En español | Original Medicare can cover cataract surgery. While Medicare does not pay for routine vision care such as eye exams for glasses or contact lenses, it does cover diagnosis and treatment of certain chronic eye conditions, including cataracts.
The short answer to this question is yes. Medicare will cover your cataract surgery, regardless of the method used. So, whether the surgery is performed using a laser or a more traditional technique, the only thing that matters regarding your coverage is which procedures are performed.
Medicare doesn't usually cover eyeglasses or contact lenses. helps pay for corrective lenses if you have cataract surgery to implant an intraocular lens. Corrective lenses include one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames or one set of contact lenses.
In general, Medicare covers traditional cataract surgeries if they are medically necessary and the treating doctor accepts Medicare for payment. ... Typically, Medicare Part B — which is outpatient insurance — pays 80% of the expenses related to cataract surgery. This includes one pair of glasses following the surgery.
Many doctors recommend having cataracts removed as soon as they begin interrupting your daily activities. Depending on the progression of your cataract, surgery may either be needed immediately, or at some point in the future.
Cataract surgery takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete, depending on the severity of the condition. You should also plan to spend up to 30 minutes following the surgery to recover from the effects of the sedative.
medication is given so that you are essentially asleep through the procedure. You may be awake or asleep during the surgery depending upon the amount of sedation given, but you will not be uncomfortable. There is no pain during cataract surgery.
After the procedure
After cataract surgery, expect your vision to begin improving within a few days. Your vision may be blurry at first as your eye heals and adjusts. Colors may seem brighter after your surgery because you are looking through a new, clear lens.
Side effects are rare from cataract surgery, but some things that could happen are: Eye infection or swelling. Bleeding. Retinal detachment -- the breaking away of a layer of tissue at the back of your eye that senses light.
A cataract lens will last a lifetime, and the vast majority of patients do not experience any complications with their lenses after cataract surgery.
As part of cataract surgery, your natural lens will be removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens. There are three different types of intraocular lenses available including monofocal, toric, and presbyopic-correcting.
High success rates
Most people do exceedingly well with cataract surgery. Its success rate is about 99 percent. Complications from cataract surgery are rare but may include corneal swelling and/or inflammation in the eyes.
For example, if you have advanced macular degeneration or a detached retina as well as cataracts, it's possible that removing the cataract and replacing it with a clear intraocular lens (IOL) might not improve your eyesight. In such cases, cataract surgery may not be recommended.
Patients who wait more than 6 months for cataract surgery may experience negative outcomes during the wait period, including vision loss, a reduced quality of life and an increased rate of falls.
With one in six people over age 40, and more than half of people over age 80 having cataracts, you will be relieved to know that, yes, cataract surgery is generally covered by insurance.
No, cataracts cannot grow back.
However, sometimes after successful cataract surgery, the natural capsule that is left behind becomes cloudy. This causes the vision to become blurry again, much like it was before cataract surgery.
It is a relatively quick procedure with a fast recovery time that restores a person's quality of life. Some patients ask if they will have 20/20 vision after the procedure. Most patients can achieve 20/20 vision as long as they have no other conditions.
Which prompts the question, “Can you get a cataract twice?” The condensed answer is, no. A cataract is essentially the clouding of the eye's natural lens and cataract surgery is the complete removal of this clouded lens, followed by its replacement with an IOL (intraocular lens).
Cataract surgery is not painful. While patients are awake during surgery, there is little or no discomfort involved. A mild sedative may be administered before the surgery, which calms the nerves, and eye drops are used to numb the eye.
No, your vision generally doesn't deteriorate after cataract surgery unless other problems arise, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma.
Most age-related cataracts can progress gradually over a period of years. It is not possible to predict exactly how fast cataracts will develop in any given person. Some cataracts, especially in younger people and people with diabetes, may progress rapidly over a short time.
You can take a shower or bath 24 hours after your surgery. Do not get water or soap in your eye. Keep your eye closed while you shower. Use a clean washcloth every time and normal tap water to clean secretions from your lashes or the corner of your eye.