because it is a toric lens for the astigmatism, and spent some time on his computer working that one out.
It is costing me virtually nothing. My specialist is in a private hospital I think it is, which is heaving in the eye department. He was very rude to start with but is improving now. He is tall, dark, handsome, under 40 and very French.
I have no idea what lens he intends to use.
When I went to Optimax in England, it was calm, quiet and they called me by my first name and said aah bless - totally opposite to France. But there I was a potential customer.
I would just like to know if the -3 he mentions is a good result in one go
I would just like to know
jantje32476 mamangoodfellow
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Your specialist did say to you: "At -3 I (you) would be fine he said." The rest of us are just layman. Be sure to recuperate well and long (months) afterwards.
Afterwards you can look into laser PRK touchup, if your specialist recommends it.
Some people consider -4 diopters a bad eyesight. At -10 and -18, it must be crippling.
The GP I had in Paris was a chum, but he was not as busy and pressurized as a specialist . I spent 2 sejours (on carte de sejour) in France during the 70s and 80s. So I am aware of their temperaments.
mamangoodfellow jantje32476
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jantje32476 mamangoodfellow
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What matters to me is that the result(s) of my cataract surgery(ies) exceeds my expectation.
jantje32476 mamangoodfellow
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France has a good health care system. In France 75% to 80% of cataract patients choose private medical care. All expenses are reimbursed, by the CPAM and/or the mutuelles d'assurance eventually. Cost of YAG procedure is also reimbursed. If I understand you correctly,
1) Your French eye-surgeon's priority is to remove your cataracts with monofocal lenses in a hospital. But the UK private clinic will implant premium lenses (multifocal toric) and will follow-up with laser enhancements afterwards.
Since you are living in France, a French private clinic charges around €1400 + the extra cost for a premium lens (per eye).
2) You are concerned that after the cataract surgery / IOL implants, your vision will not improve much. If by -16 you meant your eyeglass prescription -16 diopters, and your French eye-surgeon can bring it down to -3. That sounds pretty good to me.
Before my last cataract surgery, my eyeglass prescription was between -9 to -10 diopters. My eye-surgeon has brought it down to -2.5 To drive safely, I need glasses. But I ride my bike with my non-prescription sunglasses around my neighborhood, do shopping, walk everywhere else without wearing prescription glasses. And I do not need glasses watching TV, surfing the internet, reading books, sewing threading needles and other daily activities.
3) One of my eye is low vision. Even my own eye-doctor initially mistakenly thought it unnecessary to replace the blackout lens, and the cataract in my other very myopic eye had not matured to the point requiring a surgery. But I was walking right into concrete walls and glass doors, and fearful of crossing busy traffic junctions alone. So trust your own judgement, be safe and make your own decision.
Hope the above is of some help to you.
Sue.An jantje32476
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jantje32476
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Yes, I am pleased with the result.
As I mentioned several times before I have one eye @Low Vision, and rely entirely on the other very myopic eye. But the Low Vision eye helps with my balance. I no longer am caught in a time warp and step into concrete walls trying to emerge on the other side to meet the handsome "Christopher Reeve".
I do not want to derail this discussion, but my LV had been a long painful journey seeking for treatments since I was 10, and had brought me to many countries. Thus, I empathize with those with really bad vision.
mamangoodfellow jantje32476
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